Elohim

The most common Hebrew word used as a plural form is Elohim. This is the original word for God in almost every verse in the Old Testament when we see the word "God."

The Elohim is a plural form of the Hebrew word Eloah. And because it is a plural form, it is concluded by those who believe in the Trinity Doctrine that it is evidence of the plurality of Persons of God or the so-called Trinity. Is this deduction or logical conclusion correct?

Let's look at it:

1. The common usage of the plural word Elohim is found in most scholars.

In the Hebrew, the word "Melekh" ("Heaven" or "Heaven") is used in the plural form, meaning "A king came".

2. Grammatical Plural Argument

In simple terms, this is what we have discovered.

In Biblical Hebrew, one of the main signs of a masculine plural noun is the ending:

־ִי־ִים (-im)

For example:

Therefore, in morphology, the word Elohim has a plural form because it contains the suffix -im. However, it is important to remember that in the case of Genesis 1:1, the word "God" is plural in form, but it functions with a singular verb.

Let's clarify:

There are two main words here:

1. Elohim (God)
   Form: Plural noun

2. Bara (He created)
   Form: Singular masculine verb

The grammatical connection is:

Elohim = Noun
Bara = Verb

The verb is singular, not plural.

Why Is the Verb Important?

Because in Hebrew, the verb can indicate the grammatical number of the subject.

For example:

Singular: "Melekh ba" meaning "A king came."

• Melekh = singular noun

• Ba = singular verb

Plural: "Melakhim ba'u" meaning "Kings came."

• Melakhim = plural noun

• Ba'u = plural verb

So we can see the pattern: when the subject is singular, the verb is also singular. When the subject is plural, the verb is also plural.

In the case of Genesis 1:1, the word Elohim is plural in form, but the verb bara is singular.

The word Elohim is plural in form, but the verb associated with it is singular.

Therefore, the plural form of the word Elohim by itself does not necessarily indicate a plurality of persons.

3. Elohim Can Refer to a Singular Being

The Israelites also used the word Elohim for the golden calf they made (Exodus 32:1, 4, 8, 23, 31), but the Bible's narrative clarifies that the golden calf itself is singular (Exodus 32:4, 5, 8, 19–20, 24, 35).

The Old Testament also uses the term Elohim in reference to individual pagan gods, such as:

• Baal-berith (Judges 8:33)

• Chemosh (Judges 11:24)

• Dagon (Judges 16:23)

• Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1:2–3)

• Nisroch (2 Kings 19:37)

Bawat isa sa mga Elohim na ito ay iisa sa bilang (singular) at hindi marami (plural).

4. Elohim Is Also Used in Reference to Jesus Christ

Ginagamit pa nga ng Biblia ang Elohim para kay Jesu-Cristo (Psalm 45:6; Zechariah 12:8–10; 14:5), at walang sinumang nagpapahiwatig na may plurality of persons kay Jesus.

Conclusion

Huwag po tayong malilito sa aral ng Biblia patungkol sa Dios. Tandaan lang natin ang sagot sa simple at napakahalagang mga tanong patungkol sa Dios:

1. Mayroon bang Dios?

2. Ano ang likas na kalagayan ng Dios?

3. Ilan ang tunay na Dios?

4. Sino ang tunay na Dios?

Kapag naging pamilyar ka sa mga talata ng Biblia na sumasagot sa mga katanungang ito, hindi ka maililigaw ng maling pananampalataya tungkol sa Dios.

Praise the Lord.