In Deuteronomy 6:4,  why does the Hebrew noun translated 'God' appear to be plural (the -im suffix is a plural ending for Hebrew nouns)?

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With all due respect you are reading selectively. When did YAH say there was a difference between being one G-d and "persons"?

Let's recall what he said and go BY SCRIPTURE. Then you can answer my next question.

Isaiah 44:8 - Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a G-d beside me? yea, there is no G-d; I know not any.

Clearly, he said there is no "G-d" beside him. He doesn't know of any other. He didn't say beside "us". He never said "we" are G-d. The translaters were even somewhat honest enough to translate it as "God" not "gods". The English word "God" needs an s to be plural. Christianity has taught you a series of well crafted lies that when strung together make their false teachings make sense. But it requires you ignore the English and Hebrew languages.

YHWH says he doesn't know any other "God" and uses the term "me" to describe himself. YHWH never speaks of having a father. NEVER. Read the scriptures. If you can find where YHWH has a father I will send you a check. Furthermore, we don't see that YHWH has a father. Instead, we see that he IS THE FATHER.

Exodus 4:22 - And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith YHWH, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

This is the reason why people already knew who he was referring to when he said "my father" and "our father which art in heaven". He is also praying to this same person in John 17:3 where he calls the entity to whom he is praying "the only true G-d". Trying to get around these simple truths usually make people look dishonest. When you read John 8 and Yeshua says

John 8:54 - Yeshua answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your G-d:

I have waited and waited and waited for someone to have the testicular fortitude to answer me. Who did the people he was talking to believe was the Father? Who did they believe was G-d? And how can you say Yeshua believed he was G-d when this same entity who they believed in as their G-d was the Father and was the being who SENT Yeshua, not Yeshua himself. Peter said he was the SON OF the living G-d, NOT the living G-d. There's a difference. I have only listed a few texts that break apart the Christian theory that attempts to merge Yeshua and YHWH into one. The real question is do you REALLY believe the bible or do you believe the teachings of Christianity?

As for Zechariah 12...

there is something you're missing. According to the rules of grammar, "me" and "him" cannot refer to the same person. The true understanding of this text is a national one, dealing with how the Israelite fought and suffered at the hands of the nations.

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/faq-primary-211/crucifixion-primary-3...

shalom
John 19:37
and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."


Revelation 1:7
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.


Zechariah 12:10
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Zechariah 12

