The Names of God
El - Elohim (el-lo-heem')
(God, Mighty Creator)
This morning while driving to work and thinking about God our mighty Creator (Elohim), a song came on by Selah and the words were "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty and we lift you up in praise and glorify your Name." How mighty is our God and how glorious to be able to lift high our hands in praise and exalt His Name.
El in the Bible is a general Hebrew term for God. It is one of the oldest forms of the name concerning Deity both in the Hebrew Scripture such as the Bible and the Canaanite heathen god(s) (el). El is the singular form of Elohim. It is interesting to note that even though Elohim is plural it does not pertain to "many gods" it is the Name of God given to represent the One and Only God and therefore is always accompanied by a singular descriptive adjective or adverb. Elohim is also often accompanied by a singular pronoun, such is found in Deuteronomy 32:39: "See, I am the only Elohim. There are not others..." However, in Genesis Elohim refers to Himself as us: Genesis 1:26 states: "Let us make man in our image..." When Elohim is used in the plural with pronouns it generally is accepted as speaking in the Trinity, the Three in One.
Although El is generally interpreted as "God" in the Hebrew Scripture, the name Elohim has the connotation associated with it as One of Great Power, The Creator, Sovereignty, and Omnipotence. We can see this displayed clearly in the first couple of chapters of Genesis. Elohim, alone is used 35 times in Genesis 1:1 to 2:4. Nathan Stone points out that "it is the Elohim who by His mighty power creates the vast universe; who says, and it is done; who brings into being what was not; by whose word the wolds were framed so that things that are seen were not made of the things that do appear (Hebrews 11:3))
Ann Spangler in her book 'The Names of God,' ties this Name of God from the Old Testament to the New Testament. When Jesus cried out from the Cross: 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?', He was crying out 'My God, My God why have you forsaken me?' (Matthew 27:46)
Elohim is used throughout the Bible to point to the Majesty of the One true God, in fact the Name Elohim appears approximately 2,500 times in the Hebrew Bible. Isaiah 41:10 is a great example of this: "Don't be afraid, because I am with you. Don't be intimidated; I am your Elohim, I will strengthen you. I will help you . I will support you with my victorious right hand." Psalms 68:5 exclaims: "The Elohim who is in his holy dwelling place is the Ab of the fatherless and the defender of widows."
Wow, what a wonder to imagine, to ponder, to meditate on...the most powerful, awe-ful, majestic Elohim, the creator of the Universe, the galaxies and the minuscule sub-atomic particle is also the gentle, loving, gracious Elohim, the creator of humans, his most cherished creation, one that he dotes on and adores. He created the marvelous garden of Eden and then he created man (ish) and woman (isha) in his image and breathed into him the breath of life. Even in the wake of rebellion and sin our Elohim created us garments to cover our shame, thus providing the first blood sacrifice for his errant children that would foretell of the ultimate blood sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Blessed be His Name forever and ever, Amen!!
**Resources: Ann Spangler, 'The Names of God'
Nathan Stone, 'Name of God'
The Names of GOD Bible; GOD'S WORD Translation
Complete Jewish Bible, Translation by David H. Stern
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