אֱלֹהִים (el-o-heem, aleph-lamed-hey-yod-mem) – Elohim is the most common of the Hebrew words that are usually translated as ‘God’. Similar words are Eloah (which is a different form of Elohim and is usually used in the book of Job) and El. The Aramaic equivalent is Elah.
The three letter root of these words is אלה, aleph-lamed-hey, which has a meaning of control and mastery.
The word Elohim can have other meanings than God such as in Exodus 22:8 when the word Elohim is usually translated as judges, that is, powerful figures of authority. Elohim can also mean ‘gods’. The surrounding words determine how the word is being used.
Elohim is the plural form of Eloah and this plural can be taken in two ways:
1. As a plural of number, that is, multiple gods.
2. As a singular plural of majesty and power, ‘capital G’ God.
Differences
The difference is made with the surrounding words, such as verbs and adjectives, which in Hebrew differentiate between singular and plural. For example, in Gen. 1:3, “And God said” is וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים ‘va’yomer elohim‘ and the verb part ‘va’yomer‘ is in the masculine singular – and he said. (וַיֹּאמְרוּ ‘va’yomru‘ would be the plural form, with a letter vav ending). Since the plural noun is used with a singular verb, that plural does not refer to more than one, but a singular majestic entity.
This concept of plural majesty is also used in the common word ‘Adonai‘ – my Master or Lord – from adonim, which is the plural of adon, master or lord. Plural majesty is also sometimes used with people who are in authority or ownership. The plural word adonim is often used referring to kings. For example, in 2 Chronicles 13:6 ‘his master’ is adonav, his ‘adonim‘ (referring to Salomon being Jeroboam’s master).
However, if the verb or adjective is plural, elohim probably means ‘gods’, or other figures with power, such as the judges in Ex. 22:8, where elohim is used with a plural verb. One common example is ‘other gods’, which in Hebrew is אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים ‘elohim acherim‘, which is attached to the adjective ‘acher‘ (other) which has a plural ending, -im. Since the noun’s adjective is plural, elohim in this phrase also is plural ‘gods’.
This study provided by Matthew Allgood; contributing Hebrew Studies writer.