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Elohim is One "Echad" Compound Unity

Elohim
Rendered as Creator God or Judge




Elohim – a plural noun

“In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth.”
Gen 1:1

(In many verses, God refers to Himself as “Elohim”.)

Rules of Hebrew Grammar

The verb must agree with the noun in both verb and number.




In Hebrew, “Elohim” is plural;
it is almost always followed by the singular verb going contrary to normal Hebrew grammar.

This emphasizes the unity of the godhead.

“In the beginning God (Elohim - plural noun) created (singular) the heaven and the earth.”
Gen 1:1




Elohim

“im” (plural) form of Eloah or El (God)

And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness:”
Gen 1:26

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:”
Gen 3:22

In this case the noun and verb are both plural.

This stresses the plurality of the godhead.




One Lord


“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deut 6:4-5

The word “one” or “echad” denotes a compound unity.

“Therefore shall a mean leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one (echad) flesh.
Gen 2:24

“…All the people answered with one (echad) voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said we will do.”
Ex 24:3

Deuteronomy 6:4 - To the Jew, this verse is like John 3:16. It is interesting that although the “one” is stressed, it is done so utilizing plural and compound parts of speech.




One Lord

Echad = Compound unity

“And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one (echad) LORD, and His name one (echad).”
Zech 1:9

Yachid = Absolute Oneness

“And He said, Take now thy son, thine only (yachid) son Isaac, whom thou lovest,..”
Gen 22:2

In the OT, the word “Yachid” is never used of God.

The “absolute” oneness in Hebrew is ‘Yachid”.

The word “one” or “echad” denotes a compound unity.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our ‘Elohim’ is ‘Echad…’”.