Zechariah - Chapter 12

Chapter 12~~~With Rashi Commentary~

1. The prophecy of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Says the Lord, Who stretches out the heavens and founds the earth and forms the spirit of man within him:   א.
The prophecy of the word of the Lord: This is the completion of the word that he began to speak about the retribution of those who devour Israel - Esau and his ilk.   :
2. Behold! I am making Jerusalem a cup of weakness for all the peoples around, and also on Judah, [that he] shall be in the siege against Jerusalem.   ב.
a cup of weakness: a vessel of weakness, as in (Exod. 12:22), “in the blood that is in the cup.”   :
weakness: an expression of bewilderment, [it means] the clogging of the heart and the limbs, for, like man enwrapped in a garment, they have no strength, as in (Nahum 2:4), “And the cypress trees were enwrapped” ; and (Isa. 3:19) “And the bracelets and the veils.” In the language of the Mishnah (Shabbath 6:6) we find, “Arabian women may go out veiled.” It is involopiment in O. F.   :
and also on Judah: the nations that will be in siege against Jerusalem will impose upon Judah, for the house of David will be inside and the gentiles will besiege them. And also, the children of Judah will come, against their will, to besiege Jerusalem. So did Jonathan render it.   :
3. And it shall come to pass on that day that I will make Jerusalem a stone of burden for all peoples; all who bear it shall be gashed, and all the nations of the earth shall gather about it.   ג.
a stone of burden: A stone of burden placed upon men by order of the ruler, to carry it and to load it on their shoulders. It is very heavy, to the extent that all who bear it become gashed.   :
4. On that day, says the Lord, I will smite every horse with bewilderment, and its rider with madness. And upon the house of Judah I will open My eyes, and all the horses of the peoples I will smite with blindness.   ד.
I will smite every horse: of those gathered there with bewilderment and blindness, and their riders with madness (Shem Ephraim). But upon the [members of the] house of Judah, who are among those gathered against their will, I will open My eyes to protect them from this plague.   :
5. And the princes of Judah shall say to themselves, "The inhabitants of Jerusalem were my strength through the Lord of Hosts, their God."   ה.
And the princes of Judah shall say to themselves: when they see that the others who were gathered are plagued with this plague, and they are saved.   :
The inhabitants of Jerusalem were my strength, etc.: The inhabitants of Jerusalem, who know that we came upon them against our will, strengthened my help with their prayer by the Lord, their God.   :
6. On that day I will make the princes of Judah as a fiery stove among wood, and as a brand of fire among sheaves. And they shall consume on the right and on the left all the nations round about, and Jerusalem shall still stay in its place in Jerusalem.   ו.
I will make the princes of Judah: They will return and wage war with those who brought them there.   :
as a fiery stove: Like a great bonfire. The word כִּיוֹר is an expression of כִּירָה, a stove. So did Menahem (Machbereth, p. 109) classify it.   :
in its place: lit. under it.   :
7. And the Lord shall first save the tents of Judah, so that the boasting of the house of David and the boasting of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not increase over Judah.   ז.
And the Lord shall first save the tents of Judah: Before the inhabitants of Jerusalem come out of the city, they shall have a salvation - to return to their tents and to their homes - and afterwards the salvation shall come to the inhabitants of the city. That is the salvation concerning which it is stated (14:3): “And the Lord shall go forth and wage war.”   :
so that the boasting of, etc., shall not increase: to boast over them and to say, “ You were saved only because of us.”   :
8. On that day the Lord shall protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the weakest of them shall be, on that day, like David. And the house of David shall be like angels, like the angel of the Lord before them.   ח.
and the weakest among them: Heb. הַנִּכְשָׁל   :
like angels: Jonathan renders: like great ones, like angels.   :
like the angel of the Lord before them: They will prosper like the angel of the Lord before them.   :
9. And it shall come to pass on that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come upon Jerusalem.   ט.
I will seek to destroy: I will seek their destruction, and I will be exact in judging their iniquity. And our Sages (Avodah Zarah 4a) explained this verse as concerning merit. I will search in the books of their deeds; if they have merit, I will spare them; otherwise, I will destroy them.   :
10. And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplications. And they shall look to me because of those who have been thrust through [with swords], and they shall mourn over it as one mourns over an only son and shall be in bitterness, therefore, as one is embittered over a firstborn son.   י.
a spirit of grace and supplications: That it should come into their mind to supplicate Me, and they will be in My good graces.   :
a spirit: Talant in Old French, a desire.   :
they shall look to Me because of those who have been thrust through: Jonathan renders: And they shall supplicate Me because of their wanderings. And they shall look to Me to complain about those of them whom the nations thrust through and slew during their exile.   :
and they shall mourn over it: Over that slaughter.   :
as one mourns over an only son: As a man mourns over his only son. And our Sages expounded this in tractate Sukkah (52a) as referring to the Messiah, son of Joseph, who was slain.   :
11. On that day there shall be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon.   יא.
like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon: Hadadrimmon has no connection to the Valley of Megiddon. These are, rather, two cases of mourning. [The first is] like the mourning of Ahab the son of Omri, who was slain by Hadadrimmon the son of Tabrimmon in Ramoth Gilead, as it is stated (I Kings 22:36): “A cry passed through the camp.” That is the mourning [of Ahab. The second case is] like the mourning of Josiah the son of Amon, who was slain by Pharoah the lame in the Valley of Megiddon, as it is stated (II Chron. 35:25): “And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke in their laments, etc.”   :
12. And the land shall mourn, every family apart: The family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart.   יב.
the house of Nathan: the prophet. Some say that it refers to Nathan the son of David, as it is said (II Sam. 5:14): “Shammua and Shobab, and Nathan and Solomon.”   :
13. The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart.   יג.
the house of Levi: The priests and the Levites.   :
the family of the Shimeites: Shammua the son of David. Scripture first makes a generality about the house of David, and then it specifies each one.   :
14. All the remaining families-every family apart, and their wives apart.   יד.
All the remaining families: of the house of David.   :
and their wives apart: because of decency. Now why were the families of the priesthood and the kingdom [mentioned]? In order to restore their crowns to them, as it is stated in the beginning of the Book (4:14): “These are the two anointed ones who stand before the Lord of all the earth.”   :

Sources:http://ShekinahLife.com
http://Chabad.org
http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16216/showrashi/true
This may help someone

http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9970/showrashi/true

Deverim 6:v4 Hear, O Israel: The L-rd is our G-d; the -l-rd is one.
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֶחָד:

