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Elohim Interpretation: Regarding the translation and interpretation of the word "Elohim"
Posted by Christian on April 6, 2010 at 2:41pm in Forum
Elohim Interpretation
REGARDING THE TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE WORD "ELOHIM".
Erroneously, the translator often chooses to interpret and name the subject, rather than state the literal title being applied to the subject.
In the Scriptures, "Behemoth" ("Beasts") is a word used to describe plural animals, cattle, etc - but also applied as a title for a singular creature (somewhat comparable to "majestic plural").
Behemoth is translated "Hippopotamus" in modern Hebrew. However, Behemoth does not mean "Hippopotamus (singular)", but "Beasts (plural)" - it is used as a title for the hippo, and therefore sometimes translated as hippo. This is a case of the translator choosing to translate the subject ("hippo"), rather than the title of the subject ("beasts").
Eloah is used to describe what we would call a god, and therefore often translated as a god. Elohim is a plural title often referring to a singular god, or to multiple gods. Elohim, as a title for a singular subject, would be referred to as a "He", Elohim as applied to multiple gods would be referred to as "Them/They".
When Elohim is correctly translated, in application to plural subjects, as a plural ("gods"), then it should be translated consistently, even when applied to a singular subject; the very same subject still being referred to as He in the singular. However, is our YHWH (sing.) a "gods" (pl.) ? No. This word is erroneously translated in reference to it's subject ("gods", or when applied to YHWH, "God"), rather than it's literal meaning.
What is the literal meaning? Whatever it is, we know it's a plural word. Elohim should be translated as a plural word, even though the subject is singular - compare with Behemoth.
By saying Eloah = god (sing.), YHWH as an Eloah would be "He, YHWH the God", causing Elohim to be, if consistent with this translation, "He, YHWH the Gods", which is obviously not correct. He (sing.) is not "gods" (pl.), He is Elohim (pl.), forcing us to draw the conclusion "Elohim" does not mean "gods", though it can describe them. It is rather a term applied to god and gods, and erroneous translation has chosen to present the meaning and nature of the subjects, rather than state the literal meaning of the word "Elohim". It is as when the name Behemoth (literal meaning: "Beasts") was applied to the Hippopotamus, and the name Behemoth therefore afterward translated as "Hippopotamus" (rather than "Beasts").
Conclusion: "Elohim" cannot not be accurately translated as "god" or "gods" - it is a title descriptive of a god, gods, powers and divinities, yet not having the literal meaning of "god" or "gods".
THEORY ON ELOHIM: Eloah means (sing.) Power, Elohim means (pl.) Powers - What we call god and gods in modern culture, the ancient peoples would call power and powers. The pagan gods were seen as the forces, power factors, energies, elements of might - the forces of nature would probably be synonymous, or in the same category. Although the pagan conception of deities degenerated with time, before being revitalized by new age occultism, the original concept of Eloah and Elohim meant something quite different from the personalized gods of classic mythology.
Elohim and it's diluted sister-concepts among pagan peoples was an impersonal concept, meaning one god could be several Elohim. The "god" YHWH is the Elohim (controlling, guiding, protecting powers) of Israel.
"Shema Yisrael - YHWH Eloheinu - YHWH Echad"
Eloheinu, "Our Eloah/Elohim" can be referring to the singular Eloah, but is probably referring to the plural Elohim, making the following statement of YHWH being Echad, (though He was just described as plural) more interesting.
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