God, In Hbrew, Is Plural

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JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
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#1
I will not burden anyone with a lot of Hebrew, however one word may enlighten the entire Bible for some

Genesis 1:1 says, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The Word for God here, is Elohim, plural for what men of many nations used to use for calling upon God. El is singular. It means quite literally "mighty one."

You see when men drifted away from knowing God personally, they began to make up their own gods, elohim, they allso tended to dote over any men who were considered strong or mighty, so for mankind el became also the name for gods, any god., but not the El of Issrael nor of Jesus, Yeshua.

With the knowledge that Elohim created we know it is plural, yet God is One, and He is.

Elohim said, come let us make man in our image...…….are you catching hold of it yet? The kKFather, the kSon and the Holy Spirit are One…….. I should not need embellish more on this……….Praise God, amen.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,647
13,121
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#2
the verb 'created' in Genesis 1:1 is singular form

the LORD God, the Spirit of the LORD, the Angel of the LORD -- Adonai Elohenu Echad -- the Lord our God is One :)
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,189
6,533
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#3
the verb 'created' in Genesis 1:1 is singular form

the LORD God, the Spirit of the LORD, the Angel of the LORD -- Adonai Elohenu Echad -- the Lord our God is One :)
???
Why does the word created being singular as in (one creation) signify that God is singular? In vs. 2, the Spirit of God is mentioned...........and this same conversation continues until God says Let us make man in our image......

Does it have to read "Gods?" for people to accept the Holy Trinity? I thought you believed in the Holy Trinity?

(it's been a confusing morning here on CC........need more coffee)

:)
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
6,526
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#4
Elohim is plural and He is One. The verb, created, is both singular and plural, try it.
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,632
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#5
Before Christianity became a villain to jews, there was discussion about this among some rabbis

The Trinity would not conflict the Shema.

Im sure most Christians dont believe the trinity as it is in the creeds though.
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,632
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#6
???
Why does the word created being singular as in (one creation) signify that God is singular? In vs. 2, the Spirit of God is mentioned...........and this same conversation continues until God says Let us make man in our image......

Does it have to read "Gods?" for people to accept the Holy Trinity? I thought you believed in the Holy Trinity?

(it's been a confusing morning here on CC........need more coffee)

:)
posthuman does believe in the trinity. He is arguing for the trinity in this post.

You just misunderstood his point.

Me and posthuman are great friends so I will take liberty to translate it to you:

He is making the point that since Elohim is plural, and created is singular verb, that PROVES the trinity. Plural, yet a single God. One God.
In the next sentence he then mentions the trinity in this way:
"the LORD God, the Spirit of the LORD, the Angel of the LORD -- Adonai Elohenu Echad -- the Lord our God is One "
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
6,526
113
#7
posthuman does believe in the trinity. He is arguing for the trinity in this post.

You just misunderstood his point.

Me and posthuman are great friends so I will take liberty to translate it to you:

He is making the point that since Elohim is plural, and created is singular verb, that PROVES the trinity. Plural, yet a single God. One God.
In the next sentence he then mentions the trinity in this way:
"the LORD God, the Spirit of the LORD, the Angel of the LORD -- Adonai Elohenu Echad -- the Lord our God is One "
Thank you and God bless you...I was wondering too… Please forgive my duhhh PH:
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,647
13,121
113
#8
???
Why does the word created being singular as in (one creation) signify that God is singular? In vs. 2, the Spirit of God is mentioned...........and this same conversation continues until God says Let us make man in our image......

Does it have to read "Gods?" for people to accept the Holy Trinity? I thought you believed in the Holy Trinity?

(it's been a confusing morning here on CC........need more coffee)

:)
English doesn't have this kind of structure, so i'm going to probably confuse you more ((have another :coffee:)) by talking about Spanish.

if i say, i go to the beach

yo voy a la playa

"voy" is singular, to go ((literally i go, there are other singular forms for you go or he/she goes)). "yo" is singular, i. the verb and the pronoun agree in 'singular/plural' tense

if i say, we go to the beach

nosotros vamos a la playa

i use "nosotros" = we, and i use plural form of the verb to go, "vamos"

Hebrew has singular/plural forms of verbs, too. the 'correct grammar' is to use plural verbs with plural subjects and singular verb forms with singular subjects. what i have been told ((don't know the language in order to personally verify other than trust some website that conjugates)) is that whenever the Bible talks about God with the word Elohim, it's 'bad grammar' -- plural pronoun Elohim and always singular verb tense. because the 'plural' God is actually singular.

i've also heard that in Hebrew plural forms of nouns can indicate emphasis or importance sometimes, instead of indicating plurality of number. sort of like royal 'we'
altho, i wonder if this isn't a chicken-and-egg thing; that is, the Bible speaks this way about God, and people looked at that, and thought this is bad grammar, but it must be correct, because it's the Bible, so what does it mean? and came up with the explanation that it must be that plural noun form can mean something other there actually being more than one of something, because, sound doctrine in theology.
i also suspect the royal we also has an etymological beginning in the way the Biblical grammar when talking about God is.


i should look that up and see if my suspicions are correct :)
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,647
13,121
113
#9
posthuman does believe in the trinity. He is arguing for the trinity in this post.

