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Hebrew Word of the Day

אֱלֺהׅים

Meaning: God

Translit: E•lo•him

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Seemingly, “Elohim” looks like a simple name.

Actually, it raises a major question. To discuss this question, let’s present a basic Hebrew rule: every noun has a gender and is predetermined to be either masculine or feminine. Even simple objects such as a book, lamp and window have genders. A book (sefer) and a window (chalon) are masculine; a lamp (menorah) is feminine. Nouns, naturally, can appear in either singular or plural forms. Each of the 4 forms (masculine singular, masculine plural, feminine singular and feminine plural) has a different, unique sound and spelling. The masculine plural form always ends with the sound: “…..im.” Now, please look up. Literally, look up at the Hebrew word “God.” You can see that it ends with the masculine plural ending “im.”

However, we relate to God meaningfully and grammatically using the masculine singular. We say “Him,” “His” when we talk about Him, and we say: “You” or “Thou” when we speak to Him. We do the same in Hebrew. What makes it more interesting is the fact that Hebrew surely has a singular form for the name “Elohim.” It is “El.” You probably have heard it before in names such as “Beth-El,” “El Shaddai” and others. Furthermore, there is another singular name for God: “Eloha.” This name appears 57 times in the Bible in comparison to 1180 times for “Elohim.” Why do we then use the plural form of God and still relate to Him as singular? The answer, of course, rests in the theological realm and not in the Hebrew field.

Seemingly, “Elohim” looks like a simple name.

Actually, it raises a major question. To discuss this question, let’s present a basic Hebrew rule: every noun has a gender and is predetermined to be either masculine or feminine. Even simple objects such as a book, lamp and window have genders. A book (sefer) and a window (chalon) are masculine; a lamp (menorah) is feminine. Nouns, naturally, can appear in either singular or plural forms. Each of the 4 forms (masculine singular, masculine plural, feminine singular and feminine plural) has a different, unique sound and spelling. The masculine plural form always ends with the sound: “…..im.” Now, please look up. Literally, look up at the Hebrew word “God.” You can see that it ends with the masculine plural ending “im.”

However, we relate to God meaningfully and grammatically using the masculine singular. We say “Him,” “His” when we talk about Him, and we say: “You” or “Thou” when we speak to Him. We do the same in Hebrew. What makes it more interesting is the fact that Hebrew surely has a singular form for the name “Elohim.” It is “El.” You probably have heard it before in names such as “Beth-El,” “El Shaddai” and others. Furthermore, there is another singular name for God: “Eloha.” This name appears 57 times in the Bible in comparison to 1180 times for “Elohim.” Why do we then use the plural form of God and still relate to Him as singular? The answer, of course, rests in the theological realm and not in the Hebrew field.