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Bible Encyclopedias
Elohim
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or is the Hebrews plural (Elohim', אלֵהִים ), of which the sing. form, אלֵוֹהִּ, Elo'dh, is also employed to designate in general any deity, but likewise the true God. The word is derived, according to Gesenius (Thes. Hebrews page 94), from an obsolete root, אָלָה, alah', to revere; but is better referred by First (Hebrews Handw. page 90) to the kindred אֵל [see EL-], the name of God as mighty (from the extensive root אָלָה or אוּל, to be firm); and has its equivalent in the Arabic Allah, i.e., God. The plur. Elohim is sometimes used in its ordinary sense of gods, whether true or false (e.g. of the Egyptians, Exodus 12:12; Exodus 35:2; Exodus 35:4; Deuteronomy 20:18; Deuteronomy 32:17; including Jehovah, Psalms 86:8; Exodus 18:11; Exodus 22:19; or distinctively of actual deity, Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:5; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 45:21; Isaiah 46:9; 1 Chronicles 13:9); once of kings (Psalms 82:1; Psalms 82:6); but Gesenius thinks not of angels (Psalms 8:6; Psalms 91:7; Psalms 138:1), nor judges (Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:7-8). But it is especially spoken of one true God, i.e., Jehovah, and in this sense it is always construed as a sing., especially when it has the article prefixed (הָאלֵהִים ). (See SACK), Commentatt. theol. hist. (Bonn, 1821), 1; Reinhard, De notione Dei, etc. (Vitemb. 1792); Edzard, Utrum "Elohim" a Canaanaeis orig. ducet (ib. 1696); Michaelis, Num Deus dicatur אלֵהִים inito faedere (ib. 1723); Sennert, Exercitt. philol. (ib. 1678). (See GOD).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Elohim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/e/elohim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
