The Names of God: Elohim

 Introduction
We all have at least one thing in common: we all have a name. Some of us have unique names, while others have more common ones. Some were named after a friend, a relative, or even a biblical figure; a person, a place, or an angel. Some people love their names, while others don’t and may choose to go by a middle name or even change their name altogether. For some, their name carries deep meaning and connection. For others, it may have been chosen simply because their parents liked the way it sounded.

At its core, a name serves as an identifier. It distinguishes you from everyone else.
But when we come to the Bible, we find that names carry far more weight than that. A name meant something. It wasn’t chosen at random or simply because it sounded good. A name often reflected a person’s character, their circumstances, or even a defining moment in their life. For example, the name Adam means “man,” Eve means “woman,” Jacob means “heel holder,” and Esau means “hairy.” Names told a story.

It was also common for God to change a person’s name after a significant moment or encounter. We see this with Abram becoming Abraham, Sarai becoming Sarah, Jacob becoming Israel, Saul becoming Paul, and Simon becoming Peter. When God changed a name, He was revealing a new identity and a new purpose.

Today, we are beginning a new series titled The Names of God. As you read through Scripture, you will notice that God is referred to by many different names. Each one helps us understand something about who He is and what He has done. In this series, we will take time to look at these names, their meanings, and their significance.

Because in God’s name, His nature is revealed.

Now, before we go any further, I want to make an important clarification. None of the names we will study, nor any name found in Scripture, can fully define or completely describe God. After all, as one writer has said, a name imposes some limitation.

But what name could ever be adequate to describe the greatness of God? If the heavens cannot contain Him, how could a single name ever fully capture who He is?

The Old Testament contains many names and compound names for God that reveal different aspects of His character and His dealings with humanity. My purpose in this series is to study these names so that we can better understand who God is and how He relates to us.

Elohim
The first name of God we will look at is the one used first in the Old Testament: Elohim.

Elohim appears in the first chapter of Genesis thirty-two times. Genesis 1:1 begins with the words, “reʾshiyth elohim bara” or “In the beginning God created…”. It is also a very common name in the Psalms, appearing over 400 times, and it generally refers to the God of Israel.
Elohim is a complex name. It does not have a single, simple definition, but I will do my best to help us understand its meaning.

The word “El” is a general term for a deity that can be traced throughout ancient Middle Eastern and North African cultures, going back thousands of years. In many ancient texts, El is described as a father and a creator, often referred to as the “ancient one” or the “eternal one,” and depicted as merciful and kind.

This same word was also used in reference to the senior Canaanite god and even to a collection of gods in that region. In those belief systems, El was seen as ruling over key aspects of existence, such as the sea, fertility, weather, death, and creativity. He held the highest rank among the gods, though he was often portrayed as somewhat distant and not always actively ruling.

When Israel entered the land of Canaan, this word began to take on deeper religious significance. The writers of Scripture did not simply discard the language of the surrounding cultures. Instead, they used familiar terms and filled them with true meaning, expressing their understanding of the one true God, Yahweh.

So rather than adopting false beliefs, they redeemed the language to point to the truth.
As the language developed, the word “El” took on even greater meaning when combined with other terms. Throughout this series, we will see “El” paired with words that highlight specific attributes of God: His power, His strength, His sufficiency. When that general name is connected to a particular quality of who God is, it no longer feels generic. It begins to function more like a personal name, revealing something specific about His character.

The word Elohim means “deity” and is not gender specific. Elohim is often used in Scripture to refer to Yahweh, the one true God. The name carries the idea of creative power and governing authority of omnipotence and sovereignty.

Elohim points us to the infinite, all-powerful God who reveals Himself through His works. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Judge of all the earth. It is fitting that God would first reveal Himself by this name; the One who brings order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and life out of nothing.

This is the God who speaks, and it is done. The God who creates from nothing. The God whose word brings worlds into existence.

There is also a unique aspect to the name Elohim; it is plural.

In some places in Scripture, the word Elohim is used to refer to false gods. For example, in Exodus 12:12, God says, “On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!” God will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. In Exodus 18:11, we read,“I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”  Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, declares the Lord is greater than all other gods. In Joshua 24:20, 23, Joshua says, “If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”  But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” “You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.”  “Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.” The people are warned not to turn to other gods. In these cases, the word Elohim is used in a general sense to refer to foreign gods.

In other places, the term can even refer to spiritual beings, such as angels (1 Samuel 28:13; Psalm 82:6).

Because of this, some have been confused by the plural form of Elohim, wondering if it suggests that God is one among many. But that is not what the Bible teaches.

It is important to remember that while the people of Israel often turned to false gods, that does not mean those gods were real. It simply means they were unfaithful. The biblical writers could use familiar terms from surrounding cultures, but they used them to point to the one true God.

Some have suggested that the plural form of Elohim points us to something deeper about God’s nature. Some see in it an early hint of the Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, working together in creation. We see language like this in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’”  And again, in Genesis 3:22, “Then the Lord God said, ‘Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!”  While we must be careful not to read more into the text than is there, we can say this: the plural form reminds us that no single word can fully capture the fullness of who God is. He is greater than our language. Greater than our understanding.

So, what is a basic definition of Elohim?

Elohim is the Supreme God: The Creator and the Sovereign. He is all-powerful, completely self-sufficient, and in need of nothing. And yet, in His grace, He chooses to reveal Himself and enter a relationship with the people He created.

We see His power throughout Scripture. He speaks the world into existence. He opens the womb of barren women. He delivers His people out of Egypt. And ultimately, He raises Jesus Christ from the dead.

But this is not just a God of power; He is a personal God.

Elohim is also Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. He is the “Lord” revealed in Genesis 2 and in Exodus 3. He is the God who creates and redeems. When Scripture speaks of “the God of gods” (Psalm 136:2), it is declaring that He alone is supreme.

And this God desires a relationship.

He calls people to Himself. He invites us to worship Him. He reveals Himself fully through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1).

There is both comfort and assurance in this name. On one hand, it reminds us that God is all-powerful, “yours is the power and the kingdom and the glory.” On the other hand, it reminds us that He is a covenant-keeping God, faithful to His promises.

He says to us, “I will be your God,” and we can respond, “My God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

Conclusion
So, what does all of this mean for us today?

It reminds us that when God reveals His name, He is revealing His character. In Scripture, names are never accidental. They are connected to identity, purpose, and relationship. When God attaches a name to Himself or to His people, He is showing us who He is and how He works in our lives. Just as He changed Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, and Simon to Peter, we are reminded that an encounter with God is never random; it brings transformation. He does not leave us as we are but reshapes our identity in accordance with His purposes.

And for us, that means we are no longer defined by our past, our failures, or even how others see us. We are defined by who God says we are. His name reveals His nature, and His nature assures us that He is faithful, powerful, and present in every season of life. When we call on His name, we are calling upon the One who has revealed Himself and has proven Himself faithful throughout history.

So, the question is “How will we respond?” Will we trust Him, follow Him, and allow Him to shape who we are?
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When God reveals His name, He invites us into a deeper relationship with Him, and that is where true transformation begins.

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