"Echad", what's the meaning?

Question

What's the meaning of this word?

Where is it used in the Bible?

What's my point?

absolute unity or composit unity?

what's the meaning of "yachid"

Can you give me examples of "echad" and "yachid" used in sentences? Or to talk about numbers?

Answer 1

"Echad" means a plurality in unity. Gen 2:24 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one (Echad) flesh."

Answer 2

ONENESS
There is a difference between a compound unity and an absolute unity. When we speak of “one man” we would be speaking of an absolute unity. When referring to man and woman being “one flesh” we would be speaking of a compound unity. The Hebrew word yachidh is used of something that is an absolute unity while the word echad is used of a compound unity.

The God of the Bible is a compound unity. This is evidenced by the use of the Hebrew term echad when speaking of God. Although there is only one God who exists, within the nature of the one God are three distinct persons. The fact that the word echad is used of the God of Scripture further confirms his Trinitarian nature.

Answer 3

It means ONE. It's used thousands of times, most famously in the famous Shema Israel YHWH Eloheinu YHWH Echad. Deuteronomy 6:4. Pronounce the "ch" like in scottish loch.

Answer 4

it means one in the singular and cannot be used by anyone who did not have an agenda as a "compound unity"


it means one in every sense of the word.

Answer 5

Absolute unity, as it also is used for the numerical one and carries with it the connotation of "unique".

Answer 6

never heard of it

pretty sure it's not in the Bible

what is your point?

Answer 7

Echad is a singular but compound word, like Triun. As we draw nearer to December 25th, when we'll be celebrating the birth of Jesus, it might make that celebration more meaningful if we know more about the names, and thus the character of both the Father and the Son. As the writers of the Bible recorded God's Word, they used many different names to identify them both - each of which denotes one specific quality that is a part of the infinite nature of God. Today, let's look at just a few of those many names, and in the process, draw nearer to God through better understanding of His Word.

In Exodus 3:13, Moses asks God what His name is - saying, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" And God answered, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM' has sent me to you.'" This was the name by which God wanted to be known and worshipped - the name that expressed His character as the dependable and faithful self-existent God who desires the full trust of His people. Later on, in John 8:58-59, we find that Jesus applied this same name to Himself, thereby claiming to be God - an action that incited the people to a frenzy and made them want to stone Him for blasphemy.

I AM WHO I AM. This name also reveals God as the Being who is absolutely self-existent, and who, in Himself, possesses essential life and permanent existence. To the Hebrew, "to be" does not just mean to exist, but to be active, to express oneself in active being. God is the One who acts. When you understand this, the imperfect tense of the verb becomes clear. God's manifestation to Israel is in the future at the time of the burning bush incident. The "I AM" or "I will be" is God's promise that He will redeem the children of Israel. The people wanted to be reassured that this God would meet them in their time of need, proving His Character and promises.

I AM WHO I AM. So simple, and yet so profound. He had no beginning and has no end. I AM. He requires nothing and no one to be Who He is. I AM. The Hebrews called Him Yahweh (which is often incorrectly spelled "Jehovah"), which means simply, "HE IS." So when God speaks of Himself, He says, "I AM", and when we speak of Him, we say, "HE IS".

But the names of God don't stop there. His character is so vast that it's impossible for our finite human minds to describe Him with just one name. So, the Hebrews gave Him many names, each of which describes just one facet of his infinite character. However, when we read God's many names in our English Bibles, sometimes we don't get the full impact of His many names. So let's take a look at just a few of them, and go back to the original Hebrew, just to get a broader picture of how many different aspects there are within our God - so many more than one can see by just reading the Bible in English.

For instance, if you use a KJV or NIV Bible, you'll see three different names that are used most often in the Old Testament - God, LORD, and Lord. There's not much distinction between the three, is there? However, when you go back to the Hebrew, you'll discover the full impact of these three simple words. When you see the name God, the Hebrew word is "Elohim", or "El", or "Elah". The name LORD (printed in all caps) is translated from the Hebrew Yahweh or the misspelling of that name -Jehovah. And the name Lord (caps and lower case) is translated from the Hebrew Adonai.

The name Elohim - which means "the supreme God" - occurs 31 times in Genesis 1, where it emphasizes His strength and creative power. This particular term is used 2,570 times in the Old Testament. It is a plural noun that, when used as a name of God, is used with a singular verb. It denotes plurality (or intensification) of majesty and power. The verb "bara", which is used for "created" in Genesis 1:1, is a singular verb. So in the very first sentence in the Bible, the Triune nature of God is first revealed.

When Elohim is combined with other Hebrew words, even greater meaning is revealed. In Deuteronomy 33:27, the name is Elohay Kedem - God of the Beginning. In 2 Samuel 5:10, it's Elohay Tz'vaot - God of Hosts or God of Armies. In Nehemiah 9:17, it's Elohay Selichot - God of Forgiveness. In Jeremiah 23:23, it's Elohay Mikarov - God Who Is Near. In Psalm 18:47 and Psalm 25:5, David calls Him Elohay Yishi - God of My Salvation. And in Jeremiah 10:10, He's Elohim Chaiyim - Living God.

"El" is another name that is translated as "God" in the Old Testament, and it's used 200 times to reveal even greater depths to the character of God. Some of these you might recognize from popular Contemporary Christian music. For instance, El Shaddai is God The All Sufficient (Genesis 17:1). El Olam (Genesis 21:33) is the God of Eternity. El Elyon (Genesis 14:18) is The Most High God. Emmanu El (Isaiah 7:14) means God Is With Us. And El Kana (Deuteronomy 4:24) is The Jealous God.

El Echad (Malachi 2:10) means "The One God". The use of this name is yet another place in the Old Testament where the Triune nature of God is revealed through the use of the word "Echad" in God's name. Deuteronomy 6:4 says, "Hear O Israel, the LORD Our God, the LORD is One." Literally translated back to the Hebrew names, that verse would read, "Hear O Israel, Yahweh (or Jehovah) Our Elohim, Yahweh (or Jehovah) is One." It's interesting to note here that there are two Hebrew words used in the Bible to denote "One". The first is "Yachiyd", which means "absolute One". The other is "Echad", which means "united One". In this verse (Deuteronomy 6:4), the word "Echad" is used, meaning "united One". These are just two of many examples, but it is glaringly clear that the Hebrew writers were not referring to God as an absolute One, but as a "united" One - the Trinity.

The name Yahweh (Jehovah) is most often used to express God's self-existence, particularly in relation to humanity. In fact, its definition is "self-existent One". Its first use is in Genesis 2:4. It is the most significant name for God in the Old Testament, appearing 6,823 times. The name refers to God as the self-existent active One, as it is related to the verb "to be" in Exodus 3:14. It also indicates Israel's Redeemer in Exodus 6:6. This name is associated with God's holiness in Leviticus 11:44, 45, His hatred of sin in Genesis 6:3-7, and His graciousness in providing redemption for all in Isaiah 53:1, 5, 6, and 10. In contrast to Elohim, which is used to the exclusion of other names for God in Genesis 1 and indicates His omnipotence, the name Yahweh (Jehovah) emphasizes His care and personal concern for His creation and His intimate and close relationship to it.

Adonai means "master" and underscores the authority of God. In Genesis 18:27, Abraham uses the term Adonai (printed in your KJV or NIV as Lord). It is not the intimate name LORD. Rather, Abraham is appealing to Adonai as "Judge of all the earth".

Sometimes, two names stand together to refer to God, as in Yahweh Sabaoth (LORD of Hosts or LORD Almighty). When the term El Shaddai is used, it is translated God Almighty.