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This article is one in a series of studies on Elohim, one of the Hebrew names for God - you are currently on the topic that is in bold:

The Hebrew word אלהים (English: Elohim) is translated as "God"^[1]. Although the root-meaning of this word is unknown, it is presumed to mean power, dominion, majesty, greatness, or even an abstract concept (such as life - Chayyim). The form of Elohim is plural, but it is used as a singular noun when in reference to God, and usually as a pluran noun when not in reference to God. ^[2]

The Image of Elohim

When Man was made in the image of God, he was made a spirit, because God is a spirit (John 4:24).

And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness:... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26a-27)

Even though God said "let us make man in "our" image, he only made one man. After he had formed the spirit, God created a body for man to live in, and set him in the garden of Eden.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15)

It was only after God had created a body for the Man, and instructed him on how to act, that he created a woman to accompany the man. Prior to this, Man (Body and Spirit) was in the image of God, being both Male and Female. After God created the woman, Man could not be in the complete image of God without his wife. Just like God separated the Woman from Adam, it is in His plan to create a Bride for himself. This Bride will also be in the image of God: a Spirit.

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18)

...Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. ...And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. (Revelation 21:9b, 22:17)

Commentary by William Branham

Template:Trinitarian challenge

But when God made His first man, if you noticed, He made him in the likeness of Himself; He was made in the image of God. And what is God? Now, if we can find out what God is we can find what kind of a man He made.

Sermon: Q. & A. on Genesis, Jeffersonville, IN, July 29, 1953

And God in the beginning made His first man. He made him out of spirit. And spirit is the invisible part of man that you don't see. Now, God made man in His Own image..."And God is a Spirit," says the Bible. And the first man that was made had the government over all the creation, just like the Holy Spirit has government over the Church today. He led the creation. He led the animals.

But there was no man to till the soil, so God made man out of dust of the earth.... And so now when they argue, "Well, his feet look like a bear, and his hands look like a--a ape or a--a monkey, or so forth," they try to say his origin come that. That has nothing to do with it. This is the body of flesh that he's just living in, like a house, it's going back to the dust of the earth. But the spirit is immortal; it comes from God. That's the image of God. God is a Spirit.

Sermon: The Diety of Jesus Christ Jeffersonville, IN, Dec. 25, 1949

The Names of Elohim in the Old Testament

Name	Reference	Scripture
Elohim God. Creator and Judge. Known by his actions.	Genesis 1:1	In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Elohei Avraham The God of Abraham	Exodus 3:15	And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Elohei Yitschak The God of Isaac	Exodus 3:15	And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Elohei Jacob The God of Jacob	Exodus 3:15	And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Elohei Chasdi God of my kindness	Psalms 59:17	Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Elohei Haelohim The God of Gods	Deuteronomy 10:17	For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Elohei Ma’uzzi God of my strength	II Samuel 22:33	God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
Elohei Mikkarov God who is near	Jeremiah 23:23	Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
Elohei Marom The God of heights	Micah 6:6	Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Elohei Mishpat The God of justice	Isaiah 30:18	And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Elohei Tseva’ot The God of hosts	II Samuel 5:10	And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
Elohei Kedem The Eternal God	Deuteronomy 33:27	The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Eloheynu Our God	Exodus 3:18	And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
Elohei Avotenu The God of our fathers	Deuteronomy 26:7	And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
Elohim Bashamayim God in heaven	II Chronicles 20:6	And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
Elohim Emet God of Truth	Jeremiah 10:10	But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Elohei Nachor The God of Nahor (Abraham’s Father)	Genesis 31:53	The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
Elohim Chayim The living God	Deuteronomy 5:26	For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
Elohei haruchot l’chol-basar God of the spirits of all flesh	Numbers 16:22	And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

References

↑ HEBREW LEXICON -- STRONG'S NUMBER 430
↑ Biblical Hebrew, An Introductory Grammar, Page H. Kelly, William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1992, Pg. 32.

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[Lexicon_430-1] HEBREW LEXICON -- STRONG'S NUMBER 430

[Biblical_Hebrew-2] Biblical Hebrew, An Introductory Grammar, Page H. Kelly, William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1992, Pg. 32.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 ==Commentary by William Branham==
-{{Trinitarian challenge|Elohim|Other Hebrew words that end in the plural form '''ים''' include water (Mayim),  heaven (Shamayim), life (Chayyim), and virginity (Betulim).  There is no underlying trinity with any of these other words, rather, the plural nature refers to the endless or undefined nature of the word. <br> <br>'''Conclusion:''' Elohim is endless, and though he can never be defined, he can be experienced.}}
+{{Trinitarian challenge|Elohim|Other Hebrew words that end in the plural form '''ים''' include water (Mayim),  heaven (Shamayim), life (Chayyim), and virginity (Betulim).  The plural nature of these words refers to the endless or undefined nature. <br> <br>'''Conclusion:''' Elohim is endless, and though he can never be defined, he can be experienced.}}
 :''But when God made His first man, if you noticed, He made him in the likeness of Himself; He was made in the image of God. And what is God? Now, if we can find out what God is we can find what kind of a man He made.''
 :[http://www.nathan.co.za/message.asp?sermonum=116 Sermon: Q. & A. on Genesis, Jeffersonville, IN, July 29, 1953]
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 :''But there was no man to till the soil, so God made man out of dust of the earth.... And so now when they argue, "Well, his feet look like a bear, and his hands look like a--a ape or a--a monkey, or so forth," they try to say his origin come that. That has nothing to do with it. This is the body of flesh that he's just living in, like a house, it's going back to the dust of the earth. But the spirit is immortal; it comes from God. That's the image of God. God is a Spirit.''
 :[http://www.nathan.co.za/message.asp?sermonum=10 Sermon: The Diety of Jesus Christ Jeffersonville, IN, Dec. 25, 1949]
 ==The Names of Elohim in the Old Testament==