Elohim

Elohim

Elohim is a common name of the deity (God) in the Hebrew Bible. It is consistently used in texts that reflect the early northern traditions of the Kingdom of Israel, whereas Yahweh ('Jehovah') is consistently used in texts that derive from the early southern traditions, of Judah and Jerusalem. Biblical scholars have found it useful to distinguish between "E" traditions and "J" traditions, the "Elohist" and the "Yahwist." Elohim is one of a group of kindred words, to which belong also El and Eloah.

Table of contents

1 Etymology
2 Elohim in Mormonism
3 Related articles

Etymology

The etymology of the word Elohim is prehistoric, and therefore unknown. There are many theories, however, including the following:

Some trace its origin in el or ul which may mean ("to be strong") or possibly ("to be in front"), from which also are derived ayil ("ram", the one in front of the flock) and elah (the prominent "terebinth"); Elohim would then be an expanded plural form of El.

Others trace the word (and the related singular word Eloah which is also a name for diety in the Bible) to alah ("to terrify") or alih ("to be perplexed, afraid; to seek refuge because of fear"). Eloah and Elohim , therefore, would be "He who is the object of fear or reverence," or "He with whom one who is afraid takes refuge".

Biblical scholars resist making connections with the father god of Ugarit, El.

The form of the word Elohim, with the ending -im, is plural and masculine, but the construction is usually singular, i.e. it governs a singular verb or adjective when referring to the Hebrew god, but reverts to its normal plural when used of heathen divinities (Psalms 96:5; 97:7). There are two theories as to why the word is plural:

In one view, predominant among anthropomorphic monotheists, the word is plural because of the common Hebrew practice of expressing extension, magnitude and dignity by pluralizing the form of words.
In another view, more common among secular historians and polytheists, is that the word's plurality is reflective of early Hebrew polytheism. Originally meaning "the gods", or the "host of heaven", the word may have been singularized by later Hebrew henotheist priests who sought to identify the most powerful Semitic gods with their patron god YHWH.

While the words Elohim, Eloah, and El appear to be related, with the word El being the oldest, it is uncertain whether the word Elohim is derived from El via Eloah. Moreover, the word Eloah is arguably feminine. If this is true, some have suggested that the word Elohim is the masculine plural of a feminine noun, used as a singular, which would imply indeterminacy in both number and gender. However, this is speculative.

Elohim in Mormonism

In Mormonism, the word Elohim (also spelled Eloheim) usually refers specifically to God the Father, as a distinct being from Jesus Christ, who is sometimes referred to as Jehovah (Yahweh), whom they consider to be the God of the Old Testament. See also: Godhead (Mormonism).

The name of God in Judaism