Hebrew text of the Aleppo Codex — the form Elohim appears wherever the divine name is grammatically pluralised
Elohim
The most common Hebrew word for 'God' — grammatically plural, treated as singular when referring to the God of Israel. The first name of God in the Bible: 'In the beginning, Elohim created…'.
Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a grammatically plural Hebrew noun, generally taken as a 'plural of majesty' or intensive plural when used of the one God of Israel — the verb that follows is almost always singular ('Elohim created'). The same word, in other contexts, can refer to gods of the nations, angels, or even human judges. Elohim is the dominant name for God in Genesis 1, where it appears in the act of creation, and is paired with the personal name YHWH from Genesis 2 onward (the so-called 'YHWH Elohim' or 'LORD God'). Where YHWH evokes covenant and intimacy, Elohim evokes power and transcendence: the maker of heaven and earth, sovereign over all that exists.
“Elohim.” Atlas. Accessed 2026. https://fcbh-atlas.vercel.app/en/concept/elohim
- placeEgypt
Ancient kingdom of the Nile. Refuge of Abraham and Joseph, then a house of slavery, then the place from which …
- placeUr
Ancient Sumerian city on the Euphrates in southern Mesopotamia. Abraham's birthplace, called 'Ur of the Chalde…
- figureAbraham
Father of the Hebrew people. Called from Ur to Canaan and given the covenant promise. Lived around 2000 BC.
- figureMoses
Hebrew prophet who led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law on Mount Sinai. Lived around 1300 BC.
- figureDavid
Shepherd of Bethlehem, killer of Goliath, second king of Israel, writer of psalms. Lived around 1000 BC.
- customsOil lamp
A small clay bowl with a pinched spout, filled with olive oil and a wick. It burned slowly through the night, …