← All word studies · Scripture answers

אֱלֹהִים

ʼĕlôhîym · Hebrew · Strong's H430 · 2598 occurrences

What it means

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

plural of H433 (אֱלוֹהַּ);

How the KJV renders it

angels, goddess, judges

Where that flattens a distinction

The same English word is also used for these other originals, so the distinction between them disappears in translation.

Questions this word decides

• Does Colossians 2:16 abolish the Sabbath?
• Is the seventh-day Sabbath binding on Gentiles?
• Does scripture permit divorce and remarriage?
• Are any foods forbidden to Christians today?
• Are head coverings commanded in worship?
• Is the Trinity explicitly taught in the Bible?

Where it appears

2598 occurrences in the Hebrew text, first 60 verses shown.

Occurrences and morphology are taken from the primary Hebrew text, never from an English translation. Strong's Hebrew lexicon and Westminster Leningrad Codex morphology used under CC BY-SA 4.0 / CC BY 4.0 (OpenScriptures). Strong's Greek lexicon is public domain.