elohim as female noun

r w ponder, jr. rwponder at lycos.com
Mon Nov 20 17:26:16 EST 2000


Dear Friends:
    The best guide to gender for *elohim* would seem to be verb forms used with the noun.  When this noun is used (quite frequently!) of the God of Israel, the corresponding verb is in a masculine singular form.  In 1 Kings 11:33, the noun is used of a female deity worshipped by Israel's neighbors.  In that same sentence (I Kings 11:33), the word "elohim" is used of male non-Israelite deities, as well.
    But there would seem to be no evidence that the noun itself is feminine.  This is how it looks to me, anyway.
     Rev. Reggie Ponder, Jr.
     Mt Tirzah United Methodist Church
     Timberlake, NC USA


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