Rashi explains this verse this way">
The Lord is our God; the Lord is one: The Lord, who is now our God and not the God of the other nations-He will be [declared] in the future “the one God,” as it is said: “For then I will convert the peoples to a pure language that all of them call in the name of the Lord” (Zeph. 3:9), and it is [also] said: “On that day will the Lord be one and His name one” (Zech. 14:9). (see Sifrei)

5. And you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means.
Rashi continues: And you shall love [the Lord]: Perform His commandments out of love. The one who acts out of love cannot be compared to the one who acts out of fear. If one serves his master out of fear, when the master sets a great burden upon him, this servant will leave him and go away [whereas if out of love he will serve him even under great burden] (Sifrei 6:5).
~~
with all your heart: Heb. בְּכָל-לְבָב‏ְ [The double“veth” in לְבָב‏ְ, instead of the usual form לִבּ‏ְ suggests:] Love Him with your two inclinations [the good and the evil]. (Sifrei ; Ber. 54a) Another explanation; “with all your heart,” is that your heart should not be divided [i.e., at variance] with the Omnipresent (Sifrei).
~~
and with all your soul: Even if He takes your soul (Sifrei; Ber. 54a, 61a).
and with all your means: Heb. וּבְכָל- מְאֹד‏ֶ, with all your possessions. There are people whose possessions are more precious to them than their own bodies. Therefore, it says,“and with all your means.” (Sifrei) Another explanation of וּבְכָל- מְאֹד‏ֶ is: You shall love God with whatever measure (מִדָּה) He metes out to you, whether it be the measure of good or the measure of retribution. Thus also did David say: “I will lift up the cup of salvations [and I will call upon the name of the Lord]” (Ps. 116:12-13); “I found trouble and grief [and I called out in the name of the Lord]” (Ps. 116:3-4).

6. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart. And these words… shall be: What is this“love” [referred to in the previous verse]? It is that these words [the mitzvoth] shall be upon your heart, and through this, you will come to recognize the Holy One, blessed be He, and will [consequently] cling to His ways. (Sifrei 6:6)
which I command you this day: they should not appear to you as an antiquated edict (דְּיוּטַגְמָא) which no one cares about, but as a new one, which everyone hastens to read. The word דְּיוּטַגְמָא means: a royal edict which comes in writing.(Sifrei)

7. And you shall teach them to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.~~ Rashi continues::: And you will teach them: Heb. וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם. This is an expression of sharpness, meaning that these words should be sharply impressed in your mouth, so that if a person asks you something, you will not have to hesitate about it, but you will tell him immediately. (Sifrei ; Kidd. 30a) ~~
to your sons: These are your disciples. We find everywhere that disciples are termed “sons,” as it is said: “You are children to the Lord your God” (Deut. 14:1), and it says: “The disciples [lit. sons] of the prophets who were in Bethel” (II Kings 2:3). So too, we find that Hezekiah taught Torah to all Israel and called them children, as it is said: “My sons, now do not forget” (II Chron. 29:11). And just as disciples are called “children,” as it is said “You are children to the Lord your God” so too, the teacher is called “father,” as it is said [that Elisha referred to his teacher Elijah by the words] “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel…” (II Kings 2:12) (Sifrei 6:7).
~~
and speak of them: That your principal topic of conversation should be only about them; make them the main topic, not the secondary one. (Sifrei)
~~
and when you lie down: Now this [latter verse] might lead one to think [that the obligation to recite the “shema” is] even if one lies down in the middle of the day. Therefore it states; “and when you rise up” ; now this [latter verse] might lead one to think [that the obligation to recite the “shema” is] even if you arise in the middle of the night! It says therefore,“When you sit in your house, and when you walk on the way.” The Torah is thus speaking of the usual manner of conduct: The [usual] time of lying down and the [usual] time of rising up. (Sifrei)
8. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for ornaments between your eyes And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand: These are the tefillin of the arm. \b and they shall be for ornaments between your eyes \b0לְטֹטָפֹת. These are the tefillin of the head, and because of the number of the Scriptural sections contained in them [namely four], they are טֹטָפֹת - totafoth, forטַט - tat in Coptic means“two,” פַּת - path in Afriki (Phrygian) [also] means“two.” (San. 4b)
9. And you shall inscribe them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.
Rashi continues:: the doorposts of your house: The word is מְזֻזוֹת [and not, מְזוּזוֹת, i.e., without the letter“vav”] to indicate that there is need for only one מְזוּזָה - mezuzah per door.
~~
and upon your gates: This [“gates”] is to include the gates of courtyards, the gates of provinces, and the gates of cities [in that they also require a mezuzah]. (Yoma 11a)


