The Paradox of Elohim

In recent days, for reasons unknown to me, I seem to keep stumbling into biblical discussions on the attributes of God. Suddenly everyone seems to be discussing the oneness, unity, and plurality of God as revealed in scripture. The paradox exists in many places in scripture, but is most often cited from the Shema, a sacred prayer recited by Jews the world over, and found in Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” It clearly states “the Lord is one” or “the Lord alone” depending upon which translation you read, however the the Hebrew word Elohim, which is plural, is the word translated to mean God in the singular.

The Hebrew scholars will quickly point out that although Elohim, which is a title rather than a name, is indeed plural, that the verb in the sentence is a singular verb. In the Hebrew language, the plural noun may be used in such cases to impart majesty, dignity, or excellence to the title of God. The Christian scholars will pounce upon the same plurality as evidence of the trinity.

As I researched what others had to say on the subject, I found explanations that ranged from “it signifies the male and female natures unified in God” to this explanation from the Midrash Rabbah (commentaries of the early Rabbis) on Genesis; Rabbi Samuel bar Nahman in the name of Rabbi Jonathan says that “at the time when Moses wrote the Torah he was writing a portion of it daily. But when he came to this verse which says, ‘And Elohim said let us make man in our image after our likeness,’ Moses said, ‘Master of the Universe why do you give an excuse to the sectarians to emphasize plurality within you?’ God answered to Moses, ‘You write and whoever wants to err let him err.’ ” Did the learned Rabbi make this up, or was it divinely inspired by the Almighty? We may have our opinion, but only Rabbi Samuel bar Nahman and Rabbi Jonathan know the truth of that matter.

In Isaiah 55:8 we read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. In other words, we cannot make the attributes of God conform to our sense of logic and reason. They don’t and they won’t. We may never have a definitive answer to the question of the use of plural terminology describing a stand alone God, but to me it is clear evidence of God’s sense of humor. This discussion is as old as the written word of God, and perhaps God is content to sit back and watch to see if we will continue to let it divide us, or by grace find a way to allow it to unify us as His people.

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