Is Elohim singular or plural ?By Ibn Anwar

[3abd Arahman]

Prof. C. L. Seow tells us that,

“When Elohim is used as a proper name, or when referring to Israel’s God, it is treated as singular.” [12]

In conclusion, the word Elohim when used for God, the Lord of Israel and the universe it is always understood as ONE without a plurality of persons or entities in whatever shape or form in that oneness. He is but One God who is majestic and awesome.

Let us conclude this thesis with the scholar Ethelyn Simon who says,

“When ELOHIM refers to the one true God, singular verbs and pronouns are used. When the one true God reaches out to include others in His activities, plural verbs and pronouns are used. These do not indicate any plurality of gods or that the true God is more than one. When ELOHIM refers to the God of Israel it is always singular in concept, even though it has a masculine plural ending.” [13]



Appendix

It is not ‘pluralis majestas’ as you said in your latest reply Rev. Tony Costa. The original term is pluralis maiestatis(its modern spelling is pluralis majestatis) , das majastatische wir in German and רִבּוּי הַכֹּחוֹת‎ in Hebrew.

One can also find the concept of the majestic plural in Arabic e.g. kaifa halukum? which means how are you? with the masculine plural ending(dhammir muttasil) instead of the singular masculine ending ka used when addressing someone of status

[3abd Arahman]

References and Notes:

[1] Rabbi Nosson Scherman, Rabbi Meir Ziotowitz. The Chumash, The Stone Edition, Artscoll Series(2007). Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. p. 8

[2] Martin I. Lockshin. Rabbi Samuel Ben Meir’s Commentary on Genesis(1989). United Kingdom: The Eldwin Mellen Press, Ltd. p. 51

[3] E. Kautzch, A.E. Crowley. Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar, 2nd English Ed. (1910 & 1976). London, England: Oxford University Press. p. 398

[4] Edited by R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., Bruce K. Waltke. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Volume 1(1980). Chicago: Moody Press. p. 44

[5] New International Version Study Bible(1985). Grand Rapids: Zondervan. p. 6

[6] Watson E. Mills. Mercer Dictionary of the Bible(1991). Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press. p. 336

[7] New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd Ed. Volume 5(2003). Thomson Gale. p. 173

[8] Paul J. Achtemeier. HarperCollins’ Bible Dictionary(1996). HarperCollins. p. 737

[9] “The form of the word, Elohim, is plural. The Hebrews pluralized nouns to express greatness or majesty” (Flanders, Cresson; Introduction to the Bible). / See also “A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Hebrew Bible, With Their Renderings in the Authorized English Version, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL. D., Smith’s Bible Dictionary and Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible in the Appendix section on page 1598 by Spiros Zodhiates.

[10] Times of London. May 29, 2002. Ed. F1. p. 32

[11] E. Kautzch, A.E. Crowley. Op.Cit. 399

[12] C. L. Seow. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew(1987). Nashville: Abingdon Press. p. 19

[13] Ethelyn Simon. The first Hebrew primer for adults, 2nd Ed(1983). Oakland, California: EKS Publishing Company. p. 48