It is a plural noun, which grammatically implies majesty and/or plurality, yet it is usually used with singular verb forms, indicating the unity of God. The word is also used to refer to other gods and deities in the Hebrew Bible, but when used in reference to the God of Israel, it is usually accompanied by a definite article, “הָאֱלֹהִים” (ha-Elohim), which means “The God.”
The Hebrew Bible also uses other names to refer to God, such as “יְהֹוָה” (YHWH), which is often translated as “Lord” and is considered the sacred, ineffable name of God, and “אֵל” (El), which means “God” or “Mighty One.”
In addition to “אֱלֹהִים” (Elohim), “יְהֹוָה” (YHWH), and “אֵל” (El), the Hebrew Bible also uses other names and titles for God, such as “שַׁדַּי” (Shaddai), which means “Almighty,” “אֵל צַּדִּיק” (El Tzaddik), which means “God the Righteous,” and “אֵל רַחוּם” (El Rachum), which means “God the Compassionate.”
The Jewish tradition also recognizes many other names and attributes of God, such as “אֵל הַמְּכַסֶּה” (El ha-makom), which means “God the Place,” and “אֵל הַדַּרְכֵּי הַנֶּצַח” (El ha-derekh ha-ne’ezach), which means “God of the Eternal Ways.”
In addition to the Hebrew names for God, Jewish tradition also recognizes the use of the “72 names of God” in Kabbalistic tradition. These names are derived from the 72 three-letter combinations of the Hebrew letters in the name “YHWH”.
The various names and titles of God in the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition serve to convey different aspects of God’s nature and attributes. They can be used in different contexts and for different purposes in prayer, meditation, and religious study.
