There are nine Hebrew and Greek words translated into the English word God.  Eight of the nine words refer to God and one refers to demons (daimonion).  The Hebrew words el, elah, elohim, eloah, and the Greek word theos all appear to have similar meanings and generally refer to God as the one to be worshiped.  According to Vines they suggest God's power and preeminence.  The words, el and elohim, are identical in meaning except el is singular and elohim is plural. 

    In one of the curious attributes of the Hebrew language even though elohim is plural it takes a singular verb!  This is suggestive of the Godhead as set forth in 1 John 5:7, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  In the Genesis account of creation, elohim, is the only Hebrew word used for God in chapter 1.  The plurality of the Godhead is manifested in verse 26, "And God said Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..."  In many pagan religions the gods of their worship were polytheistic but each of the gods were separate and distinct entities.  The God of the bible is separate and distinct in that the scriptures plainly teach there is but one true and living God yet the Godhead is made up of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  While our carnal minds struggle to understand such a concept, yet our God has confirmed to us that it is true and has set the mark of the Godhead on all of His creation: Rom. 1:20, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead..."

    The exclusive use of elohim in Gen. chapter 1 correlates that name with God as Creator.  There is only one creator and that is God.  Rev. 4:11 verifies this fact: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power! For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  Gen. 1:1 thru Gen. 2:3 gives us an account of God creating all natural things.  In addition, Eph. 2:10 tells us that God is the creator of all spiritual things as well: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
   

    Seven times in the old testament the word, el, appears with the word, shaddai or el shaddai meaning God Almighty.  The word Almighty refers to God as the all powerful one who has power to create all things, to control all things, and to uphold all things, thus the combination of el shaddai as used in the old testament speaks of God as the Powerful One executing God's promises.  Similarly, the seven times that the combination of God Almighty appears in the book of Revelation is closely associated with God as the powerful executor of his everlasting covenant of redemption.  Thus the name el shaddai or God Almighty is linked in the scriptures to the executor of  the eternal covenant of grace (salvation) as set forth in Rom. 8:28-30, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them, he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."  In considering this covenant we can easily see the mighty power of God, who created all things and who upholds all things, at work to bring about the provisions of this eternal covenant.

    In conclusion, the words el, elohim, eloah, and elah describe God to us as the almighty, all-powerful creator/upholder God and powerful executor of the everlasting covenant.  In addition the word elohim describes the three and one Godhead.  They all describe God as the preeminent one who is worthy of our worship.

In our next essay we will consider the name Jehovah as it describes God to us.

Elder Vernon Denton is the pastor of Denton Primitive Baptist Church, Denton, Texas.