laindon Bible Class 24 Sept 2008 "The use of Elohim in scripture"

1. The Use of Elohim in Scripture Laindon Bible Class 24 September 2008

3. The Big Issue with “Elohim” This is not normal. Usually the verb and noun would both be singular or both be plural – they would match. It sounds wrong when they don’t. He creates (sing) They create (plural) They creates He create Singular verb Plural noun ending (-im (m) , -oth (f) )

11. The Other View Gesenius

21. Conclusion so far Solution 2 is supported by the use of “elohim” throughout the Old Testament, and in the New Testament quotations. Elohim is a word with plural intensive form, but singular in meaning when used of the one true God. When used with a singular verb the word does not mean “mighty ones”, and is not a reference to angels or saints. To use “elohim” as a plural synonym for angels is an inaccurate use of the hebrew word and inconsistent with scriptural usage.

23. Use in Genesis 1:26-27 [26] And God (s) said (s) , Let us make (pl) man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God (s) created (s) man in his own image, in the image of God created (s) he (s) him; male and female created (s) he (s) them. CONCLUSION: The one God addresses the host of angels in his presence, inviting them to observe and participate. But, as with the rest of creation it is the one God who performs the act of creation.

24. Use in Genesis 3:5 & 22 [5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods , knowing good and evil. RV, RSV, ESV, YLT, NIV, Roth - “like God” [22] And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us , to know good and evil: Same solution as Gen 1:26, the one God is addressing angels Gen 11:6 And the LORD said…Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language,

25. Use in Exodus 22:8-9 [8] If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges , to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. [9] …the cause of both parties shall come before the judges ; and whom the judges shall condemn (pl) , he shall pay double unto his neighbour. RV, RSV, ESV, Roth, YLT - “brought before God” BUT: the verb is plural, so there is recognition here that the priests at the door of the tabernacle (before God) were those through whom God’s judgement came. This was given through the Urim & Thummim (see next slide).

26. In Psa 82:1,6 & John 10:34 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods….[6] I have said, Ye (pl) are gods (pl) ; This is not the intensive meaning and so is a valid plural, as used of false gods. It is perhaps referring to how God had passed judgements through the nation’s priests and rulers e.g. through Urim and Thummim. Jesus comments on this: [34] Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? [35] If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came …

27. Use in Hebrews 1:6 [6] And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Margin cross refs this to Psalm 97:7 “worship him, all ye gods.” But these are not the words quoted and the context of Psalm 97:7-9 is clearly gods = false idols. Quotation is actually from LXX in Deut 32:43 (not in KJV) “Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: and let all the angels of God worship him ”

28. Use in Psa 8:5 and Heb 2:7 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels [ elohim ], and hast crowned him with glory and honour. This is rendered “angels” because the LXX has aggelous. This is simply a bad translation in LXX. RV, RSV, YLT, Roth - “lower than God/Godhead” Heb 2 [7] Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Why did the writer maintain the translation error? Because it has no impact on his argument which is to show that Jesus was made the same as all other men - a little lower than God/angels – it doesn’t matter which as either would prove the point.

30. Combined with Yahweh RV, RSV, ESV, NIV, Roth, YLT - LORD, the God of… CONCLUSION: The hebrew does not appear to support treating Yahweh Elohim as “he who will be (manifest in) mighty ones of…”. Instead Yahweh is a proper name meaning “he who will be”, followed by a title such as “the God of Abraham”.