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32 Is “ELOHIM” Really Uni-plural?

“A certain Catholic and learned writer is persons are elsewhere accustomed to employ the
of the opinion that the Father, Son and Holy plural number for the singular. And this is not
Ghost are Gods because in the OT the name of surely for denoting some divine mystery, but
the Almighty is always expressed in the plural merely on account of dignity and aggrandize-
number, as Elohim, which he thinks ought to be ment” (Lambert Daneau, Opusc. Theol., p.
rendered Gods. The doctrine itself I do not op- 2027).
pose, but convinced by other arguments, I ac-
knowledge this argument to be not solid” “In ‘Elohim created’ it is thought that a
(Turrien, Clem Constit, 3, 17. Apud Sandium). mystery is concealed and that a plurality of per-
sons is implied. For what reason? Because a plu-
Protestant Commentators ral noun is construed with a singular verb [cp.
News is good; the sheep are good, the sheep id
“From the words ‘God created’ our com- good]. This is partly true and partly false as to the
mentators in general deduce the mystery of the sense. For when Elohim is spoken of one [per-
most Holy Trinity: the noun, as they conceive, son], its significance is singular, being used of
denoting the Trinity of persons and the verb the the one God everywhere and of an individual
unity of Essence -- Unity in Trinity and Trinity angel, calf, idol and man [and thus of the individ-
in Unity. The reason assigned for this inference ual Elohim]. And our opinion is demonstrated by
is that the expression in the original signifies not other arguments. Both Jerome and Procopius
Gods, they created, but Gods, He created. The call it a noun of the common number, because it
Hebrews however attribute this phraseology to is used of one God and of a plurality. But if this
an idiom of their language. For the plural words true, and of this there cannot be any doubt, the
Elohim and Baalim (masters) are used of men argument drawn from the number falls to the
and lords, in relation to individuals,as adonim ground; for when employed of an individual,
kasha = lords (plural) oppressive (singular), Isa. what child would say that this noun has ever a
19:4, and elsewhere. I am loath indeed to counte- plural sense? [And YHVH is an individual!]
nance the Jews, unless when they have truth Who would affirm that there are various cities of
manifestly on their side. But from other passages the names of Athenoe, Theboe Salonoe, because
of Scripture the doctrine of the Trinity can be these are each spoken of in the plural number?
more clearly and expressly established. And we Who would deny that there is one supreme
must contend against our adversaries with stron- heaven, which the apostle terms the third and
ger weapons than this [argument from Elohim], David the heaven of the heavens, because in He-
if we would not, by ignorance of their lan- brew it is called shamayim in the dual form, or as
guage, expose ourselves to their ridicule.I preferred by Jerome in the plural? Who would
agree with the Jews in referring the usage under infer that there are many darknesses because in
notice to a Hebrew idiom, but conceive that the Latin the corresponding word is not employed in
plural noun is ascribed to God, chiefly in order to the singular number? (Tenebrae). There is
express the fullness of His excellencies, by equally a mystery -- but which no one recognizes
which He diffuses Himself throughout the uni- -- in the plural baalim (lords). This word is
verse and exerts His majesty and power which sometimes used of one lord and having a singu-
are immense and inexhaustible” (Mercer). lar sense; as well as in adonim (lords) when said
of the One God. Because I have written that the
“The argument taken from the plural noun Elohim does not from its termination sig-
noun Elohim joined to the singular verb bara is nify the Trinity, I am accused of being a Unitar-
exceedingly poor. Since by the usage of their ian Arian, when my adversaries should rather be
language the Hebrews in designating honorable called Sabellians (Modalists) since they make

The Berean Voice July-August 2002