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The Names of God: Elohim

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(el-o-heem’)
God, Judge, Creator

Use in the Bible: : In the Old Testament Elohim occurs over 2000 times. Elohim is first used in Gen 1:1.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: 93c

Strong’s Reference: 0430

Elohim in the Septuagint: theos…the standard Greek word for god, “a transcendent being who exercises extraordinary control in human affairs or is responsible for bestowal of unusual benefits” (BDAG). It specifically refers to the monotheistic God of Israel.

Meaning and Derivation: Elohim is translated as “God.” The derivation of the name Elohim is debatable to most scholars. Some believe it derived from ‘êl which, in turn, originates from the root word, ‘wl(which means “strong”). Others think that Elohim is derived from another two roots: ‘lh (which means “god”) in conjunction with ‘elôah(which means “fear”). And still others presume that both ‘êl and Elohimcome from ‘eloah.

Further references of the name Elohim in the Old Testament: Occurs 2606 tmes in 2249 verses. Complete list available here.

Comments

  1. I found it interesting that the actual word Elohim is not in the KJV of the Bible but it is the Hebrew word they used when it was first written. There are so many names of God and the study of them is very interesting.

    • Elohim means: The Supreme Ruling Family of Holy Ones, who have been Perfected in the Furnace of Afflictions. They form a Great Pyramid Government, having the Most High God at the TOP of it, who is the Chief Cornerstone. Yahovah was the name of the Supreme Ruler of this World, of this Galaxy, to be more exact, whose name means Salvation. He is the God who Saved this Earth by Drowning most of the People. He plans on Saving it again by Devouring Fire!

  2. Most of Christianity has absolutely NO idea about the Jewish early beginnings of the religion which eventually turned its back on Judaism. Knowing the Hebrew is vital to the understanding of Jesus( his Greek name-Joshua his Hebrew name). I find the Blue Letter Bible a great help in studying the meanings of words that we often overlook. Continue to use the resource as you look deeper into the Tanakh (Christians call it the Old Testament – how sad to reigate it to such a level!!) The translations all came from the original Hebrew and, of course, translations have their problems.

    You are blessed in having discovered a long lost resource!! It is what Joshua (Jesus) would have used along with the Aramaic.

    Shalom

    • Greetings Joy, I encourage you to investigate the matter of the Messiahs Name more deeply. There was no letter J in Hebrew. In fact the letter J is only 400 years old and was the last letter added to the English alphabet. Shaluwm.

      • Jason,

        I am not sure exactly what your point would be. There is in fact no English alphabet letter in the Hebrew alphabet, “J”, “Y”, or otherwise.

        I believe that most people here are considering transliterations (i.e., trying to mimic the phonetic sound of a letter in one alphabet to another). And since many scholars disagree (isn’t that what scholars do after all) as to exact transliterations (whether Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic), we certainly are not all going to agree exactly. Let’s take the spirit of the person’s comment into account.

        • My point is simple. Joshua is not the Messiah’s name since there is no j or j sound equivalent in Hebrew. I just encouraged the sister to study the matter more. Shaluwm.

  3. I agree with Joy Montgomery’s comment. I just started a personal bible study on the names of God, and I discovered this mini lesson! I’m also discovering that it’s important to know the Hebrew translations of the Word in order to obtain a more in depth meaning behind the Scriptures. It’s like going on a treasure hunt! I love it!!!!

    My new favorite name of God that I recently discovered is Jehovah Shamar…The Lord Who Preserves.

    Shalom!

  4. The amazing thing about the term Elohim is that it is plural. The im ending means it is a masculine plural term in the Hebrew. Elohim doesn’t mean God. It means Mighty Ones. The Mighty Ones created the earth. Who are these Mighty Ones? The Father YaHuWaH through His son. I will reiterate that the Creator has but One name and that is YaHuWaH. Christians when you shout hallelujah you are saying Praise YaH!. Yah is the shortened form of His name and it is found throughout the Psalms. Look at Psalm 68:4

    • The Hebrew word ‘elohiym (transliterated) is used 2,606 times in the Old Testament (http://blb.sc/0000F1). Of this amount, 2,346 times it is clearly referring to God, YHWH. The other 260 occurrences do refer to others. Context must be the interpreter of the words and sentences.

      However, since 90% of the occurrences do in fact refer to God, I have to strongly disagree with your comment, that ‘elohiym does not mean God. Again, it is context that tells us the meaning.

