Question: Explain why we have not been told that the Hebrew word for god used in the Bible, Elohim, is actually plural … and means GODS … with an ‘S’ … MORE THAN ONE GOD.

Kevin’s Answer: You are correct that the suffix is plural, but wrong in believing that this information has been suppressed. Christians have not only talked about Elohim being plural, but have historically made a big deal out of the fact. It would seem that God’s revelation of Himself to man has always included the fact that though he is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), he exists as a plurality – what we typically refer to as the Trinity. In Scripture we see the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all referred to as God. However, it is important to note that they are not just co-equal and co-eternal, but that they are co-essential. That is why Jesus said “I and my Father are one.”

I should mention that Jewish rabbis dismiss the idea of plurality by claiming that the plural suffix on Elohim indicates a plural of majesty, such as when a king refers to himself as “We”. However, I think that to be a bit of a stretch.

The names of God make for a very interesting study and I encourage you to pursue this further. You may find the book The Names of God by Ken Hemphill to be a good starting place.

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Previous Q & A

• Joshua’s Jihad
• The Bible: Where Should I Start?
• My Relationship With Books

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