Elohim
Click on headings to expand them, or links to go to specific articles.
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.
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] 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. All we can conclude from this is that Elohim is endless, and though he can never be defined, he can be experienced.
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? |
Footnotes