אלוהים
Appearance
Hebrew
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ (elóah, “god”).
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Biblical Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʔiloːˈhiːm/
- (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA(key): [ʔɛloːˈhiːm]
- (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA(key): /(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im/
Audio: (file)
Proper noun
[edit]אלוהים / אֱלֹהִים • (elohím) m (singular construct אלוהי / אֱלֹהֵי־)
- God
- 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.
Usage notes
[edit]- 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
[edit]- הַר הָאֱלֹהִים (har ha'elohím)
Descendants
[edit]- Samaritan Hebrew: ࠀࠋࠄࠉࠌ (ʾlhym)
- → Arabic: إِلُوهِيم (ʔilūhīm)
- → English: Elohim
- → Russian: Элохим (Eloxim)
- → Thai: เอโลฮิม (ee-roo-hím)
- → Hindi: एलोहिम (elohim)
References
[edit]Noun
[edit]אלוהים / אֱלֹהִים • (elohím) m (singular construct אלוהי / אֱלֹהֵי־)
Usage notes
[edit]- This word is sometimes grammatically plural and sometimes singular.
Declension
[edit]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
[edit]אלוהים / אֱלֹהִים • (elohím)
- plural indefinite form of אֱלוֹהַּ (elóah)