What is the meaning of the wordElohim?

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The Hebrew word Elohim is one of the most outstanding names of God in the Old Testament, occurring well over 2,000 times — 27 times in Genesis 1 alone. It is the plural of Eloah and means creatorial power: God as the supreme Creator, the One with whom all creation has to do. ## The meaning: creatorial power Morrish's Bible Dictionary defines it concisely: ***Eloah* (Elah Chaldee), *Elohim.*** The names most commonly used for God the Creator, the One with whom man has to do, the supreme Deity. Gen. 1:1-31. (Running all through the O.T. to Mal. 3:18.) These words are also applied to God's representatives, such as angels and judges. Ex. 22:28; Ps. 82:6; and also to false gods. Lev. 19:4. *Elohim* (which is plural, called the plural of majesty or excellency) is the word of most frequent occurrence. When it is distinctly used for the one true God the article is often added. ## The plural form and the Trinity What makes Elohim especially remarkable is that it is a plural noun, yet consistently paired with a singular verb. A.J. Pollock addresses this directly: This is one of the very outstanding names of God in the Old Testament, occurring well over 2,000 times—27 times in Genesis 1. It is the plural of Eloah, and means creatorial power. Why, then, we may ask, is God introduced to us as Elohim, a plural word? As we read through God's holy Word we find He is revealed as Father, Son and Spirit. Even the reader, who is only familiar with the English language, can gather from the reading of his English Bible, that more than one Divine Person was involved in the mighty work of creation. We read for instance, "Let US [plural] make man in our image, after our likeness" (Gen. 1:26). Pollock draws out the grammatical significance: It is striking indeed that the plural word Elohim, is followed by a singular verb. ... It is clear that we have here the first intimation of the Godhead as Trinity — Father, Son and Spirit, yet One God. Hence the verb in the singular, the two words, "God (plural) created (singular)" set forth a plural unity, never known save in relation to the Being of God. This is confirmed by the great declaration of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4. Pollock writes: "Hear O Israel: the LORD [Jehovah, singular] our God [Elohim, plural] is one LORD [Jehovah, singular]." Here in this very majestic declaration of the Oneness of the Godhead, care is taken to state it consistently with the truth afterwards revealed concerning the Three Persons of the Godhead — Father, Son and Spirit. These Three Persons, of one Substance, completely united in thought, will, purpose, counsel, are not three Gods, but One God, not a tritheism, but a Holy Trinity. It is the more remarkable, the Jews being stout believers in the One God, that the very first name of God in their sacred writings should be in the plural, and occurring well over 2,000 times throughout the Books of the Old Testament. ## Elohim versus Jehovah — why the change in Genesis 2 Elohim is the name of God as Creator, while Jehovah is His name of covenant relationship with man. The Morrish dictionary explains: The above 'relationship' may be seen in the change from Elohim, the Creator, in Gen. 1, to Jehovah Elohim in Gen. 2, when man was brought into relationship with God. Again in Gen. 7:16 Elohim ordered Noah to make the ark but Jehovah shut him in. Pollock puts it beautifully: It is surely fitting that Genesis 1, that great chapter, describing the creation of the mighty universe, and how it was fashioned for man's residence, before man, the topstone of God's handiwork arrived, should use the word, Elohim, the name of the Creator God, of Trinity acting in unity. But in Genesis 2 we do not have a second story of the creation, but how everything was ordered when man arrived on the scene. How fitting surely that the name of Jehovah (God's covenant name for man's blessing) should appear, the name, Elohim, in conjunction with it. ## Elohim applied to others The word is not exclusively used for the true God. Pollock notes: ELOHIM (plural), translated gods, occurs nearly 200 times in the Old Testament, as referring to heathen gods. ... In Exodus 21:6, we find the word, elohim, describing earthly judges. In Psalm 8:5 we find angels are mentioned under the name of elohim (plural). ## Synthesis Elohim means God in His creatorial power — the supreme Deity who brought all things into being. Its plural form, paired with a singular verb, is a profound early intimation of the Trinity: three Divine Persons (Father, Son, and Spirit) acting in perfect unity as one God. This is why Scripture opens with "God [*Elohim*, plural] created [singular]" — a plural unity found nowhere else. As the name of God over creation, Elohim stands in distinction to Jehovah, which is His name of covenant relationship and blessing — and that is why Elohim alone appears in Genesis 1 (creation), while Jehovah-Elohim appears from Genesis 2:4 onward, when man enters into relationship with God.