elohim

Elohim is a Hebrew term meaning "God" or "gods" used in the Hebrew Bible. It is grammatically a masculine plural noun, but in Biblical Hebrew it is commonly treated with singular verbs and adjectives when referring to the God of Israel, suggesting a plural of majesty or intensity rather than a simple plural.

Etymology: from the Semitic root El meaning deity, with the plural suffix -im. The term occurs frequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Genesis 1 where Elohim creates the world. In other passages it refers to the gods of other nations or to divine beings in a heavenly council, as in Psalm 82 or Job, and in some contexts to human rulers metaphorically described as "gods."

Usage and interpretation: In Jewish tradition, Yahweh (the Tetragrammaton) is the primary name of God, while Elohim designates the God of Israel and is used in many early Christian Old Testament translations as well. In theological and linguistic discussions, scholars often explain the apparent plural form as a plural of majesty or as a grammatical singular with a plural noun. The usage showcases ancient Israelite conceptions of monotheism that still possessed terminology with older polytheistic resonances.