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אֱלֹהִים

𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌

ʼĕlôhîym

H430 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

God/gods "Elohim" 50 occurrences ✓

The Mighty One(s) — God or gods depending on context

✓ All renderings match approved senses

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
Bemba Lesa God
Chichewa Mulungu God
Herero Kalunga God
Ila Leza God
Kaonde Kalunga God

See all 29 languages →

Root Family

אלה (Ela) — to point out, to designate, to indicate demonstratively

Root אלה to be mighty, strong, be in awe of, to fear (reverentially)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H412 אֵל toward
H414 אֵלָא Elah
H422 אָלָה he ascended
H424 אֵלָה her strong oak
H425 אֵלָה Elah

Word Forms

59 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H430-20 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim 680
H430-12 אֱלֹהֵ֣י elohey HNcmpc God mighty ones of Elohim of 399
H430-22 הָ/אֱלֹהִֽים haelohim HTd/Ncmpa of God the Mighty Ones the Elohim 366
H430-16 אֱלֹהֶ֜י/ךָ eloheykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your God your Mighty One your Elohim 325
H430-19 אֱלֹהֵ֗י/נוּ eloheynu HNcmpc/Sp1cp our God our mighty ones our Elohim 174
H430-17 אֱלֹֽהֵי/כֶם֙ eloheykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your God your mighty one(s) your Elohim 162
H430-09 אֱלֹהַ֗/י elohay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my God my mighty ones my Elohim 101
H430-34 לֵ/אלֹהִ֤ים lelohim HR/Ncmpa to God to mighty ones to Elohim 78
H430-14 אֱלֹהֵי/הֶ֑ם eloheyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their God their mighty ones their Elohim 71
H430-11 אֱלֹהָ֔י/ו elohayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his God his mighty-ones his Elohim 58

Occurrences in Scripture

2600 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H430-20 Genesis 1:1 אֱלֹהִ֑ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:2 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa of God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:3 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:4 אֱלֹהִ֛ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:4 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:5 אֱלֹהִ֤ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:6 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:7 אֱלֹהִים֮ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:8 אֱלֹהִ֛ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:9 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:10 אֱלֹהִ֤ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:10 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:11 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:12 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:14 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:16 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:17 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:18 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:20 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:21 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:21 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:22 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:24 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:25 אֱלֹהִים֩ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:25 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:26 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:27 אֱלֹהִ֤ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:27 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim-2 HNcmpa of God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:28 אֱלֹהִים֒ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:28 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:29 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 1:31 אֱלֹהִים֙ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:2 אֱלֹהִים֙ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:3 אֱלֹהִים֙ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:3 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:4 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:5 אֱלֹהִים֙ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:7 אֱלֹהִ֜ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones the Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:8 אֱלֹהִ֛ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:9 אֱלֹהִים֙ elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:15 אֱלֹהִ֖ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:16 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:18 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:19 אֱלֹהִ֜ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:21 אֱלֹהִ֧ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 2:22 אֱלֹהִ֧ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 3:1 אֱלֹהִ֑ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 3:1 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim-2 HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 3:3 אֱלֹהִ֗ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
H430-20 Genesis 3:5 אֱלֹהִ֔ים elohim HNcmpa God mighty ones Elohim
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