Good posts... The Elohim was Jesus, the Word, The Word was with God, and the Word was God...
Let us make man" (Genesis 1:26);
"Man is become as one of us" (Genesis 3:22);
Genesis 1:27 goes on to say
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
When God said Let us simply means he could have been talking to his angels. The angels carried out his word when spoken!
Let's do a study on this.
Genesis 1:26

"And God said, Let us make man in our image." (Genesis 1:26)

Why does this verse use a plural pronoun for God? Before we answer this, let us note that the Bible uses singular pronouns to refer to God hundreds of times. The very next verse uses the singular to show how God fulfilled verse 26: "So God created man in his own image" (Genesis 1:27). Genesis 2:7 says, "And the LORD God formed man." We must therefore reconcile the plural in 1:26 with the singular in 1:27 and 2:7. We must also look at God's image creature, which is man. Regardless of how we identify the various components that make up a man, a man definitely has one personality and will. He is one person in every way. This indicates that the Creator in whose image man was made is also one being with one personality and will.

Any interpretation of Genesis 1:26 that permits the existence of more than one person of God runs into severe difficulties. Isaiah 44:24 says the LORD created the heavens alone and created the earth by Himself. There was only one Creator according to Malachi 2:10. Furthermore, if the plural in Genesis 1:26 refers to the Son of God, how do we reconcile this with the scriptural record that the Son was not born until at least four thousand years later in Bethlehem? The Son was made of a woman (Galatians 4:4); if the Son was present in the beginning who was His mother? If the Son be a spirit being, who was His spirit mother?

Since Genesis 1:26 cannot mean two or more persons in the Godhead, what does it mean? The Jews have traditionally interpreted it to mean that God talked to the angels at creation. [22] This does not imply that the angels actually took part in creation but that God informed them of His plans and solicited their comments out of courtesy and respect. On at least one other occasion God talked to the angels and requested their opinions in formulating His plans (I Kings 22:19-22). We do know that the angels were present at the creation (Job 38:4-7).

Other commentators have suggested that Genesis 1:26 simply describes God as He counseled with His own will. Ephesians 1:11 supports this view, saying that God works all things "after the counsel of his own will." By analogy, this is similar to a man saying "Let's see" (let us see) even when he is planning by himself.

Others explain this passage as a majestic or literary plural. That is, in formal speaking and writing the speaker or writer often refers to himself in the plural, especially if the speaker is of royalty. Biblical examples of the majestic plural can be cited to illustrate this practice. For example, Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar, "We will tell the interpretation thereof before the king" even though Daniel alone proceeded to give the interpretation to the king (Daniel 2:36). King Artaxerxes alternately referred to himself in the singular and the plural in his correspondence. Once, he wrote, "The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me" (Ezra 4:18). In a letter to Ezra, Artaxerxes called himself "I" in one place (Ezra 7:13) but "we" in another place (7:24).

The use of the plural in Genesis 1:26 also may be similar to the plural Elohim in denoting the greatness and majesty of God or the multiple attributes of God. In other words, the plural pronoun simply agrees with and substitutes for the plural noun Elohim.

Still another explanation is that this passage describes God's foreknowledge of the future arrival of the Son, much like prophetic passages in the Psalms. We must realize that God does not live in time. His plans are real to Him even though they are in the future as far as we are concerned. He calls those things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17). A day is as a thousand years to Him and a thousand years is as a day (II Peter 3:8). His plan - the Word - existed from the beginning in the mind of God (John 1:1). As far as God was concerned, the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world (I Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8). It is not surprising that God could look down the corridors of time and address a prophetic utterance to the Son. Romans 5:14 says that Adam was a figure of Him who was to come, that is, Jesus Christ. When God created Adam, He had already thought about the Incarnation and created Adam with that plan in mind.

Taking this idea a step further, Hebrews 1:1-2 says that God made the worlds by the Son. How could this be, seeing that the Son did not come into existence until a point in time much later than creation? (Hebrews 1:5-6). (See Chapter 5 - THE SON OF GOD.) To paraphrase John Miller (quoted in Chapter 5 - THE SON OF GOD), God used the Sonship to make the world. That is, He hinged everything on the future arrival of Christ. Though He did not pick up the humanity until the fulness of time was come, it was in His plan from the beginning, and He used it and acted upon it from the start. He created man in the image of the future Son of God, and He created man knowing that although man would sin the future Sonship would provide a way of salvation.

