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FAQ # 157
QUESTION 157 : The KJV translates 'elohim'
like so: AV-God 2346, god 244, judge 5, GOD 1, goddess 2, great 2, mighty
2, angels 1, exceeding 1, God-ward + 04136 1, godly 1; 2606.
Are they so-called because, as the King James Version and the Peshitta
suppose, the word 'elohim' there properly means 'judges?'
Absolutely no. For the plural elohim to mean Judges,
it would follow that the singular means Judge, which it doesn’t. Elohim
is coming from El, which doesn’t mean Judge, nor any of the other forms
of El. It means mighty One. To see why a plural name was used for God
and all the contention surrounding it, refer back to Chapter 6 under the
section “God Said Let Us…”
In
addition, El and Eloah are different, though Eloah comes from El. El has
it's own development: El - singular, Eili - plural and Elim - collective
plural. It is also use for God and pagan deity (one individual) or deities
(many individuals, separated or collective). El simply means strength
[as in mighty one]. Elohim or Eloahim is derived from Eloah, the plural
of Eloah is Eloahi. However, both Eloahi and Elohim are the plurals of
Eloah, but Eloahi is simple plural (Jurors) while Elohim is a collective
plural noun (Jury). I also checked the dictionary and it states that collective
plural noun is a "singular noun denoting group of individuals."
Apparently, Elohim (Eloahim) and Elohi (Eloahi) is used interchangeably.
That is, where Elohim is said to be in DUE 6:4 it can also read Eloahi
or some say it reads that. Eloahi is also often translated Elohe. Nevertheless,
as stated in the chapter "GOD?" under the section "God
Said Let Us...," the plural forms can be used for a singular subject,
that is, one person, to denote majesty; as is the case with using Elohim
for God.
Another thing, although the prohibition on pronunciation
applies only to the four-letter Name, Jews customarily do not pronounce
any of God's many [Titles] except in prayer or study. The usual practice
is to substitute letters or syllables, so that Adonai becomes Adoshem
or Ha-Shem, Elohaynu becomes Elokaynu and Elohim become and Elokim, etc.
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