      • Perhaps you should investigate the etmology of the term “God”. Abraham, David,and Moses never uttered this word when referring to the most High. Yet these men had a very close relationship with YaHuWaH Elohim. So where did this term come from and why is it so common not only in Christianity but all religions???

        • And perhaps you should investigate the linguistic fallacy of determining lexical meanings by etymology alone.

          In the Hebrew Bible ‘elohim’ almost always means ‘God’. It means that because that is precisely the meaning the writers gave it.

  5. My fascination with the name and names for God, is has been a constant hunger, or thirst, as it were.

    I’m grateful for this blog by Blue Letter Bible and I wanted to suggest the encouraging thought of God having so many names because He has so many Children that relate to Him, differently.

    Mankind has been struggling to regain it’s kinship awareness since the child was no more innocent but returning to what we knew as children, and seeing the world through that child, restores our Christ-Like compassion for ourselves and for the world.

    So sure will we know we embody the Spirit of our Creator, we will marvel and mourn with Holy reverence, and praise for living to see humanity and God as One, Creator within Life; One within the many; nameless sound within all sounds of names.

    I heard a child tell is brother to call their biological father, “Dad”, but the younger boy corrected his older brother saying, “He’s NOT my Dad; He’s my Daddy… He’s YOUR Dad.”

    God’s Abundant Grace and Mercy to You and Yours, Always and Eternally.

  7. i learned while listening to a lecture by a jewish scholar that the hebrew language used only
    consonants for written language. the JHWH are the softest breathful consonants that
    could simulate the breath of God. the sacred name was not to be said but breathed.
    the uncreated breath of God in whom we live and move and have our being. we live
    by the breath of God and our souls live and find their eternal rest in it. The source
    of praise gratitude and all of life.

    • Greetings Rich. Be careful of what Scholars tell you. The Messiah had to rebuke a lot of Scholars when he walked the earth.

      • But he didn’t rebuke them for being scholars.

        You have posted on this thread several times with supposed corrections about Biblical Hebrew on other people’s posts when it seems doubtful you have any working knowledge of that language.

        Would you say your pedantic attempts at sounding knowledgeable are more trustworthy?

        • I wouldn’t tell anyone to trust my word. Psalms 118:8 is one of my favorite scriptures. Trust the Almighty. Earnestly seek His face and He will lead you along the narrow way. If what I am saying doesn’t line up with scripture throw it out. Shaluwm.

    • One would not properly use a J in the tetragrammaton (The 4 Sacred letters comprising our Creators Name). There is no “J” sound in the Hebrew or Aramiac language. Our English translation would properly be YHWH. The transliteration would be ee-Yah-oo-way/Yahuweh. (It is improper to use a “V” sound in replacement of the “W.”

      Personally, I worship Him in reverential silence. Sometimes in utter stillness so that I don’t break the stillness. I Praise Him in song, and dance and musical instruments and Words spoken, sometimes loudly, in Praise of Him: “May Your Name, Yahuweh, be Praised above all other names…..”

      Orthodox Jewish religious leaders errantly taught the “ineffable name” doctrine, in direct contradiction to Holy Writ: 7[Gimel] “You shall not bring the Name of YHWH your Elohim (Mighty Ones) to vain emptiness; for YHWH will not hold him guiltless that brings His name to vain emptiness.” {Exodus 20:7}. Footnote 3 reads, “Most religions blatantly violate this command. The Hebrew for vain is “shavah,” meaning “to bring to nothing, or erasing from man’s usage.” It does not mean as erroneously taught that using it in vain is actually saying it. The truth is just the opposite.” “And indeed for this cause have I raised you up, for to show in you My power; and that My Name may be declared throughout all the earth.” Exodus 9:16. Restoration Scriptures True Name Study Edition.

      Note: “Much more revelation of the Kingdom is available to Bible students who consider the original language, and the application of the four basic levels of interpretation; peshat (simple), remez (hint), drash (allegory) and sod (hidden) as they study.” {Aramaic English New Testament by Andrew Gabriel Roth}.

      Your Brother In Christ,

      Kenneth Jelladian

  8. Greetings Kenneth, The sad irony is that while Orthodox Judaism states His name is to sacred to be uttered. Most Christians believe He Has many names. Case in point this whole series of blogs. While our Father has many titles that describe His Authority and Character, He Has just one name. The Devil is the one with many names that he has cleverly been using to fool most of Humanity (Rev. 17:3) ABBA YaHuWaH help us and forgive us for lightly esteeming your name.