God created man in the beginning so that man would love and worship Him (Isaiah 43:7; Revelation 4:11). However, by reason of His foreknowledge God knew that man would fall into sin. This would defeat God's purpose in creating man. If this was all there was to the future, then God would have never created man. However, God had in His mind the plan for the Incarnation and the plan of salvation through the atoning death of Christ. So, even though God knew man would sin, He also knew that through the Son of God man could be restored and could fulfill God's original purpose. It is apparent, then, that when God created man he had the future arrival of the Son in mind. It is in this sense that God created the worlds through the Son or by using the Son, for without the Son, God's whole purpose in creating man would have failed.

In summary, Genesis 1:26 cannot mean a plurality in the Godhead, for that would contradict the rest of Scripture. We have offered several other harmonizing explanations. (1) The Jews and many Christians see this as a reference to the angels. Many other Christians see it as (2) a description of God counseling with His own will, (3) a majestic or literary plural, (4) a pronoun simply agreeing with the noun Elohim, or (5) a prophetic reference to the future manifestation of the Son of God.

God Bless. Conclusion: The trinity is a man-made doctrine.
It doesn't harmonize with scripture.
HERESY!! We are NOT made in the image of Angels, we are made in the image of ELOHIM.
Mr Green writes:"...we are made in the image of ELOHIM."
Precisely, and what is Elohim but the very essence within everyone and every-thing...not that everything is HaShem,...( EG Evil wicked and mean humanity the Evil untamed Yetzer Hara~~see-Galatians:5:17ff) but that HaShem (or if you will allow} the Essence of G-d is within everything EG:Personally, I lean more toward panentheism (all is in G_d), than I do pantheism (all is G_d). However, I also believe that the Divine Presence of G-d permeates the Multiverse The real question is how do you accept Ha'Shem to advance His Kingdom - Malchut Shamayim, the Kingdom of Heaven - and thereby repair the world. (the kingdom of heaven)
First and foremost, it is with the acceptance of the Sh'ma ~~~"the L-rd our G-d is Echad". as opposed to two or three
Everything is HaShem,... We exist in the image of HaShem~We are all part of HaShem~~"In HaShem we live and move and have our being"~
HaShem is here,.. HaShem is there HaShem is Everywhere:
Enjoy your journey...
We are all One!
The first time the word "God" is mentioned in Scripture (Genesis 1:1), it is translated from the Hebrew ELOHIM. This word, which appears 2250 times in the Old Testament, is translated "God" when used in reference to the one true God1, but it is also translated "god" when used in reference to a false god2 or "gods" when referring to a multiplicity of false deities, "god" or "gods" in reference to human beings4, "angels,"5 "judges."6 mighty," in reference to a human prince7 and to thunder8, and "great,": in reference to Rachel's competition with her sister.9

To understand how ELOHIM is used of the true God, it is essential to understand how it can be used in such a variety of ways. ELOHIM is a masculine plural noun. ELOHIM, the singular form of the word, appears 54 times and is also used in reference to both the true God and to false gods. ELOAH is from the Hebrew EL, which appears 226 times. EL signifies strength and power.

The "im" ending on a Hebrew word (as in ELOHIM) makes the word plural, like putting an "s" on the end of many English words. But, unlike the English language, the plural form of a Hebrew word may not signify more than one. Though the Hebrew plural can certainly refer to more than one (and the Hebrew language also has a dual ending, signifying two), the Hebrew also uses plural forms when only one subject is in view, to indicate intensity (something like the "est" ending on some English words), fullness, something that flows, or multiplicity of attributes.

C. L. Seow points out that when ELOHIM is used "as a proper name, or when referring to Israel's God, it is treated as singular. Elsewhere it should be translated as 'gods.'"10 When ELOHIM is used is used of Israel's God, "the form of the noun is plural, but the referent is singular. This is sometimes called 'plural of majesty.'"11 Though ELOHIM is plural, it must be accompanied by plural modifiers and plural verb forms to function as a plural noun. If accompanied by singular modifiers and singular verb forms, it functions as a singular noun.12

ELOHIM can be accurately translated two ways: the singular "God" (or "god") or the plural "gods." If it is translated "gods," and in this case the plural form of the word must not be taken to indicate a plurality of gods, but a plurality of the majestic attributes of the one true God and that He is the supremely powerful one. The plural ending either makes a word plural, meaning more than one, or it makes a singular referent more intense. The latter is the case where Elohim refers to the one true God. Grammatically, then, ELOHIM does not suggest that Israel's God is plural or more than one. If the reason for the plural ending is to indicate more than one, the word must be translated "gods." This is not acceptable to the monotheism of the Old Testament. (See, for example, Deuteronomy 6:4.)

