This is one of the very outstanding names of God in the Old Testament, occurring well over 2,000 times—27 times in Gen. 1. It is the plural of Eloah, and means creatorial power. We may well ask, Why is the sacred name in the plural? Brought up in the idolatrous land of Egypt, Moses, the inspired writer of the Book of Genesis, was not an idolater, nor did he believe in a plurality of gods, as the heathen around him did. He was no worshipper of the sacred bull, the ibis, the cat, the beetle. Though brought up in all the splendor of the Egyptian court, as the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter, yet in Genesis there is no trace whatever of the idolatrous thoughts and ways of the Egyptians.
Why, then, we may ask, is God introduced to us as Elohim, a plural word? As we read through God's holy Word we find He is revealed as Father, Son and Spirit. Even the reader, who is only familiar with the English language, can gather from the reading of his English Bible, that more than one Divine Person was involved in the mighty work of creation. We read for instance, "Let US [plural] make man in our image, after our likeness " (Gen. 1:2626And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)).
And further, it is striking indeed that the plural word, Elohim, is followed by a singular verb. Has this no meaning in the light of Scripture? It is clear that we have here the first intimation of the Godhead as Trinity -Father, Son and Spirit, yet One God. Hence the verb in the singular, the two words, " God (plural) created (singular) " set forth a plural unity, never known save in relation to the Being of God. Did God give to the Hebrew language its special Hebrew plural number, meaning three at the least, in order to intimate this wonderful truth, though the time had not arrived for it to be fully declared? What other answer can we give than to believe it was so?
Here is a very striking intimation of the same truth. We read, " Hear O Israel: the LORD [Jehovah, singular] our God [Elohim, plural] is one LORD [Jehovah, singular]" (Deut. 6:44Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: (Deuteronomy 6:4)). Here in this very majestic declaration of the Oneness of the Godhead, care is taken to state it consistently with the truth afterward revealed concerning the Three Persons of the Godhead—Father, Son and Spirit. These Three Persons, of one Substance, completely united in thought, will, purpose, counsel, are not three Gods, but One God, not a tritheism, but a Holy Trinity. We cannot understand the mystery of all this, but this truth lies at the very foundation of the Christian faith.
It is the more remarkable, the Jews being stout believers in the One God, that the very first name of God in their sacred writings should be in the plural, and occurring well over 2,000 times throughout the Books of the Old Testament.
ELOHIM (plural), translated gods, occurs nearly 200 times in the Old Testament, as referring to heathen gods. It is particularly frequent in the Book of Deuteronomy, where the children of Israel, about to go in to possess the land of Canaan, are warned again and again against the gods of the heathen around them. In Deut. 32:17,17They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. (Deuteronomy 32:17) we read, "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not."
Here note how the worship of idols is traced up to its vile source, that of demon worship. 1 Cor. 10:19-22 Connects idol worship similarly with "fellowship with demons," with "the cup of demons," with "the table of demons." Here is a warning much needed in these boasted days of civilization. In Ex. 21:6,6Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. (Exodus 21:6) we find the word, elohim, describing earthly judges. In Psa. 8:55For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:5) we find angels are mentioned under the name of elohim (plural).