DOES ELOHIM MEAN A PLURAL GOD - THE TRINITY?

Many people today who believe in the Trinity teaching, tend to use the word 'Elohim' referring to God in Genesis 1:26, and say this is the Trinity, because the verse says 'let us make man in our image'. So because this verse uses the words 'us' and 'our', and the word 'Elohim' means plural, they automatically think that this is talking about the Trinity - 3 in 1 God.

But we will prove on this page that the word Elohim does not support the Trinity teaching.

First of all, when a Hebrew would read the word 'Elohim' in reference to God, they would never understand it as a literal 'plural God'. Whenever the Jews read about God, they would always have the understanding that the true God is only one God, not two or three. Take a look at these verses from Deuteronomy and Mark:

Deuteronomy 6:4 ...'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.'

Mark 12:28-29,32 ...'And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but HE'

So the Hebrew mind had a firm understanding that there is only one God, not three. And this is confirmed again in John 8:54, where Jesus said ... 'If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God.'

So the question remains, why does the word Elohim mean 'plural' when referring to God? Well, it doesn't actually mean plural in regards to persons. It's meaning in English is 'plural of majesty'. It does not denote more than one. It actually denotes 'greatness' and 'majesty'. And we can prove this from the scriptures:

Exodus 7:1 ...'And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god [ELOHIM] to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.'

Did God tell Moses that He was going to make him a 'trinity' to Pharaoh? Of course not. God is telling Moses that He was going to make him 'GREAT' in the eyes of Pharaoh. Which is what the word Elohim really means ... 'greatness' and 'majesty'. Look at how this is revealed in 1 Chronicles 29.

1 Chronicles 29:10-11 ...'Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God [Elohim] of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.'

THIS is the 'plurality' of Elohim. It is a 'plurality of majesty', just as David confirmed above. And it belongs to God the Father, as 'head above all' - even the head of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3)

Now did God make Moses 'great' unto Pharaoh? Yes, the Bible confirms it in Exodus 11 ...Exodus 11:3 ...'And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.'

So as you can see, the word Elohim does not in any way support the Trinity doctrine. If we use the Bible to interpret itself, then we can see the truth. And the truth is, our God, the Father, is ONE God, which the Bible confirms a number of times. And Jesus Christ is the Son of the One true living God.

Take a look at the following interesting quote concerning Elohim and the Trinity:

"... it is certain that the Jewish church held to no such doctrine. Says Mr. Summerbell, 'A friend of mine who was present in a New York synagogue, asked the Rabbi for an explanation of the word 'Elohim'. A Trinitarian clergyman who stood by, replied, 'Why, that has reference to the three persons in the Trinity,' when a Jew stepped forward and said he must not mention that word again, or they would have to compel him to leave the house; for it was not permitted to mention the name of any strange god in the synagogue." (J.N.Loughborough, Review and Herald, Nov.5, 1861)

The Jews, whom the scriptures came through, from God, knew exactly that our God is ONE God, not three. And there can be no doubt that 'Elohim' refers to God the Father, who is the ONE true God, and it does not support in any way the false Trinity doctrine. But why does Genesis 1:26 use the words 'us' and 'our'? This is really simple and straight forward. The word 'Elohim' refers to God the Father, because it was God the Father who spoke those words. But who is He speaking to? He is speaking to Jesus Christ His Son! This is why God says, let 'us' make man in 'our' image. It is God the Father, speaking to Jesus Christ. Let's confirm this with the following inspired quote:

"After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God says to his Son, Let us make man in our image." (Spiritual Gifts, Vol.3, p.33)

Notice, there is no mention of any 'third god'. Just the Father and Son. With the Father being THE GOD.

Friend, God has clearly revealed to us the truth concerning His Godhead. And He has clearly shown in His Word that the trinity doctrine is false. The word 'Elohim' as you can see does not support the trinity in any way. Please seek the truth on this, as eternal life is based on believing and knowing the TRUE God, and Jesus Christ whom God sent to save us.

John 17:3 ...'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.'

For a deeper study on the word 'Elohim', please SEE THIS PAGE.