Whenever ELOHIM refers to the one true God, it is always accompanied by singular verbs, although ELOHIM is plural. Whenever ELOHIM refers to more than one false god, it is accompanied by plural verbs. This is significant. Grammatically, when ELOHIM refers to the one true God only, although the word is plural. If the reason ELOHIM is used of the true God is to indicate He is more than one, plural verbs would have to be used.

For example, in the first verse of the Bible, the third person masculine singular verb "created: is used with ELOHIM. Since the verb is singular, it is required that He who did the creating is singular. In this case, the only option left to explain the plural form of ELOHIM is that ELOHIM refers to the fullness and intensity of the many majestic attributes of the one true God.

In Exodus 32:4, where ELOHIM is used of a plurality of false gods, the verb "brought...up out: is third person common plural. The plural verb demands that ELOHIM be referring to more than one false god. Although in this case only one golden calf was made, it apparently represented to the Israelites the worship of cows, considered sacred by the Egyptians. Thus the one calf represented to them more than just itself; it represented the gods of the Egyptians. In Deuteronomy 4:28 a series of third person masculine plural verbs, "see," "hear," "eat," and "smell," are used to describe the inabilities of false gods (ELOHIM) This demonstrates that if the intention of Elohim is to indicate more than one, plural verbs will be used. If the intention of ELOHIM is to indicate only one, singular verbs are used.

It is helpful to note that when the inspired Greek of the New Testament quotes from an Old Testament reference where ELOHIM is used of the one true God, the Greek THEOS (God) is singular. (See Psalm 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9.) When the New Testament quotes an Old Testament reference where ELOHIM refers to people or false gods, the plural form of THEOS is used. (See Psalm 82:6; John 10:34-35 and Exodus 32:1; Acts 7:40.) The Greek languages does not use plurals in the same way as the Hebrew, that is, to indicate intensity, fullness, and plurality of attributes. Since both the Hebrew and the Greek are inspired, if the point of ELOHIM, when used of the true God, was to indicate God is more than one, the Greek would use the plural form of the noun. The fact that the Greek uses the singular THEOS where the Hebrew scriptures use the plural ELOHIM of the true God settles any question as to the singularity of the true God. Indeed, in the example of Psalm 45:6, ELOHIM is used of the Messiah alone. There is only one Messiah, but the plural noun is used to indicate His immeasurable majesty.

All of this helps us to understand the plural "us" in Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; and Isaiah 6:8. Some might suppose that these plural pronouns indicate more than one god or that God is somehow more than one. But the grammar of the passages indicates otherwise.

In Genesis 1:26, ELOHIM (plural) said (third masculine singular), "Let us make13 (first person common plural) man (noun masculine singular) in our image ("image" is a masculine singular noun with a first person common plural suffix), after our likeness ("likeness" is a feminine singular noun with a first person common plural suffix)."

Grammatically, the words, "make," "us" and "our" in this verse cannot refer to Elohim alone, for the verb directly connected with ELOHIM ("said") is singular. The doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration means the Bible is inspired, even to its very words, and inspiration extends to every word in the Bible. This means even verb tense and number is inspired. If ELOHIM had intended here to include only Himself in His address, He would have used a singular verb and pronouns. If ELOHIM were more than one, it would be appropriate to use the plural form of "make" and the plural pronouns "us" and "our, " but in that case, the verb "said" would be plural as well.

