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Plural use of Elohim
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okamido View Drop Down
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Posts: 302 		  Quote okamido Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Plural use of Elohim
    Posted: 05-May-2012 at 20:31
Can someone make a little sense out of this for me?

In Gen 20:13, Abraham tells Abimelech that:
"And it was when God caused me to wander from the house of my father, that I said to her, this is the righteousness that you shall do with me, to every place which we come, say about me, he is my brother"

If the portion of this verse, "God caused me to wander" (hit‘u oti Elohim הִתְעוּ אֹתִי אֱלֹהִים ) has the plural verb hit‘u ?ִתְעוּ , actually meaning "they caused to wander".....who exactly is Abraham speaking of?
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Baal Melqart View Drop Down
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Posts: 869 		  Quote Baal Melqart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-May-2012 at 22:17
Abraham is obviously referring to G-d which takes a plural in Hebrew out of respect and reverance.

Eloah = god (one)
Elohim = G-d (plural of respect)

Eloah could be used to design other idols or gods such as Baal whilst Elohim is solely used to designate G-d. This is common usage in semitic languages like Arabic as well.
Timidi mater non flet
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Sidney View Drop Down
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Posts: 690 		  Quote Sidney Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-May-2012 at 09:41
So a bit like saying "God of Gods"? Can you give some examples of other usages where a plural is used as a sign or respect to a single individual (especially in the Hebrew)? The god of the Hebrews is also called Eloah in the some passages, but presumably no disrespect was meant, so what dictated which word?.
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Baal Melqart View Drop Down
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Posts: 869 		  Quote Baal Melqart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-May-2012 at 10:38
Hebrew words such as Chayim (life) are in the plural form but refer to a singular state.

As to another example of the use of plural for conveying respect, there is the word Be'alim (owner) which though having an 'im' suffix does not reffer to a plural but a singular owner.
Timidi mater non flet
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Posts: 690 		  Quote Sidney Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-May-2012 at 10:41
Thanks
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Baal Melqart View Drop Down
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Posts: 869 		  Quote Baal Melqart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-May-2012 at 14:17
no problem
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