Lexical Definition

‎אֱלֹהִים‎ ʼĕlôhîym (el-o-heem') God ^H:N-M
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

See Greek: θεῖος · θεός · θεός · κύριος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֱלֹהִים‎₂₅₇₀ noun masculine plural (feminine 1Kgs 11:33 on number of occurrences of ‎אֵל‎, ‎אֱלוֺהַּ‎, ‎אֱלֹהִים‎ compare also Nes^{l. c},)

1. plural in number.
a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power: ‎האלהים‎ Exod 21:6 (Onk ᵑ6, but τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ ᵐ5) Exod 22:7*; Exod 22:8* ‎אלהים‎ Exod 22:8*; Exod 22:27* (ᵑ7 Ra AE Ew RVm; but gods, ᵐ5 Josephus Philo AV; God, Di RV; all Covt. code of E) compare 1Sam 2:25 see Dr.; Judg 5:8 (Ew, but gods ᵐ5; God ᵑ6 BarHebr.; ‎יהוה‎ ᵑ9 Be) Ps 82:1; Ps 82:6 (De Ew Pe; but angels Bl Hup) Ps 138:1 (ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Rab Ki De; but angels ᵐ5 Calv; God, Ew; gods, Hup Pe Che).
b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels Ps 8:6* (De Che Br; but angels ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Ew; God, RV and most moderns) Gen 1:27 (if with Philo ᵑ7 Jerome De Che we interpret ‎נעשה‎ as God's consultation with angels; compare Job 38:7).
c. angels Psalm Job 97:7 (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Calv; but gods, Hup De Pe Che); compare ‎בני (ה)אלהים‎ = (the) sons of God, or sons of gods = angels Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7; Gen 6:2; Gen 6:4 (J; so ᵐ5 Books of Enoch & Jubilees Philo Jude vJude 1:6; 2Pet 2:4 Jos^{Ant. «JOSEPHUS:Antiquities 1:3»i. 3}. 1, most ancient fathers and modern critics; against usage are sons of princes, mighty men, Onk and Rab.; sons of God, the pious, Theod Chrys Jerome Augustine Luther Calv Hengst; ᵐ5^L read οἱ υιὁὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ), compare ‎בני אלים‎.
d. gods ‎האלהים‎ Exod 18:11; Exod 22:19* (E) 1Sam 4:8; 2Chr 2:4*; Ps 86:8 ‎אלהי האלהים‎ the God of gods, supreme God Deut 10:17; Ps 136:2 ‎אלהים‎ Exod 32:1; Exod 32:23 (JE) Judg 9:13 ‎אלהים אחרים‎ other gods Exod 20:3; Exod 23:13; Josh 24:2; Josh 24:16 (E) Deut 31:18; Deut 31:20 (JE) Deut 5:7 + (17 t. in D, not P) Judg 2:12; Judg 2:17; Judg 2:19; Judg 10:13; 1Sam 8:8; 1Sam 26:19; 1Kgs 9:6; 1Kgs 9:9 (= 2Chr 7:19; 2Chr 7:22) 2Chr 11:4; 2Chr 11:10; 2Chr 14:9*; 2Kgs 5:17; 2Kgs 17:35; 2Kgs 17:37; 2Kgs 17:38; 2Kgs 22:17 (= 2Chr 34:25) 2Chr 28:25; Jer 1:16 + (18 t. Jeremiah) Hos 3:1 ‎אלהי (ה)נכר‎ foreign gods Gen 35:2; Gen 35:4; Josh 24:20; Josh 24:23 (E) Deut 31:16 (JE) Judg 10:16; 1Sam 7:3; 2Chr 33:15; Jer 5:19 ‎נחור‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Gen 31:53 (E); ‎מצרים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Exod 12:12 (P) Jer 43:12; Jer 43:13 ‎האמרי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Josh 24:15 (E) Judg 6:10 ‎ארם‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ etc. Judg 10:6 ‎אלהים מעשה ידי‎ Deut 4:28 ‎הגוים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ gods of the nations 2Kgs 18:33; 2Kgs 19:12; Deut 29:17*; 2Chr 32:17; 2Chr 32:19; Isa 36:18; Isa 37:12 ‎העמים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Deut 6:14; Deut 13:8*; Judg 2:12; Ps 96:5; 1Chr 5:25; 1Chr 16:26; 2Chr 32:13; 2Chr 32:14 ‎כסף‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Exod 20:23 (E); ‎זהב‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Exod 20:23 (E) Exod 32:31 (JE); ‎מַסֵּכָה‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Exod 34:17 (J) Lev 19:4 (H).