Thus, the grammar makes clear that when the singular ELOHIM spoke, He included someone else in His statement. The Jewish people, who are of course strictly monotheistic, have long held that in Genesis 1:26 ELOHIM addressed the angels in a courteous consideration for the attendants at His heavenly court when He said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." This is not unreasonable, for Job 38:7 indicates the angels were present at creation, rejoicing in the works of God. Others suppose we should take the plural pronouns, like the plural ELOHIM, as "plural of majesty." Ezra 4:18 is appealed to for support. Here, in response to a letter, King Artaxerxes says, "The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me." The letter was to Artaxerxes alone, and in the same breath he uses both a plural and a singular pronoun of himself. Historically, kings of the earth have used plural pronouns of themselves. Perhaps that is the use the Great King makes of a plural verb and plural pronouns in the few verses of Scripture where they appear. But if so, one is left to wonder why, in thousands of cases, ELOHIM uses singular verbs and pronouns of Himself, and why He would use plural verbs and nouns in only four verses in the entire Bible. Why would He not use either singular verbs and pronouns exclusively or plural verbs or pronouns exclusively? The sparse use of plural verbs and pronouns must indicate some specific, limited purpose. The simplest explanation, and the one which agrees with the inspired grammar most closely, is that in these few verses ELOHIM is graciously including others, angelic beings, in His address. Angels did not actually make man, any more than believers today actually work miracles (see John 14:12; Matthew 10:8); God has graciously allowed us to be laborers together with Him (I Corinthians 3:9).Perhaps there is some similarity here to the way God included the angels in His work.

But regardless of the exact meaning of Genesis 1:26, it cannot mean ELOHIM is more than one. In Exodus 20:2, the one God of Israel declared, "I am the LORD your God." The word "LORD" is "YHWH," the third person singular form of the Hebrew verb "to be" (HAYAH). "YHWH" means "He is." Again, a singular word is connected to ELOHIM, which is plural. Grammatically, the meaning of "I am the LORD your God" cannot be, "I am the 'He is gods.'" A singular word cannot have a plural object, unless-in keeping with common Hebrew usage-the point of the plural is to indicate intensity, fullness, or multiplicity of attributes, not plurality of persons or things.

Since every verse leading up to Genesis 1:26 uses singular verbs and pronouns (see the singular pronouns in verses 5 and 10) exclusively of the creative work of God, and a singular verb ("said") in verse 26, the introduction of a plural verb ("make") and plural pronouns ("us" and "our") in verse 26 must signify the fact that the singular God is including others in His address. Since there were no other intelligent beings created up until that time except the angels, His words must have been addressed to them.

Genesis 3:22 has a grammatical construction similar to 1:26. The LORD (third person singular form of YHWH) God (ELOHIM) said (third person masculine singular), "Behold, the man is become as one of us (first person common plural), to know good and evil." Grammatically, the "us" must include someone other than God, for a plural pronoun cannot have a singular antecedent. Again, He must have included the angels in His address; they certainly were aware of matters of good and evil, since Lucifer had rebelled against God prior to this. (See Ezekiel 28:11-16.) The fact that, after His statement "man is become as one of us," God placed cherubim (angels) at the east of the garden of Eden with a flaming sword to prevent men from returning to the garden supports the idea that God used the plural "us" to include angels in His conversation.

The grammar of Genesis 11:6-7 is even more telling. Here, ELOHIM does not appear. Yahweh (translated "LORD"), whose name is the third person singular form of the verb "to be," is recorded as having said (third person masculine singular), "Go to (second person masculine singular), let us go down (first person common plural) and there confound (first person common plural) their language." It is fascinating to note that the word translated "go to" (HAVAH) is an imperative, a command. It is a second person masculine singular imperative, which is understood to mean "YOU (second person singular) go to." It could also be translated "come," as in an imperative command, "YOU come." The understood "you" is singular, not [plural. Grammatically, at this point Yahweh is speaking to another person, giving that person a command. There is nothing here, according to the grammar, to indicate one divine Person is speaking to another. It would seem strange indeed if one divine Person COMMANDED another divine Person to do something. Instead, Yahweh is speaking to someone else. When Yahweh says, "Let us go down," the verb form is first person common plural. Thus, when Yahweh (the one true God whose name is a third person singular verbal form) goes down to confound the language of the people, He is accompanied by someone else. In this case, He was apparently accompanied by only one angel.

This should not be thought strange, for in Genesis 18 Abraham was visited by three "men" (verse 2), one of whom turned out to be the LORD ("Yahweh" [a theophany; God in angel form]) (verses 10, 13-15, 17) and the other two of whom were angels (verse 16; 19:1). If God wishes to be accompanied by angels in any of His activities, that is His prerogative. If He wishes to speak to them, to include them in His activity, He will doubtless use plural words to do so.