You just misunderstood his point.

Me and posthuman are great friends so I will take liberty to translate it to you:

He is making the point that since Elohim is plural, and created is singular verb, that PROVES the trinity. Plural, yet a single God. One God.
In the next sentence he then mentions the trinity in this way:
"the LORD God, the Spirit of the LORD, the Angel of the LORD -- Adonai Elohenu Echad -- the Lord our God is One "
yes, you understood what i was trying to say exactly :)

thanks!
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
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#10
א בְּרֵאשִׁית, בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
I was just reading this yesterday and I had not noticed ever that it is bara and not baran……. Now the verb being in Singular form has no bearing other than showing God is One just as is written in the OT and declared by our Lord Jesus...…...This is spotlighted and emphasized by Isaiah in 9:6, not to mention the numerous times Yahweh refers to Himself as our King, our Husband, our Redeemer, which should be enough to show any that Elohim is plu4ral yet One.

If grammar does not explain it well enough, faith should. No, we do not use faith as an excuse to say what is wrong is correct, however I belie the case is well explained above here.

By the way, I reference this just yesterdy………..hmmm?
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,182
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Oregon
cfbac.org
#11
.
Making an issue out of Hebrew plural nouns used in the singular is a classic
case of jousting windmills. For example:

"And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little
water of thy pitcher." (Gen 24:17)

The Hebrew word for water in that passage is a plural noun. The water below
is also a plural Hebrew noun.

"And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and
ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children
of Israel drink of it." (Ex 32:20)

Nouns that can be understood as either singular or plural are common in
English too; for example deer, aircraft, sheep, fish, quid, etc.
_
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
6,526
113
#12
Demonstrating to all who believe in the Father, the Son and the HOly Sprit the significance of God being referred to in the plural right from the beginning of the Word. It is actually thrilling to consider….. Elohim is One...…...God is One…..If you think of this as Quijotean, kperhaps yo could reaexamine the significance of the theme………..
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,647
13,121
113
#13
.
Making an issue out of Hebrew plural nouns used in the singular is a classic
case of jousting windmills. For example:


"And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little
water of thy pitcher." (Gen 24:17)


The Hebrew word for water in that passage is a plural noun. The water below
is also a plural Hebrew noun.


"And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and
ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children
of Israel drink of it." (Ex 32:20)


Nouns that can be understood as either singular or plural are common in
English too; for example deer, aircraft, sheep, fish, quid, etc.
_
whoever is thirsty, come, drink of the water of life
 

NayborBear

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
#14
posthuman does believe in the trinity. He is arguing for the trinity in this post.

You just misunderstood his point.

Me and posthuman are great friends so I will take liberty to translate it to you:

He is making the point that since Elohim is plural, and created is singular verb, that PROVES the trinity. Plural, yet a single God. One God.
In the next sentence he then mentions the trinity in this way:
"the LORD God, the Spirit of the LORD, the Angel of the LORD -- Adonai Elohenu Echad -- the Lord our God is One "

Revelation 4
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

the latin quotation: "Elohim Plurbis Spiritos Unum" may just be what's needed.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,189
6,533
113
#15
Well, all this considered...............I believe in the Holy Trinity........

God the Father..........God of man

God the Son...............God as man

God the Holy Spirit.....God within man

Others can conjunct this or that, and believe as they wish, or argue singular or plural...........they have the God given right to do so.............it's called Free Will!

hi-animated-emoji.gif
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,632
113
#16
Others can conjunct this or that, and believe as they wish, or argue singular or plural...........they have the God given right to do so.............it's called Free Will!
How do you know you werent predestined to say that?
 

Zmouth

Senior Member
Nov 21, 2012
3,391
134
63
#17
But I digress, yet I would like to ask those who believe the plural term Elohim means one God the following question;

What do the angels call those who believe in one God?

I don't know the they call them but if I had to guess then considering James 2:19 then they might be called "the Tremblers"but then again maybe Isaiah 66:5 would be more accurate.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,229
6,526
113
#19
When Elohim created man He siadd, and this is simple, Come let us make man in our image.

He was not speaking of the flesh but of the Spirit………..God is One.

This is a mystery yet very easy to believe with the faith God, Elohim, has given you.