אלוהים

Hebrew

Root
א־ל־הּ (ʾ-l-hּ)
2 terms

Etymology

From the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (elóah, “god”).

Pronunciation

• (Biblical Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ʔiloːˈhiːm/
• (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): [ʔɛloːˈhiːm]
• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im/

  • Audio:

    (file)

Proper noun

אלוהים / אֱלֹהִים • (elohím) m (singular construct אלוהי / אֱלֹהֵי־)

1. God

   Alternative form: אלוקים / אֱלֹקִים

   • Tanach, Genesis 1:1-3:

     בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָה תֹ֙הוּ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵי תְהוֹם וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּֽיִם׃ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וַֽיְהִי־אוֹר׃

     When God began creating the heaven and the earth, while the earth was yet empty and formless and darkness was over the surface of the abyss, while the spirit of God hovered over the water's surface, God said: "There be light" and there was light.

   • Tanach, Exodus 20:2:

     אָֽנֹכִ֨י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֽוֹצֵאתִ֩יךָ֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֗ים

     I am the Lord, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Usage notes

• This word is sometimes grammatically plural and sometimes singular.
• In traditional vocalization, the א is elided when a prefixed clitic is added. Thus, “to God” is לֵאלֹהִים (lelohím) rather than לֶאֱלֹהִים (le'elohím).
• Observant Jews, outside of prayer, may prefer to write and say אֱלוֹקִים (elokím), so as not to abuse the name of God.

Derived terms

• הַר הָאֱלֹהִים (har ha'elohím)

Descendants

• Samaritan Hebrew: ࠀࠋࠄࠉࠌ (ʾlhym)
• → Arabic: إِلُوهِيم (ʔilūhīm)
• → English: Elohim
• → Russian: Элохим (Eloxim)
• → Thai: เอโลฮิม (ee-roo-hím)
• → Hindi: एलोहिम (elohim)

References

• H430 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible

Noun

אלוהים / אֱלֹהִים • (elohím) m (singular construct אלוהי / אֱלֹהֵי־)

1. a god
2. (rare) a godlike figure, someone with godlike power or authority (like rulers or judges)
   • Tanach, Exodus 4:16:

     וְדִבֶּר־הוּא לְךָ אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וְהָ֤יָה הוּא יִֽהְיֶה־לְּךָ לְפֶה וְאַתָּה תִּֽהְיֶה־לּוֹ לֵאלֹהִים׃

     He will speak for you to the people. He will be as a mouth for you, and you will be as God for him.

Usage notes

• This word is sometimes grammatically plural and sometimes singular.

Declension

Declension of אֱלוֹהִים

	isolated forms		with possessive pronouns
Number:	State:	form	Person:	singular		plural
				m	f	m	f
plural	indefinite	אֱלוֹהִים	first	אלוהיי / אֱלוֹהַי		אֱלוֹהֵינוּ
	definite	הָאֱלוֹהִים	second	אֱלוֹהֶיךָ	אלוהייך / אֱלוֹהַיִךְ	אֱלוֹהֵיכֶם	אֱלוֹהֵיכֶן
	construct	אֱלוֹהֵי־	third	אֱלוֹהָיו	אֱלוֹהֶיהָ	אֱלוֹהֵיהֶם	אֱלוֹהֵיהֶן

Noun

אלוהים / אֱלֹהִים • (elohím)

1. plural indefinite form of אֱלוֹהַּ (elóah)‎