2. Plural intensive.
a. god or goddess, always with suffix 1Sam 5:7 (Dagon), Judg 11:24 (Chemosh), 1Kgs 18:24 (Baal), Judg 9:27; Dan 1:2 (twice in verse); or construct ‎לעשתרת‎ ‎מואב‎ ‎׳‎‎צדנים לכמוש א‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ to Ashtoreth goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh god of Moab, etc. 1Kgs 11:33 ‎הארץ‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ god of the land 2Kgs 17:26 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 17:27, and so the Syrians suppose that Yahweh is a mountain-god and not a god of valleys 1Kgs 20:28.
b. godlike one Exod 4:16 (J; Moses in relation to Aaron), Exod 7:1 (P; in relation to Pharaoh), 1Sam 28:13 (the shade of Samuel), Ps 45:7* (the Messianic king, O God, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Jerome, most scholars ancient and modern, but thy throne is God's = God's throne AE Ki Thea Ew Hup, compare 1Chr 28:5).
c. works of God, or things specially belonging to him (see ‎אֵל‎ 5) ‎הר אלהים‎ Ps 68:16*; Ezek 28:14; Ezek 28:16 ‎אש אלהים‎ Job 1:16 ‎גן (ה)אלהים‎ Ezek 28:13; Ezek 31:8; Ezek 31:9.
d. God (see 3 & 4).

3. ‎הָאֱלֹהִים‎ the (true) God, ‎הוא האלהים‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Yahweh is (the) God Deut 4:35; Deut 4:39; Deut 7:9; 1Kgs 8:60; 1Kgs 18:39 (twice in verse); 2Chr 33:13 ‎הוא האלהים‎ Isa 45:18 ‎האלהים‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Josh 22:34 (P ?) 1Kgs 18:21; 1Kgs 18:24; 2Chr 32:16 ‎אתה הוא האלהים‎ 2Sam 7:28; 1Kgs 18:37; 2Kgs 19:15; 1Chr 17:26; Isa 37:16; Neh 9:7 ‎האלהים‎ as subject or object is used in E 33 t., Chronicles 38 t., Eccl 31 t., Jonah 5 t., elsewhere Gen 5:22; Gen 5:24; Gen 6:9; Gen 6:11 (sources of P) Gen 17:18 (P) Josh 22:34 (P ?) Gen 44:16 (J) Deut 4:35; Deut 4:39; Deut 7:9; Judg 6:36; Judg 6:39; Judg 7:14; Judg 10:14; Judg 16:28; Judg 21:2; 1Sam 10:3; 1Sam 10:7; 1Sam 14:36; 2Sam 2:27; 2Sam 6:7; 2Sam 7:28; 2Sam 12:16; 1Kgs 8:60; 1Kgs 18:21; 1Kgs 18:24 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 18:37; 1Kgs 18:39 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 19:15 (Ephr) Job 2:10; Jer 11:12; Isa 37:16; Isa 45:18; Ps 108:14*; Dan 1:9; Dan 1:17 ‎הקדוש‎ ‎׳‎‎הא‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ 1Sam 6:20 ‎הגדול‎ ‎׳‎‎הא‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Neh 8:6 ‎אשר‎ ‎׳‎‎בירושלם הא‎ Ezra 1:3 ‎אדני האלהים‎ Dan 9:3 in many phrases, as ‎איש האלהים‎ the man of God, acting under divine authority and influence: =
(a) angel Judg 13:6; Judg 13:8,
