The first name of God that we will look at is the first name that He used to reveal Himself to us – that name is elohim. This Hebrew word for God appears first in the very first words of our Bible. “In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1. The word elohimis here translated as God. Although the name Jehovah occurs more times in the Bible, the name elohim is used some 2,570 times. Elohim is used 32 times in the Book of Genesis before the name Jehovah is ever used. Since God uses a system of “first-mentioned things” throughout His word, He wants us to understand something very important by introducing Himself to us as Elohim to start off with.2.

            We need to understand that there is a lot of significance in a name to the Hebrews. They did not name their children on whims, or because it sounded good, or because it was cute. They named their children because of the spiritual and earthly importance of a particular name. Hebrews named their children (and, actually, places as well) because there was a spiritual significance to the names. Beth-el was a place that was named Beth-el because it means house of God, so named because it had a definite spiritual significance to Jacob as a result of his seeing a stairway rising and descending from the place. He believed that it was indeed God’s house (Genesis 28:10-22).3.

            Since there is such a spiritual meaning or significance to the Hebrews in names, the names that God has applied to Himself are very important. This word Elohim is an example. The name itself most likely comes from the root word el, which means mighty, strong, prominent. This word El itself is translated "God" some 250 times and frequently in circumstances which especially indicate the great power of God. In Deuteronomy 10:17 we read that "Jehovah your Elohim is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the God or El who is great, mighty, and dreadful." It is this word El which is used in that great name Almighty God, the name under which God made great and mighty promises to Abraham and to Jacob (Genesis 17:1; 35:11 ). It is also one of the names given to that promised Son and Messiah of Isaiah 9:6, 7--God, the Mighty.1.2.3.

            Thus, from this derivation, Elohim may be said to express the general idea of greatness and glory. In the name Jehovah, as we shall see more fully, are represented those high moral attributes of God which are displayed only to rational creatures. The name Elohim, however, contains the idea of creative and governing power, of omnipotence and sovereignty.
It is the Elohim who by His mighty power creates the vast universe; who says, and it is done; who brings into being what was not; by whose word the worlds were framed so that things which are seen were not made of the things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3).1.

            The most amazing thing to me about the name Elohim is that it is usually in the plural. Israel has always shouted the phrase from the rooftops “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God!” The very name that God chose to enter into covenant with, the very name by which He created all things, is a plural word that God uses in a singular way. This is an amazing thing – God, the one true God, refers to Himself throughout the Creation story as more than one. God used the word elohim, in Genesis 1:1 with “In the beginning God (elohim) created…”. This is a plural word used in a singular way. The elohim God created all things, yet we know that Jesus Himself was involved in the creation.

            John 1:1-5 tells us that the Word was in the beginning and was with God, and actually was God. We are also told here that all things were made through Jesus and that life was in Him. We are also told in Genesis 1:2 that the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. Thus, we have all three persons of the Godhead – the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit – involved in the creation. This is quite a mystery – on the one hand, we hear that “God is one God”; and on the other hand, we see all three members of the Godhead in one being. This sounds so difficult, yet so simple. Sometimes we just are not supposed to understand everything – God’s ways are still far above our ways. I pray that this opens your hearts and spirits up to being able to see God in a new, more powerful, more awesome way.
God could have easily used just the simple word el to refer to Himself in the Bible. He, however, chose to refer to Himself in the plural. This was no accident. He knew that we would need all of God that we could get in our walks with Him. He knew that we needed to know Him in all of His power and majesty and glory to help us get through to where we would need to be. He knew that we would need every phase, every aspect, every inkling, every bit of Him to become who we should become in and through Him. In the word Elohim, the plural form teaches us that no finite word can adequately convey the idea of the infinite personality or the unity of persons in the Godhead.1.

            It is a wonderful thing that God chose this word elohim as the first name that He introduces Himself to us. There have been, are, and will be, many times that we will need to know God as our elohim. Whenever we need a creative miracle or answer to prayer, we need to know Him as our Creator. We need to know Him as the God who can speak something out of nothing; the God who has never stopped saying “Let there be…”; the God who can bring salvation out of sin; the God who can bring light out of darkness.

            That is how He chose to introduce Himself to us for the first time in His written word. That is how we need to approach Him when we are in need of a God who is that mighty, strong, prominent God; that God who was present when peace was created out of chaos. That is how we need to acknowledge who He is – firstly, just because He is; and, secondly, because of what He has done, is doing, and will do to, through, and for us, His children.

To Him be all glory forever and ever!

1) Quotes from "Names of God", Nathan Stone

2) Strong's Concordance

3) Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, W. E. Vine

Continue to: EL SHADDAI

2009 © JOE KELLEY