Bible Understanding of a Name Part 3
Names of God:
Elohim
In Genesis 1:1-2:4, Moses describes the activity of the creation and uses the Hebrew name, Elohim 35 times in 35 verses as the agent of that creation. Elohim is the plural form of eloah, and is translated as a name for God 2780 times in the Old Testament. It is also used to identify “other gods” in the OT Scripture.
“Albright has suggested that the use of this majestic plural comes from the tendency in the ancient near east toward a universalism: “We find in Canaanite an increasing tendency to employ the plural Ashtorot `Astartes’, and Anatot `Anaths’, in the clear sense of totality of manifestations of a deity.” The form elohim occurs only in Hebrew and in no other Semitic language, not even Biblical Aramaic.”
Elohim is a word that describes the divine activity. In contrast to Yahweh as the immanent and personal covenant God, Elohim is the Transcendent; the Mighty Creator to be feared and awed by men. Elohim expresses greatness, glory, and inherently contains the ideas of “creative and governing power, omnipotence and sovereignty.”
When Elohim creates, the special verb bara’ is used. God is always the subject of this verb and it separates God’s creative acts from all human comparison. The creation of Elohim is unique. Genesis 1, then, reveals a unique, purposeful, intelligent Creator God who authors the universe as He pleases.
Elohim is often associated with titles by which the people of Israel came to know Him. All of His titles are related to His nature, deeds, and or personality. These are examples of titles related to:
Work of Creation:
Isa. 45:18; Jonah 1:9
God’s Sovereignty:
Gen. 24:3,7 (see Deut. 4:39, Josh. 2:11); Is. 37:16, 54:5; 1 Ki. 20:28; Jer. 32:27; Neh. 2:4,20; Deut. 10:17
God as Judge:
Ps. 50:6, 58:11, 75:7
Savior God:
Gen. 17:8; 26:24; 28:13; Ex. 3:6 – There are more than 100 of these formulaic expressions.
6 He said also, “I am the God (Elohim) of your father, the God (Elohim) of Abraham, the God (Elohim) of Isaac, and the God (Elohim) of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God (Elohim).
God’s Majesty or Glory:
Isa. 40:28; 30:18; 65:15; Jer. 10:10; 1 Sam. 6:7
God as linked to Israel:
God of the Armies of Israel (1 Sam. 17:45)
God of Jerusalem (2 Chr. 32:19)
God of Salvation:
1 Chr. 16:35; Ps. 18:46 cf. 88:1
Expressing Intimacy With His People:
Jer. 23:23; 2 Ki. 19:10; Deut. 8:5; Gen. 48:15; Ps. 4:1; 59:17; 43:2; 116:5
Often the name, Elohim, is accompanied by the name, Yahweh. In the first passage below, Moses has cause to combine the names because of the context of creation as well as the initial intimate blessings from God to man. In the second passage below, the context is the covenant obligations of Israel; therefore the use of Yahweh, and the more general Elohim as the transcendent deity. Indeed, for Moses, it seems that the two names appear together as “LORD God” so many times, it becomes almost formulaic but not meaningless.
Genesis 2:4-9
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD (Yahweh) God (Elohim) made earth and heaven. 5 Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD (Yahweh) God (Elohim) had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6 But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the LORD (Yahweh) God (Elohim) formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The LORD (Yahweh) God (Elohim) planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD (Yahweh) God (Elohim) caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Exodus 34:22-24
22″You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. 23 “Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord (Adonai) GOD (Yahweh), the God (Elohim) of Israel. 24 “For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD (Yahweh) your God (Elohim).
In the following passage in Deuteronomy 10, Moses is defining Yahweh’s name (see vs. 20), by making use of other names in conjunction with Yahweh. He seems to be stretching the limits of his own vocabulary in describing their awesome Yahweh. Moses is staggered by His God!
Deuteronomy 10:16-20
16″So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. 17 “For the LORD (Yahweh) your God (Elohim) is the God (Elohim) of gods (elohim) and the Lord (Adonai) of lords (adonai), the great, the mighty, and the awesome God (El) who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. 18 “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. 19 “So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 “You shall fear the LORD (Yahweh) your God (Elohim); you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. (boldface, mine)
Like Yahweh, there is a covenant aspect to Elohim as well. The prophet Jeremiah directly connects the covenant with David to Elohim.
Jeremiah 31:33
33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD (Yahweh), “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God (Elohim), and they shall be My people.
Isaiah 40:1
1 “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God (Elohim)
The interplay of these names is powerful suggestion that they are often carefully and meaningfully chosen to fit the context of the passage. As such, they contribute to the theological content of the Scripture and are part of God’s self-disclosure to mankind.
However, the significance of the use of Elohim is not a pervasive pattern in Old Testament Scripture; the Psalms being a prime example. Psalms 14 and 53 are almost identical and yet the Psalter in 14 employs both Yahweh and Elohim as names for God, and in 53, the Psalter uses Elohim exclusively.
Elohim, then is the Mighty God; powerful and transcendent. He is a covenant God, “Elohim of Israel.” His titles link Him to God’s sovereign actions in Israel’s history, filling out their understanding of the One God. Elohim figures significantly in the unfolding plan of promise in His participation as God of salvation.