אלוהים
elohím/ʔiloːˈhiːm/
The English phrase 'elohim' refers to the Hebrew name אלוהים (elohím).
אלוהים is a noun that can mean God or gods. In the Hebrew Bible, it is used as a proper name for the one God, but it can also serve as a generic term for various deities or gods in a polytheistic context.
Meaning: name for God (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from a root meaning 'power' or 'might'. While it takes a plural form, linguists often interpret this as a 'plural of majesty' rather than indicating a literal plurality of gods.
How does it change in a sentence?
Although אלוהים ends with the masculine plural suffix -im, it is treated as a singular noun in terms of verb agreement when it refers to the God of Israel.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is elohím and the IPA is /ʔiloːˈhiːm/.
Did you know?
- The word אלוהים shares a linguistic root with the Arabic word ilah, meaning 'deity', and the word Allah.
- In many modern Hebrew contexts, the word אלוהים is avoided by religious speakers when referring to God directly, often opting for titles like 'HaShem' which means 'The Name'.
- In some modern contexts, אלוהים is used as an interjection similar to 'My God!' or 'Good heavens!' to express shock or surprise regardless of the speaker's faith.
Examples in context
- אלוהים ברא את העולם.Elohim bara et ha'olam.Elohim created the world.
Example conversation
Maya and Itay are talking about their beliefs.
- מאיה Mayaאיתי, אתה מאמין באלוהים?Itay, ata ma'amin be-Elohim?Itay, do you believe in God?
- איתי Itayכן, אני מאמין שאלוהים קיים.Ken, ani ma'amin she-Elohim kayam.Yes, I believe that God exists.
- מאיה Mayaגם אני מרגישה את אלוהים בחיי.Gam ani margisha et Elohim be-chayay.I also feel God in my life.
- איתי Itayזה נותן הרבה כוח.Ze noten harbe koach.That gives a lot of strength.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry אלוהים, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