The only other case in Scripture where a plural pronoun is used in a way some think implies plurality in God is Isaiah 6:8. Here Isaiah says, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send (first person common singular), and who will go for us (first person common plural)?" The plural pronoun "us" cannot have the singular "I" as its antecedent. It seems apparent from the context of Isaiah 6:1-7 that there is a great deal of angelic activity in this vision. Apparently, the one true God is again including the heavenly angelic court in His address. It is significant that only He, God, does the sending, but someone is needed to go on behalf of all heaven's inhabitants. God does not say, 'Whom shall we send," but "Whom shall I send." The angels' concern for God's holiness in the context underscores the fact that Isaiah's mission to backslidden Israel was of interest to them as well as to God. Indeed, the conversation Isaiah heard in verse 8 was apparently the Lord addressing the angels. In Isaiah 6;7, an angel speaks directly to Isaiah. There is no indication in verse 8 that the Lord was speaking directly to him. Instead, the Lord is addressing His heavenly court, and Isaiah volunteers his service. This strengthens the view that in Genesis 1:26, 3:22, and 11:7, God is addressing angels.

That God does indeed address His heavenly court is indicated by I Kings 22:19-23. Here, Yahweh is sitting on His throne with all heaven's host (angels) standing on His right and left. Yahweh asks, "Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth- gilead?" Various angels answered in different ways, until one came forth and stood before Yahweh and said, "I will persuade him." Yahweh answered, "Wherewith?" The angel responded, 'I will go forth, and I will be a laying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets." Yahweh answered, "Thou shall persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so."

The grammar of Scripture is inspired. When ELOHIM refers to the one true God, singular verbs and pronouns are used. When the one true God reaches out to include others in His activities, plural verbs and pronouns are used. These do not indicate any plurality of gods or that the true God is more than one. "When [ELOHIM] refers to the God of Israel it is always singular in concept, even though it has a masculine plural ending."14
BIBLIOGRAPHY
# 1. In the first five books of the Bible, ELOHIM is used 682 times. In hundreds of these references, it is to the one true God of Israel.
# 2. Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 32:39
# 3. Genesis 31:30, 32; 35:2, 4; Exodus 12:12; 18:11; 20:3, 23; 22:28; 23:13, 24, 32-33; 32:1, 4, 8, 23, 31, 34:15-17; Leviticus 19:4; Numbers 25:2; 33:4; Deuteronomy 4:28; 5:7; 6:14; 7:4, 16, 25; 8:19; 10:17; 11:16, 28; 12:2-3, 30, 31; 13:2, 6-7, 13; 17:3; 18:20; 20:18; 28:14, 36, 64; 29:18, 26; 30:17; 31:16, 18, 20; 32:17, 37.
# 4. Exodus 7:1; Psalms 82:6.
# 5. Psalm 8:5.
# 6. Exodus 21:6; 22:8-9.
# 7. Genesis 23:6.
# 8. Exodus 9:28.
# 9. Genesis 30:8.
# 10. C. L. Seow, A GRAMMAR FOR BIBLICAL HEBREW (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1987), p. 19.
# 11. Ibid.
# 12. Page H. Kelly, BIBLICAL HEBREW: AN INTRODUCTORY GRAMMAR (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 1992, p. 32.
# 13. The word "make" is translated from the Hebrew ASAH ("to make" or "do") as opposed to BARA ("to create"). God allowed the angels to participate in the sense of ASAH, but not in the sense of BARA.
# 14. Ethelyn Simon, et. al., THE FIRST HEBREW PRIMER FOR ADULTS, 2nd ed. (Oakland, CA: EKS Publishing Company, 1983), p. 48.
G-d is not a Hebrew word!


HaShem literally means "The Name" and alludes to the Tetragrammaton, that is to say, the Four-Lettered Name of our Heavenly Father.
For a better explanation see Rabbi David Aaron's video entitled, Finding The Name: e
http://shekinahlife.ning.com/profiles/blogs/rabbi-david-aaron-findi...


Hillel the Elder said, "Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures and bringing them close to the Torah." (Pirkei Avot 1:12) - http://www.shechem.org/torah/avot.html


Rabbi David Aaron is an astute visionary, a prolific, lucid writer and a soulful, invigorating educator. He is the founder and dean of Isralight, an international organization with centers and programs in Israel and throughout North America offering retreats, seminars, spiritual week-end getaways, intensive growth workshops, leadership training, trips and missions to Israel.

Rabbi David Aaron - http://www.rabbidavidaaron.com/

ISRALIGHT - http://www.isralight.org/index.html

I also highly recommend Rabbi David Aaron's MP3 lectures on the Kabbalah and other topics, that you can listen to and/or download for FREE - http://www.simpletoremember.com/authors/a/free-kabbalah-mp3s/

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/isralight


1.Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

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