Why is the name for God אֱלּוֹהִים (Elohim) plural?

Asked Jan 01 '20 at 21:41

Active May 02 '22 at 09:53

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If Old Testament Judaism was a monotheistic religion, and Yahweh wanted to distinguish the Hebrews from their neighboring countries' polytheistic religions, why is His name אֱלוֹהִים (Elohim) plural?

בְּ·רֵאשִׁ֖ית»be·re·Shit»In the beginning בָּרָ֣א»ba·Ra»created אֱלֹהִ֑ים»E·lo·Him;»God אֵ֥ת»'et» הַ·שָּׁמַ֖יִם»hash·sha·Ma·yim»the heaven וְ·אֵ֥ת»ve·'Et» הָ·אָֽרֶץ׃»ha·'A·retz.»the earth HiSB Gen 1:1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ESV Genesis 1:1

אֱלוֹהִים (Elohim) is used "no less than 2,500 times" (Pohle-Preuss vol. 1 Part II, ch. 1, §1, §§1).

_{My question is more general than "In Genesis 20:13, why is elohim with a plural verb translated God rather than gods?" or "Why is Elohim translated as God rather than gods in Genesis 1:1?."}

edited May 02 '22 at 09:53

Michael16

asked Jan 01 '20 at 21:41

Geremia

1

אֱלוֹהִים is not a name. יהוה (Yahweh) is. – Der Übermensch Jan 01 '20 at 21:50
@DerÜbermensch What is it, then? – Geremia Jan 01 '20 at 21:59
אֱלוֹהִים is a common noun; it tells us what יהוה is. cf. Jos. 22:34: “Yahweh is the god.” – Der Übermensch Jan 01 '20 at 22:30
@DerÜbermensch Yes, יַהְוֶה (Yahweh) is His proper name. – Geremia Jan 01 '20 at 23:22
Actually "Why is Elohim translated as God rather than gods in Genesis 1:1?." answers this question quite well. – Mike Borden Jan 03 '20 at 12:47
@MikeBorden The accepted answer there states facts but not reasons behind why Elohim is plural. – Geremia Jan 03 '20 at 18:31

Why is the name for God אֱלּוֹהִים (Elohim) plural?

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