Elohim: God? Or Gods?

[MorphRC]

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[b][font="Times"]Caelum defendet militem, Caelum exercet militem, Caelum docet militem. Amen. Amen.[/font][/b]
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[color=gray][font="Times"][b]Elohim: God? or Gods?[/b][/color][/font]
[b]The Hebrew For God[/b]

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[i]Elohim[/i] is commonly thought of as [i]gods[/i], and this error in thought and lack of research, usually leads Muslims to charge Christians and Jews, of corrupting the Bible. For example [b]Genesis 1:1[/b];

[b]1[/b] In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,[...]

One of the greatest Islamic apologists, that Muslims recognize is Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, who charged Christians and Jews with this, in a debate in the late 1980's against a fundamentalist preacher, Pastor Stanley Sjoberg.

The part that many try to use is the '[i]im[/i]' part, which is the equiv. of '[i]s[/i],' in the English language.

So what is [i]Elohim[/i]? And What does it mean?

The [i][b]New Advent[/b][/i] states about the name [i]Elohim[/i];

[color=gray]"[i]Elohim[/i] is the common name for God."
"Grammarians call it a plural of majesty or rank, or of abstraction, or of magnitude (Gesenius, Grammatik, 27th ed., nn. 124 g, 132 h)."[/color][b]1[/b]

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Secular sources agree on the name [i]Elohim[/i], as stated by Encarta Encyclopedia 2004;

[color=gray][b]Elohim[/b], general term used occasionally in the Old Testament for any divine being, but more frequently in reference to the God of the Israelites. Plural of the Hebrew Eloah (“God”), it has been explained as signifying greatness and majesty. The frequent use of the term in the Pentateuch has been regarded by biblical scholars as the key identifying feature of the second oldest pentateuchal source, known therefore as “E”. Accordingly, the author of “E” is sometimes referred to as the Elohist.[/color][b]2[/b]

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The Hebr. [i]Elohim[/i], is the equivelent of the LXX, [i]Theos[/i], and the Latin Vulgate [i]Deus[/i], all meaning God. The word [i]Elohim[/i] is found 2750 times throughout the Bible, along with Eloah, which is found 97 times.

[i]The Columbia Encyclopedia[/i] states the following about [i]Elohim[/i]; [color=gray]"[i]The most common name for God in the Old Testament is Elohim, a plural form, but used as a singular when speaking of God.[/color][/i]"[b]3[/b]

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With the evidence above, Catholic, Secular and Non-Catholic, it is proven that the word for God used by the Jews, "[i]Elohim[/i]," is not gods, but God. There are other Hebraic words like this, for example; Mayim, which means water, Shamayim, heaven and Chayim, which means 'Life Force', taken from the root word Chaya.

In a sentence it would look as such; "[i]Ani lishtot, ani rotze mayim[/i]" - "[i]I am thirsty, I want water[/i]". In a situation, among friends and mates, you would say '[i]Do you guys want some [u]water[/u][/i]?', instead of '[i]Do you guys want some [u]waters[/u]?[/i],', which would be incorrect in the grammar forms.

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[b][font="Times"]Bibliography:[/font][/b]

[b]1[/b] [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05393a.htm"]New Advent: Elohim[/url]
[b]2[/b] Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2004. © 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
[b]3[/b] [url="http://www.bartleby.com/65/go/God.html"]The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2003 Columbia University Press. - God[/url]

[Archaeology cat]

From taking Hebrew, looks like you have some good info. Elohim was one of the many proper names for God used by the Israelites, but when used in reference to other cultures around them, meant "gods." Yep, looks like you covered it. Good job

[phatcatholic]

interesting morph, i was unaware of this paricular debate.

btw, i'm just going to add posts like this to your collection unless you specifically tell me not to. however, please explain why, for i may wish to include it anyway

[StColette]

Another awesome post Paul !!! I'm with Phat on this one, I've never heard this debate either !!

[MorphRC]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Sep 1 2004, 03:24 AM'] interesting morph, i was unaware of this paricular debate.

btw, i'm just going to add posts like this to your collection unless you specifically tell me not to. however, please explain why, for i may wish to include it anyway [/quote]
Add it please

[MorphRC]

Its used by Muslims a lot to try and prove Christians corrupted the bible, they believe it should be gods, when its been translated as God, which is its correct term.

[StColette]

aaaaaaaah gotcha

[MorphRC]

[Cure of Ars]

MorphRC have you been talking with any Moslems? Just curious

[MorphRC]

yeah. ive been chatting with them for over 2 yrs. And know a few offline.

[Cure of Ars]

[quote name='MorphRC' date='Sep 2 2004, 11:14 PM'] yeah. ive been chatting with them for over 2 yrs. And know a few offline. [/quote]
Cool, I know where to go now when I need some help talking with Muslems.

[MorphRC]