ELOHIM - A Word Study (Part 1)

This Hebrew word is usually translated ‘God’ in English

Bibles. Using Strong’s Concordance to study the

words, the meaning of ‘elohim’ can be traced back to

its root.

Strong’s gives this explanation for elohim (H430):

Elohim (H430): Plural of H433:

                       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.

Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine      

KJV Usage: angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly),

X (very) great, judges, X mighty.

1. (plural) a. rulers, judges  b. divine ones  c. angels  d. gods    

2. (plural intensive - singular meaning) 

                  a. god, goddess b. godlike one 

                  c. works or special possessions of God

                  d. the (true) God e. God

So tracing back from the above, it can be seen that the

word ‘elohim’ is the plural of the word ‘eloah’.  Strong’s

defines Eloah (H433) as:

Eloah (H433): probably prolonged (emphatically) from H410;

                      a deity or the deity

Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine

KJV Usage: God, god.

1. God  

2. false god

So far it can be seen that ‘elohim’ is the plural of

‘eloah’, and ‘eloah’ is a form of the word ‘el’.  Going  

back another step towards the root word of ‘elohim’,

Strong’s defines ‘el’ (H410) as:

El (H410): Shortened from H352; strength; as adjective mighty;

               especially the Almighty 

               (but used also of  any deity)

               

Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine    

KJV Usage: God (god), X goodly, X great, idol,

might (-y one), power, strong.

1. god, god-like one, mighty one

    a. men of rank, mighty heroes  b. angels

    c. god, false god (demons, imaginations)

     d. God, the one true God, Jehovah

2. mighty things in nature 

3. strength, power

‘El’ is a shortened form of the word ‘ayil’ (H352). 

Strong’s defines ‘ayil’ as:

Ayil (H352): From the same as H193; properly strength;

                   hence anything strong;

                   specifically a chief (politically);

                   also a ram (from his strength);

                   a pilaster (as a strong support);

                   an oak or other strong tree

Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine                                      

KJV Usage: mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree

1. ram   

2. pillar, door post, jambs, pilaster 3. strong man, leader, chief 4. mighty tree, terebinth

Going back one final step, the word ‘ayil’ is the same

as the word ‘ul’ (H193), its meaning is given as:

Ul (H193): From an unused root meaning to twist, that is

                (by implication) be strong;

                the body (as being rolled together)

               also powerful

Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine

KJV Usage: mighty, strength.

1. prominence   a. body, belly (contemptuous) 

                         b. nobles, wealthy men

So to summarize, the word ‘elohim’, and its meaning

can be traced back to a root.  Or the word ‘elohim’ can

be understood as a branch from the root, this way:

1a. ul (H193): to twist the body, by implication to be strong; 

                      prominence, as a body or belly can be

                      prominent;

                      strong and prominent as a nobleman or

                      wealthy man may be seen to be

1b. ayil (H352): a ram, which signifies strength;

                        anything strong, such as a chief, strong

                        man or leader; a ram, a strong support,

                        a strong tree

2.    el (H410): strength or might, especially the Almighty;

                     a god-like one; a god or idol; mighty hero;

                     man of rank; angel; stronghold of imagination;

                     mighty things in nature

3.    eloah (H433): a god or goddess; the Almighty

4.    elohim (H430): gods, goddesses;

                               the Almighty, possibly in the sense of

                               the Almighty and His court of heavenly

                               beings;

                               mighty ones;

                               ones with power, such as magistrates

A word study like this one is only a first step.  Once a word can be traced back to its root, the broader meaning taken into account, and an understanding of the word in its context gained, the next step is to see how the word has been used in the text.

That will be Part 2!