Day 227
CHALLENGE
‘The Old Testament teaches polytheism. Genesis says that ’elohim (Hebrew for ‘gods’) created the world.”
DEFENSE
Context makes it clear this refers to a single God.
Hebrew has different words for “God/god.” These include ’el, ’eloah, and ’elohim. The first two have a singular grammatical form, while ’elohim has a plural grammatical form (indicated by the –im ending).
However, grammatical form doesn’t determine meaning. Usage does. Consequently, many languages have words used differently than their grammatical form would suggest.
Thus the English word “species” has a plural grammatical form (note the –ies ending, found on plural words like babies, cities, and parties). But species can refer either to several types of animals (e.g., types of lions, tigers, and bears) or just one (e.g., a type of lion). Despite its plural form, species can be used in either a singular or a plural fashion, as in sentences like:
1. This species is carnivorous, which means it eats meat.
2. These species are mammalian, so they have warm blood.
The way to tell whether species is being used in a singular or plural fashion is to examine the context—specifically, the pronouns and verbs used with it. In the first sentence, the singular pronouns (this, it) and verbs (is, eats) show it is referring to just one species. In the second sentence, the plural pronouns (these, they) and verbs (are, have) show it’s referring to more than one.
This is how ’elohim works in Hebrew: It has a plural grammatical form, but it can be used to refer either to the one true God or to multiple gods, and context tells you which. In Genesis 1:1 (“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”) the verb for “created” (He- brew, bara’) is singular, indicating that here ’elohim is being used to mean God, not gods. This understanding is confirmed by the verbs in the verses that follow. In 1:3, where God says “Let there be light,” the verb for “says” (yo’mer) is singular. In 1:4, when God sees the light is good, the verb for “saw” (yar’) is also singular, and so on. Similarly, in 1:27, when God creates man in his image, the pronoun for “his” (hu’) is singular.
Consequently, Genesis 1 teaches that a single Creator God, not a pantheon of gods, made the world.