Word Study

The meaning of אֱלֹהִים

Understanding ʼĕlôhîym reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.

H430
Hebrew Text
Strong's Concordance

אֱלֹהִים

Phoneticel-o-heem'
Transliterationʼĕlôhîym
Grammar Code
H:N-M
Hebrew Noun, Masculine
Strong's Definition
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

plural of אֱלוֹהַּ angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - gods in the ordinary sense - but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God - occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates - and sometimes as a superlative 1) (plural) 1a) rulers, judges 1b) divine ones 1c) angels 1d) gods 2) (plural intensive-singular meaning) 2a) god, goddess 2b) godlike one 2c) works or special possessions of God 2d) the (true) God 2e) God

Scripture References

Occurrences in the Bible

2248 total references
ReferenceText
Genesis 21:22

And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

Ruth 1:16

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Ezra 8:23

So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

Jeremiah 29:25

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

Micah 6:6

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Usage Statistics

Total Occurrences
2248x
Most Frequent Book
Psalms
Book Distribution
Genesis189
Exodus111
Leviticus47
Numbers23
Deuteronomy312
Joshua65
Judges63
Ruth3
1 Samuel90
2 Samuel48
1 Kings89
2 Kings83
1 Chronicles101
2 Chronicles167
Ezra45
Nehemiah64
Job17
Psalms325
Proverbs5
Ecclesiastes36
Isaiah86
Jeremiah128
Ezekiel34
Daniel19
Hosea23
Joel10
Amos14
Jonah14
Micah9
Nahum1
Habakkuk2
Zephaniah5
Haggai2
Zechariah11
Malachi7

Devotional Reflection

How does the original Hebrew meaning of 'אֱלֹהִים' deepen your understanding of Genesis 21:22?

Related Words

Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.