The word Elohim is the plural form of the Hebrew word for God. The word is no longer used in the plural form in current translations of the Bible and also the concept of the Holy Trinity didn't come into being until a later point in time.
Please no bashing. I just want your honest answer of what you think the reason is. I don't want a regurgitation of another person's thoughts and your defense of it saying it is an absolute truth.
It is an interesting topic if you take the time to look at it.
2006-07-20 15:16:31 · 17 answers · asked by ancient_wolf_13 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It means Great G-d. It does not mean gods. It is a plural intensive.
Elohim (when applied to G-d) is always used with a singular verb: words such as "is" and "created" are used with it only in singular constructions. But Elohim, when applied to pagan deities, is always used with a plural verb.
2006-07-20 15:28:10 · answer #1 · answered by Quantrill 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are asking a hebrew grammatical question. Elohenu is a singular, proper noun. Elohim is plural, proper noun refering to the male. Mayim is water. Only in translations, do you see the reference that the ' waters ', meaning streams, rivers, oceans, etc. Also, water is a noun, but, not a proper noun refering to a person. Interesting question, long answer.
It is said that Moses is the last prophet to see G-d face to face. this lends the idea that G-d had a physical being ( at least a face ). Personally, call me off the wall, but, I like the idea that the G-d mentioned in the Bible is not an ethereal being, but, rather, a corporal being. In layman's terms, the G-d of the Bible was not of this Earth, rather extraterrestrial. That can explain the plural male references as well as the singular references.
2006-07-20 22:25:51 · answer #2 · answered by yodeladyhoo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You speak correctly in that Elohim is the plural form of God, which signifies the triune nature of God. It was there in Genesis and throughout the Bible. Current translations do not interest me, I would rather stick with oldest and most complete manuscript translations, which I believe to be the KJV. The "modern" translations take out a lot of things I have problems with.
The New Testament has many references to the triune nature of God and speaks often of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All God, but separate beings. For example:
Luk 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
You have Jesus being baptized, the Holy Spirit taking the form of a dove and God the Father speaking from the clouds.
Hope this helps.
2006-07-20 22:33:33 · answer #3 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is referred to by a few different names throughout the Bible.
The different names exist because there are different authors of the Hebrew Bible (aka Old Testament). Each author referred to God by the name that his kingdom used.
Elohim: what the Jews of the southern kingdom of Judah used
Yahweh: what the Jews of the northern kingdom of Israel used
YHVH: came a few hundred years later after the Babylonian exile
I hope I've got that correct. It's all part of the documentary hypothesis about which guys wrote the Bible. For a real expert answer, read Richard Friedman's book "Who Wrote the Bible?".
2006-07-20 23:43:01 · answer #4 · answered by bikerchickjill 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, I don't knw about the other, generally ridiculous, answer posted, but I speak hebrew and here's the lowdown.
elohim is a noun. It is not plural. A drop of water is called "mayim", which, using the "plural reasoning" would also be plural. Judges and even Moses are referred to as "elohim". It just means "someone of power". No plural connotations at all.
2006-07-20 22:26:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I am quite shocked as I look into my concordance and do not find it listed here, I do know that there is a psalm that says 'what is man that you are mindful of him and place him a little lower than the angels,' except the word translated angels is the hebrew word elohim which means angels and or God. So I would have to say that beyond the trinity it may represent the heavenly hosts. Try reading your verses (please share) with them in mind in stead.
2006-07-20 22:25:43 · answer #6 · answered by LRB B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IT had to be plural to be correct and truth. Jewish people normally think of it as plural because of emphasis. I have no problem with the idea of the Trinity, the plurality of God is taught right from the very beginning of the Bible. Even verse two of Genesis speaks of the Spirit of God.
2006-07-20 22:28:14 · answer #7 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Genesis, God says "Let US make Man in OUR own image," speaking of God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit.
Elohim is another reference to the Triune God. (3 in 1)
2006-07-20 22:23:49 · answer #8 · answered by Kitten 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Elohim is the plural of El, which is the name of a specific Sumerian god. This isn't surprising, because Judaism grew out of the polytheism of the region. As the followers of YHWH came to dominate, El was blended in as if they were one in the same - which they are now, but they weren't originally.
Elohim is El and his servant deities.
2006-07-20 22:28:03 · answer #9 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some cases (e.g. Ex. 3:4 ...Elohim called unto him out of the midst of the bush...), it acts as a singular noun in Hebrew grammar (see next section), and is then generally understood to denote the single God of Israel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim
Also, bene elohim refers to "the sons of God"
2006-07-20 22:26:26 · answer #10 · answered by AdamKadmon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