Biblical Hebrew Forum

[jhonhar AT juno.com]

Another thought.
It is helpful to know that ELOHIM is definitely plural 'reverence or
majesty' with the singular BARA in Ge. 1:1. But do we consider it the
definitive name of God? And what about Exodus 6:3 where YHWH is clearly
spoken of as His Name? Are there any suggestions to harmonize these name
uses?
John Carras
jhonhar AT juno.com

On Tue, 29 Jan 2002 12:29:44 -0500 "Shoshanna Walker"
<rosewalk AT concentric.net> writes:
> > I thought Elohim was determined by Secular scholars to be an 
> archaic
> "plural
> > of majesty."
> 
> This is what Ibn Ezra said, which I posted:
> 
> 
> Ibn Ezra suggests that the name Elohim is derived from Eil 
> [literally
> meaning strength].  It appears in the plural form as a matter of 
> reverence,
> for every language has its reverent form of address [as in the 
> 'plural of
> majesty'], but no idea of plurality is to be inferred from this form 
> as
> evidenced by the fact that the verb Bara, created, IS IN THE 
> SINGULAR
> 
> 
> >
> > Acccording to Dalley-
> >
> > "THE GODS" is used to refer to Nergel. This is a Phoenician and 
> Punic
> usage,
> > also found in the Old Testament when Yahweh is called ELOHIM 
> "gods", and
> in
> > Amarna letters from Phoenician cities where Pharaoh is addressed 
> as "MY
> > GODS" (RlA, s.v. Elohim)"
> > (p.177 note 11, "Nergal and Ereshkigal Notes." Stephanie Dalley. 
> Myths
> From
> > Mesopotamia, Creation, The Flood, Gilgamesh and Others. Oxford & 
> New York.
> > Oxford University Press. 1989, 1991)
> > Note: RlA is Reallexikon der Assyriologie
> >
> >
> > All the best, Walter
> >
> > Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld
> > Walldorf by Heidelberg
> > Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany
> > www.bibleorigins.net
> >
> >
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