🔹 The Confusion:
The title “Elohim” (𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌) is grammatically plural — but never used in Hebrew to mean “gods” when referring to Yhwh.
This is not because Yhwh is many — it’s because of a Hebrew structure called “plural of majesty” or “intensive form.”

💬 In Hebrew thought:

Plural form = greatness, not number.

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🔹 What the Paleo-Hebrew and Early Scrolls Show:
In Genesis 1:1:

בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים
Bereshit bara Elohim = “In the beginning Elohim created...”

❗ The verb bara (created) is singular, not plural.

If Elohim were truly “gods” (plural beings), the verb would have to be bar’u (they created).

✅ This proves:
Elohim (𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌) is ONE being, not multiple gods.

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🔹 Deuteronomy 6:4 — Hebrew Foundation Statement:
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל YHWH אֱלֹהֵינוּ YHWH אֶחָד
Shema Yisrael YHWH Eloheinu YHWH echad
“Hear, O Israel: YHWH our Mighty One, YHWH is One.”

📌 That word echad (אֶחָד) = united singularity — not a group.
✅ It affirms Yhwh is ONE, not three, not plural beings.

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🔹 So Why Use “Elohim” at All?
Because the early Hebrews wanted to show:

His unmatched strength

His total authority

His absolute supremacy over all creation

But they never meant it as more than one person. That false idea came much later, through:

❌ Greek philosophy – introducing “essences” and multiple “persons”
❌ Trinitarian doctrine – invented at Nicaea in 325 AD, pushed by Rome
❌ Latin and Greek translators – who thought Elohim meant a “divine group”

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🔹 Dead Sea Scrolls and Paleo-Hebrew:
They never treat Yhwh as plural.
They use:

𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (Yhwh) with singular verbs and singular titles.

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✅ Final Summary:
Yhwh is ONE — always was, always will be.

Elohim is a title of power, not plurality of persons.

Hebrew verbs and structure confirm singularity.

Greek and Roman thinking twisted the plural form into a false trinity.





🔹 "Grammatically plural" — What Does That Mean?
In Hebrew grammar, a plural noun usually ends in:

-ים (im) for masculine words

-ות (ot) for feminine words

So the word אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) looks like a plural word because of the -im ending.

👉 In most cases, a word like that would mean more than one:

מַלְאָךְ (mal’akh) = messenger

מַלְאָכִים (mal’akhim) = messengers

אֵל (El) = mighty one

אֵלִים (elim) = mighty ones/gods

BUT…

🔹 In the Case of Elohim (אֱלֹהִים):
When referring to Yhwh, the verb is always singular, not plural.

✅ Example – Genesis 1:1:

בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים
“In the beginning, Elohim created…”

The verb בָּרָא (bara) = He created — singular, not they created.

If “Elohim” truly meant gods, it would use:

בָּרוּ (baru) = “they created” — plural

But that never happens with Yhwh.

🔹 So Why Use a Plural Form?
This is a Hebrew language device called:

Plural of majesty or plural of intensity

It’s not about number — it’s about honor, greatness, and power.

Just like how in English, a king might say:

“We are pleased…” (but he means just himself)

Hebrew does the same:

Elohim = The One Mighty Power, in the highest degree.

🔹 Used Differently When Referring to Pagan Gods
When “Elohim” refers to false gods, then yes — it uses:

Plural verbs

Plural context

✅ Example – Exodus 20:3:

“You shall have no other gods (אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים) before me.”

Here, Elohim really does mean “gods” — and it's clear from the grammar.

But when it's Yhwh, it’s always singular in structure.

✅ Summary:
“Grammatically plural” = the word form looks plural.

But with Yhwh, it behaves as singular in Hebrew grammar.

It shows power and greatness, not multiple beings.

❌ Never meant to imply Trinity or “multiple persons.”