Elohim
Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים) is a Hebrew word meaning 'gods' or 'godhood'. Although plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular agreement and refers to a single deity, particularly the God of Judaism, but also appears with plural agreement to refer to multiple gods, judges, or supernatural beings. The term is central to understanding the development of monotheistic and monolatrist thought in ancient Israelite religion.
- language
- Hebrew
- part_of_speech
- Noun (plural in form, often singular in meaning)
- meaning
- Gods, godhood, divinity, judges
- cognate_languages
- Ugaritic, Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic
- related_roots
- El (אֵל), Eloah (אֱלוֹהַּ)
- notable_rabbinic_commentator
- Maimonides
Lore & Background
The word Elohim is morphologically the plural of Eloah and is related to the Northwest Semitic noun El. It is cognate to the Ugaritic word ʾ-l-h-m, used for the pantheon of Canaanite gods, the children of El. In the Hebrew Bible, Elohim occurs frequently throughout the Torah, with meanings ranging from the single God of Israel to multiple gods (e.g., 'the gods of Egypt'), to supernatural beings such as angels or divine beings, and occasionally to human judges or rulers in specific contexts. The phrase bene elohim, 'sons of the Gods,' has an exact parallel in Ugaritic and Phoenician texts, referring to the council of the gods.
Reader's Guide
Elohim is significant because it bridges polytheistic and monotheistic conceptions of divinity in the Hebrew Bible. Its plural form, often used with singular verbs when referring to the God of Israel, has prompted extensive theological and linguistic discussion. Rabbinic scholar Maimonides noted that Elohim is a homonym, denoting God, angels, judges, and rulers. The term's usage in verses with plural verbs (e.g., Genesis 20:13, 35:7; 1 Samuel 28:13) has led to interpretations involving angels, spirits, or a majestic plural. The word's etymology, possibly from a broken plural of Proto-Semitic *ʾil- reanalyzed as singular, or from an abstract plural meaning 'divinity,' reflects the complex evolution of Israelite religion from a Canaanite context to a monolatrist or monotheistic framework. Elohim occupies the seventh rank of ten in Maimonides' Jewish angelic hierarchy.
Did You Know?
- Elohim is used with a plural verb in 1 Samuel 28:13, where the witch of Endor says she saw elohim ascending out of the earth.
- The Babylonian Talmud discusses the spirit of Samuel as the elohim seen by the witch of Endor, but does not mention Moses in this context.
- In Genesis 1:26, Elohim says 'Let us make man in our image,' which traditional Jewish sources interpret as God taking counsel with angels.
- The word Elohim is cognate to the Ugaritic ʾ-l-h-m, which refers to the family of El, the chief deity of the Canaanite pantheon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Elohim in simple terms?
Elohim is a Hebrew noun that translates as 'gods,' 'godhood,' or 'divinity.' Despite its plural grammatical shape, it most often refers to a single deity in the Hebrew Bible, pairing with singular verbs and adjectives.
Why does Elohim look plural but usually mean one God?
The word carries the Hebrew plural ending -im, yet in the vast majority of its biblical uses it governs singular agreement. This grammatical mismatch has fueled centuries of debate over whether it signals a divine plurality, a title of majesty, or simply an archaic fossil of earlier plural usage.
What's the difference between Elohim, El, and Eloah?
El (אֵל) is the shorter singular root meaning 'god' or 'deity,' while Eloah (אֱלוֹהַּ) is a singular variant of that same root. Elohim is the plural-form counterpart, and all three are used in different grammatical or theological settings across ancient Semitic literature.
Why does Elohim matter for the polytheism-to-monotheism story?
Because the identical word can denote a single God (with singular agreement) or a council of gods, human judges, and supernatural beings (with plural agreement), its shifting usage maps the theological move from Israelite monolatry toward strict monotheism. Scholars treat this duality as a linguistic trace of the religion's earlier, more pluralistic stage.
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