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אֱלֹהִים

𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌

ʼĕlôhîym

H430 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אלה to be mighty, strong, be in awe of, to fear (reverentially)

Definition

A term referring to deity or divine beings; most frequently used as a designation for Israel's god, but also applied more broadly to other gods, supernatural beings, or exalted persons (such as judges or rulers) depending on context. In most instances with the article or in reference to the Israelite god, the term denotes the singular divine figure worshiped by the Israelites. Occasionally, especially in poetic or archaic contexts, it refers to multiple gods. The form is morphologically plural but can function grammatically as singular or plural, depending on context.

Semantic Range

god, deity, divine being, gods (plural), Israel's god, supernatural beings (e.g., members of the divine council), magistrates, judges, rulers, mighty beings; can also function as a superlative (e.g., 'mighty')

Root / Etymology

From the root אלה (ʼlh), meaning 'to be mighty, strong, to be in awe of.' The word is a plural form of אֱלוֹהַּ (ʼeloah), itself developed from the root. Morphologically, אֱלֹהִים is a masculine plural form but often takes singular verbs and adjectives when referring to Israel’s god, reflecting a plural of majesty or a superlative usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אֱלֹהִים is overwhelmingly used as a proper title for the god of Israel, frequently with the definite article (הָאֱלֹהִים, 'the god'). When referring to non-Israelite deities or conceptual divine beings, it appears without the article and is plural in meaning. In certain legal or poetic passages (e.g., Exodus 21:6; Psalm 82), it may refer to humans with judicial authority or to supernatural beings as part of the divine council. The term is sometimes rendered 'judges' or 'magistrates' in traditional translations, but its primary lexical sense remains 'deity' or 'god(s).' Standard English translations often obscure the contextual flexibility of the term, rendering it as 'God' when singular and referring to Israel's god, and as 'gods' elsewhere. The usage reflects ancient Israelite and Near Eastern conceptions of supernatural hierarchy and authority, with the primary sense being 'divine being,' flexible in number and referent based on contextual and grammatical cues. The later English term 'God' (with a capital G) reflects theological developments and should not be anachronistically read back into early texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Lozi Mulimu God, Supreme being
+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

אלה (ʾ-l-h) — might, strength, awe, reverential fear

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H412 אֵל these
H414 אֵלָא Elah
H422 אָלָה you swore an oath
H423 אָלָה solemn curse-oath
H424 אֵלָה her strong oak

Word Forms

59 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H430-20 אֱלֹהִ֑ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones 680
H430-12 אֱלֹ֣הֵי elohey HNcmpc God mighty ones of 399
H430-22 הָֽ/אֱלֹהִ֗ים haelohim HTd/Ncmpa of God the Mighty Ones 366
H430-16 אֱלֹהֶ֖י/ךָ eloheykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your God your Mighty One 325
H430-19 אֱלֹהֵֽי/נוּ eloheynu HNcmpc/Sp1cp our God our mighty ones 174
H430-17 אֱלֹ֨הֵי/כֶ֜ם eloheykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your God your mighty one(s) 162
H430-09 אֱלֹהָֽ/י elohay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my God my mighty ones 101
H430-34 לֵֽ/אלֹהִ֔ים lelohim HR/Ncmpa to God to mighty ones 78
H430-14 אֱלֹהֵי/הֶ֑ם eloheyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their God their mighty ones 71
H430-11 אֱלֹהָ֑י/ו elohayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his God his mighty-ones 58

Occurrences in Scripture

2600 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H430-20 Genesis 1:1 אֱלֹהִ֑ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:2 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa of God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:3 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:4 אֱלֹהִ֛ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:4 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:5 אֱלֹהִ֤ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:6 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:7 אֱלֹהִים֮ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:8 אֱלֹהִ֛ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
H430-20 Genesis 1:9 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones
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