(b) prophet (the term coming into use in the Northern kingdom in the age of Elijah 1Sam 9:9-10, compare ‎אִישׁ הָרוּחַ‎ Hos 9:7): of Moses Deut 33:1; Josh 14:6 (E) 1Chr 23:14; 2Chr 30:16; Ezra 3:2; Ps 90:1 of Samuel 1Sam 9:6-10 of David 2Chr 8:14; Neh 12:24; Neh 12:36 Shemaiah 1Kgs 12:22 (= 2Chr 11:2); Elijah, Elisha, and others of their time 1Kgs 13:1-31; 1Kgs 17:18-24; 1Kgs 20:28; 2Kgs 1:9-13; 2Kgs 4:7-42; 2Kgs 5:8-20; 2Kgs 6:6-15; 2Kgs 7:2-9; 2Kgs 8:2-11; 2Kgs 13:19; 2Kgs 23:16-17 (Ephr) 2Chr 25:7; 2Chr 25:9 unnamed prophet 1Sam 2:27 Hanan Jer 35:4 a later title of prophet was ‎עֶבֶד האלהים‎ the servant of God, used of Moses 1Chr 6:34*; 2Chr 24:9; Neh 10:30*; Dan 9:11. ‎בית האלהים‎ the house of God, Judg 18:31, especially late, Chronicles (52 t.) Eccl 4:17*; Dan 1:2 ‎׳‎‎בית י‎ ‎׳‎‎הא‎ 1Chr 22:1 ‎ארון (ברית) האלהים‎ the ark (of the covenant) of God Judg 20:27; 1Sam 4:1-5:12; 1Sam 14; 2Sam 6:1-7:29; 2Sam 15 (23 t.); 1Chr 13; 1Chr 15; 1Chr 16; 2Chr 1:4 (13 t.); ‎מטה‎ ‎האלהים‎ the rod of God Exod 4:20; Exod 17:9 (E); ‎הר האלהים‎ the mount of God (Horeb) Exod 3:1; Exod 4:27; Exod 18:5; Exod 24:13 (E) 1Kgs 19:8 (Ephr); ‎מלאך האלהים‎ the (theophanic) angel of God Gen 31:11; Exod 14:19 (E) Judg 6:20; Judg 13:6; Judg 13:9; 2Sam 14:17; 2Sam 14:20; 2Sam 19:28* in other combinations Exod 18:16; Num 23:27 (E) Judg 20:2; 1Sam 4:8; 1Sam 5:11; 1Sam 10:5; 2Sam 16:23; 1Kgs 12:22; 1Chr 21:7 + (14 t.) Ps 87:3; Eccl 9:1.

4. ‎אֱלֹהִים‎ = God ‎אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ = Yahweh is God in truth Jer 10:10.
a. ‎אלהים‎ (as subject object direct or indirect) is used by P (50 t. in story of creation and deluge, elsewhere 28 t.), by E (91 t.), J chiefly in poetic sources Gen 3:1; Gen 3:3; Gen 3:5 (twice in verse); Gen 9:27; Gen 39:9; Deut 32:17; Deut 32:39, by D (11 t.) Judges (21 t.) Samuel (50 t.) Kings (29 t.) Chronicles (45 t.); in Psalm 42-86 (180 t. often by editorial change for an original ‎יהוה‎), elsewhere Ps 3:3*; Ps 5:11*; Ps 7:11*; Ps 7:12*; Ps 9:18*; Ps 10:4; Ps 10:13; Ps 14:1; Ps 14:2; Ps 14:5; Ps 25:22; Ps 36:2*; Ps 36:8*; Ps 77:14*; Ps 100:3; Ps 108:2*; Ps 108:6*; Ps 108:8*; Ps 108:12* (twice in verse); Ps 149:9; Job 5:8; Job 20:29; Job 28:23; Job 32:2; Job 34:9 (& in Prologue 6 t.) Prov 2:5; Prov 3:4; Prov 25:2 Ecclesiastes (7 t.) Hosea (5 t.); Amos 4:11 (‎כמהפכת אלתים את סדם‎ as God overthrew Sodom = Jer 50:40 = Isa 13:19) Zech 8:23; Zech 12:8; Mic 3:7 (but ‎אליהם‎ ᵐ5 ᵑ6) Isa 35:4 Isa² (9 t.); Jer 10:10 Ezekiel (13 t.); Malachi (5 t.); Jonah (4 t.); the phrase ‎לאלהים‎ ‎׳‎‎היה ל‎ Gen 28:21 (E^R) Gen 17:7; Gen 17:8; Exod 6:7; Exod 29:45; Lev 11:45; Lev 22:33; Lev 25:38; Lev 26:12; Lev 26:45; Num 15:41 (P); Deut 26:17; Deut 29:13*; 2Sam 7:24 (= 1Chr 17:22); Zech 8:8 Jeremiah (6 t.); Ezekiel (6 t.); ‎אלהים צדיק‎ righteous God Ps 7:10* ‎קדשים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ holy God Josh 24:19 (E); ‎חיים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ living God Deut 5:23; 