“Elohim” in Hebrew is commonly translated to English as “God” or “gods”, and we commonly uphold it as a reference to Yehovah God. However, what do we know about its actual definition, such that we can interpret its usage in scriptures and apply its inferences in practice consistently?
Psalm 82:6
I said, “You are gods [elohim], and all of you are sons of the Most High [Elyon].”
John 10:34-36
Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I SAID, YOU ARE GODS [Greek theos; Hebrew elohim]’? If he called them gods [Greek theos; Hebrew elohim], to whom the word of God [Greek theos; Hebrew elohim] came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God [Greek theos; Hebrew elohim]’?
Referencing to the definition by Dr Mark Futato, “elohim” is actually a plural noun (indicated by the /im/ as in cherubim and seraphim). Sometimes the referent is plural. At other times the referent is singular. Like most words in English, “elohim” can mean several things. Sometimes “elohim” refers to plural “gods,” as in “You shall have no other gods before me” (Deuteronomy 5:7). At other times it refers to the singular “God,” as in “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). It is clear in this latter example that even though the form of the word “elohim” is plural, the referent is singular, because the verb with which “elohim” is used (“created”) is singular in Hebrew.
Exodus 15:11
“Who is like You among the gods [el], O LORD [YHVH]? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?”
Deuteronomy 10:17
“For the LORD [YHVH] your God [elohim] is the God [elohim] of gods [elohim] and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God [el] who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.”
Judges 6:10
‘and I said to you, “I am the LORD [YHVH] your God [elohim]; you shall not fear the gods [elohim] of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed Me [Lit. listened to My voice].”’
So, even though “elohim” is translated as “God” or “gods” in English, it is a generic term meaning “supernatural majesties or divine strong ones“. As such, “elohim” is not “god” in the notion or image that we commonly hold concerning a “god”, and “elohim” is not used exclusively to Yehovah.
With this definition, and adapting from John Walton, Yehovah is Elohim, but elohim are not necessarily Yehovah. We will use the uppercase “E” and lowercase “e” to differentiate Yehovah-Elohim from all other elohim. Furthermore, as Yehovah is the Creator-Elohim who created all other elohim, Yehovah is Elohim of a different class – the Most High class – compared to all other elohim. What’s more, Yehovah is infinite while all other elohim are finite beings.
John 3:6-7
“That which is born of the flesh [sarx] is flesh [sarx], and that which is born of the Spirit [pneuma] is spirit [pneuma]. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Sarx (flesh) gives birth to sarx (flesh); pneuma (breath or spirit) gives birth to pneuma (breath or spirit); and elohim (supernatural majesties or divine strong ones or gods) gives birth to elohim (supernatural majesties or divine strong ones or gods).
When our spirits – “to whom the Word of God [Greek ‘theos’; Hebrew ‘elohim’] came” – are born again by the Spirit of the Firstborn Son of Elohim through the Spirit of Elohim, we are born again by Elohim as sons of Elohim and brethren of the Firstborn Son of Elohim. As sons of Elohim born again in the essence, nature, and image of the Firstborn Son of Elohim in our spirit, the potential to conform through sanctification into the complete image and likeness of the Firstborn Son of Elohim in the soul and flesh is birthed in us (Romans 8:29).
Thus, “you are gods [elohim], and all of you are sons of the Most High [Elyon]“. As new creation born again by the Spirit of Elohim, not only are we elohim in spirit, we are also the sent representatives of the Elohim in the flesh – in the image and likeness of Jesus the Son of El Elyon in the days of His flesh (John 17:18). In other words, as sons of El Elyon, we are el of El Elyon. Like Jesus in the days of His flesh, we are supernatural majesties and divinely strong ones of El Elyon clothed in human flesh.
As such, we are higher, or greater, than all the elohim who are in the world, even Satan (1 John 4:4). For this reason, no gates of hell shall prevail against us (Matthew 16:18); for the works that the Son of El Elyon did, we shall do, even greater works than those He did (John 14:12).
Truly, Christ in us is the hope and actualisation of our glory when we attain to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of the Firstborn Son of Elohim (c.f. Colossians 1:27-28; Ephesians 4:13).
You are elohim born (again) by the Elohim to conform to the image and likeness of the Firstborn Son of the Elohim, to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Yehovah is the God (Elohim) of gods (elohim), and you are a god (elohim) of God (Elohim). Can you believe it?
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Shalom, great writing! The only thing I would add for clarification is that the greek word “theos” is singular and is not equivalent to the Hebrew word “elohim” which is plural, as you covered. “Theoi” is the plural of the greek word “theos” and is thus the equivalent to the Hebrew word “elohim.”
Thanks, Dwight, for your clarification. Appreciate it. Shalom.
Jesus is a ripoff of pagan gods who came before him.