Handbook for Bible Students

1. Elohim

The ordinary word translated by the English word “God” in the Old Testament is Elohim [Hebrew word]. Though plural in form, it is usually singular in meaning, and takes a singular verb after it, as in Genesis 1:1. It occurs about 2,555 times in the Old Testament, and is used in thirty-five out of the thirty-nine books, the exceptions being Canticles, Lamentations, Obadiah, and Esther. In all but 245 cases it refers to the one living and true God who revealed himself to Israel and claimed their worship and obedience. HBS 211.6

The singular form Eloah [Hebrew word] occurs 57 times, chiefly in Job, almost always of the true God. The Aramaic form of the word is Elah ([Hebrew word]), almost the same as the Assyrian Ilu. It is found in Ezra and Daniel, also in the Aramaic message given in Jeremiah 10:11. Altogether it occurs 37 times. HBS 211.7

The still shorter word El [Hebrew word] is used 204 times of the true God and 18 times of false gods; it occurs in most of the Old Testament books. Its plural form is never used of the true God. An examination of the passage s where this word occurs shows that it is frequently used where some attribute of God is set forth, e. g., in the expression El Shaddai. HBS 212.1

Whatever the root and source of these words, there can be little doubt that they stood for the primitive idea, or rather revelation, of Deity as the first great cause of all things. HBS 212.2