1Sam 17:26; 1Sam 17:36; Jer 10:10; Jer 23:36 ‎חי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ 2Kgs 19:4; 2Kgs 19:16 (= Isa 37:4; Isa 37:17). For the phrases ‎׳‎‎יהוה א‎, ‎צבאות‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎, ‎צבאות‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎, ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎אל א‎, ‎׳‎‎יה א‎, ‎׳‎‎צבאות א‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎, ‎אלתי‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎, ‎צבאות‎, ‎׳‎‎אדני א‎ see ‎יהוה‎, ‎יה‎, ‎צבאות‎ & ‎אדני‎.
b. construct ‎אֱלֹהֵי‎
(a) with persons ‎אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם‎ = God of Abraham, a phrase of J, Gen 26:24; Gen 28:13; Gen 31:53, elsewhere Ps 47:10*; 1Kgs 18:36; 1Chr 29:18; 2Chr 30:6 ‎אדני אברהם‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Gen 24:12; Gen 24:27; Gen 24:42; Gen 24:48 (J); ‎אלהי אב‎ father's God (various suffix & names), a phrase of E, Gen 31:5; Gen 31:29; Gen 31:42; Gen 46:3; Gen 50:17; Exod 3:6; Exod 3:13; Exod 3:15; Exod 3:16; Exod 15:2; Exod 18:4; Josh 18:3, elsewhere Gen 32:10*; Gen 43:23 (J) Exod 4:5 (J ?) Deuteronomy (8 t.); Judg 2:12; 2Kgs 21:22 Chronicles (31 t.); Dan 11:37 ‎אֱלֹהֵי‎ ‎יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ Israel's God, phrase of E, Gen 33:20; Exod 5:1; Exod 24:10; Exod 32:27; Josh 8:30; Josh 14:14; Josh 22:16; Josh 24:2; Josh 24:23, elsewhere Exod 34:23; Josh 7:13; Josh 7:19; Josh 7:20 (JE) Num 16:9; Josh 9:18; Josh 9:19; Josh 22:24; Josh 10:40; Josh 10:42; Josh 13:14; Josh 13:33 (R see Di Josh 7:13) Judg 4:6; Judg 5:3; Judg 5:5; Judg 6:8; Judg 11:21; Judg 11:23; Judg 21:3; 1Sam 1:17 + (20 t.) Kings (26 t.) Chronicles (45 t.); Ps 41:14*; Ps 106:48 (doxology) Ps 59:6*; Ps 69:7*; Isa 17:6; Isa 21:10; Isa 21:17; Isa 29:23 Isa³, Isa 24:15; Isa 37:16; Isa 37:21 Isa², Isa 41:17 + (6 t.); Jer 35:17 + (48 t.); Ezek 8:4 + (7 t.); Zeph 2:9; Mal 2:16; Ruth 2:12 ‎מערכות ישראל‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God of the battle array of Israel 1Sam 17:45 ‎׳‎‎א‎ ‎יַעֲקֹב‎ 2Sam 23:1 (poetry) Ps 20:2*; Ps 46:8*; Ps 46:12*; Ps 75:10*; Ps 76:7*; Ps 81:2*; Ps 81:5*; Ps 84:9*; Ps 94:7; Isa 2:3 (= Mic 4:2); ‎העבריים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God of the Hebrews Exod 3:18; Exod 5:3; Exod 7:16; Exod 9:1; Exod 9:13 (JE); it is used with other proper names, Nahor Gen 31:53 (E), Shem Gen 9:26 (J), David 2Kgs 20:5; 2Chr 21:12; 2Chr 34:3; Isa 38:5, Hezekiah 2Chr 32:17, Elijah 2Kgs 2:14 ‎ארני המלך‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ the God of my lord the king 1Kgs 1:36. (β) with nouns of attributes or relationships, ‎קֶרֶם‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ ancient God Deut 33:27 ‎עולם‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ everlasting God Isa 40:28 ‎אֱמֶת‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ true God 2Chr 15:3 ‎אָמֵן‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Isa 65:16 (see ‎אָמֵן‎); ‎משפט‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Isa 30:18; Mal 2:17 ‎מרום‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Mic 6:6 ‎כָל בָשָׂר‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God of all flesh Jer 32:27 compare ‎׳‎‎א‎ ‎הרוחות לכל בשר‎ Num 16:22; Num 27:16 (P); ‎השמים‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God of heaven Gen 24:7 (J^R) 2Chr 36:23; Ezra 1:2; Neh 1:4; Neh 1:5; Neh 2:4; Neh 2:20 compare ‎כל הארץ‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Isa 54:5 ‎׳‎‎השמים וא‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎הארץ‎ Gen 24:3 (J^R); ‎מִקָּרֹב‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ a God at hand opposed to ‎מֵרָחֹק‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Jer 23:23, ‎ישועתי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎, ‎יִשְׁעִי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God of my salvation Ps 18:47* (= 2Sam 22:47) Ps 24:5; Ps 25:5; Ps 27:9; Ps 65:6*; Ps 79:9; Ps 85:5*; Isa 17:10; Mic 7:7; Hab 3:18; 1Chr 16:35 ‎ישועתי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Ps 88:2* ‎תשועתי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Ps 51:16* ‎צִדְקִי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God of righteousness Ps 4:2* ‎חַסְדִּי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Ps 59:11*; Ps 59:18* ‎צוּרִי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God who is my rock 2Sam 22:3 (compare Ps 18:3*); ‎מָעוּזִּי֯‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God who is my stronghold Ps 43:2 ‎תְהִלָּתִי‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ God who is my praise Ps 109:1.
c. with suffix in P (22 t. including phrase ‎ויראת מאלהיך‎) Lev 19:14; Lev 19:32; Lev 25:17; Lev 25:36; Lev 25:43 (H) Exod 8:21*; Josh 24:27 (E) Deut 32:37 (poetry) Josh 9:23 (JE) Deut 10:21; Deut 31:17; Judg 10:10; Judg 16:23; Judg 16:24; 1Sam 10:19; 2Sam 10:12; 2Sam 22:32 + (4 t. poetry) 1Kgs 12:28; 1Kgs 20:23; 2Kgs 19:10 Chronicles (83 t.); Psalms (62 t.); Prov 2:17; Prov 30:9; Ruth 1:15; Ruth 1:16 (twice in verse); Isa 1:10; Isa 7:13; Isa 8:19; Isa 8:21 Isa² (29 t.); Jer 5:4; Jer 5:5; Jer 23:36; Jer 51:5; Ezek 34:31 Daniel (5 t.); Hosea (12 t.); Amos 2:8; Amos 4:12; Joel 1:13 (twice in verse); Joel 1:16; Joel 2:17; Mic 6:8; Mic 7:7; Jonah 1:5; Jonah 1:6; Zeph 3:2; Nah 1:14; Zech 9:7; Zech 12:5 ‎אלהים‎ with suffix is also used with ‎יהוה‎ several hundred times (see ‎יהוה‎).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References