monolatría

Monolatría is a religious concept that describes the worship of a single god while not denying the existence of other gods. In monolatristic systems, a specific deity is chosen or recognized as the supreme god to be worshipped exclusively, often by a particular community or nation, without asserting that this god is the only one in existence. This is distinct from monotheism, which posits that only one god exists.

Historically, monolatry has been associated with ancient Israelite religion. Before the full development of monotheism, evidence suggests that the Israelites worshipped Yahweh as their primary and supreme deity, while acknowledging the existence of other gods worshipped by surrounding peoples. The Exodus narrative, for example, portrays Yahweh's power over the gods of Egypt. This period is characterized by texts that command exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, sometimes framed as him being the "greatest" or "only" god to be served, rather than the sole existent deity.

The transition from monolatry to monotheism within Judaism is a subject of scholarly debate, but it is generally understood as a gradual process. Over time, the belief shifted from worshipping one god above others to the conviction that only one god exists. This evolutionary religious model has been observed in other ancient Near Eastern cultures as well, where a chief deity might be elevated to a supreme status above a pantheon.