2 Chron. 13:8-12; Psalm 82, Our “God”

Let us begin our study of the “Names of God” by looking at the most common terms for “God” in the Old Testament.

·       El, Elah, Eloah, Elohim: English translation “God.”  It is the equivalent of the Greek Theos in the New Testament.

o   El is the general Hebrew term for God or god (if you are speaking of idols).  It is used 245 times in the OT.  We will return to this title later.

o   Elah is the general Aramaic term for God or gods.  It is used 95 times in the OT, all but one (Jer. 10:11) in Ezra and Daniel 1-6.  

o   Eloah  is an ancient and general term for God or gods, used usually in a poetic context.  It is used 57 times in the OT, 41 times in Job.  It appears twice in the poetical “Song of Moses” (Deut. 32), speaking of Jeshurun (Israel) who forsook “God” and who sacrificed to demons, not to “God” (32:15,17).

o   Elohim is the plural of “Eloah” (in Hebrew the “im” makes it plural).  It is the most frequent general term for God, used over 2500 times.

§  Mormons wrongfully infer a “family” of gods from this.  The Bible is clear that there is only one “El” (e.g., Before Me there was no God [El] formed, nor shall there be after Me (Isa. 43:10).  Elohim could have trinitarian implications, the belief that God is One, yet revealed in three Persons.  However, many understand the plural as indicating majesty or eternity.

§  Elohim is also used, on a few occasions, of angels and of powerful men.  Psalm 82:1 reads, God stands in the congregation of the mighty (Heb. el), He judges among the gods (Heb. elohim).  Jesus referred to this in John 10:34. God calls the mighty men “gods.”  He makes it clear, that they are men (82:6-7) and is likely speaking of them as they think of themselves.

·       YHWH or YAHWEH or Jehovah: English translation “LORD.”  This is a specific name for the God (El) of Israel.  In 2 Chron. 13:8-12 we see in v8-9 elohim refers to the “gods,” meaning the two golden calves. But in v10-11 the LORD (Yahweh) is our Elohim.  We will consider this at a later time.

·       Adonai: English translation “Lord.”  This is Hebrew for master, lord, or sir.  It is the equivalent of the Greek Kurios in the NT.  More on this later also.

If the heathen gods are elohim, what is the difference between them and the Elohim of Israel?  One way the Scriptures answer that question is by the adjectives associated with Elohim.  Elohim is judge (Ps. 50:6). The glory of Elohim is over all the earth (Ps. 57:5).  Elohim is the Holy One and the Savior (Isa. 43:3).  Elohim is the Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1).  And let us not forget, that Elohim dwells with His people; it is the reason He redeemed Israel from Egypt and that He redeemed the saints through the blood of Christ (Ex. 29:46).