Language & etymology
What the name means.
Elohim is the Hebrew word used for God in Genesis 1:1. Its form is morphologically plural, yet it regularly takes singular verbs when referring to Israel’s one God. Claims beyond that grammatical fact belong to theology, not etymology.
Gematria
The numeric value.
Aleph 1 + Lamed 30 + He 5 + Yod 10 + Mem 40 = 86
Numeric value is a traditional interpretive practice; it is not the word’s etymology and does not establish doctrine.
Paleo-Hebrew character
A devotional reflection.
This is a devotional meditation on ancient letter pictures, not a linguistic translation of Elohim.
𐤀
Aleph
strength
𐤋
Lamed
staff, authority
𐤄
He
breath, behold
𐤉
Yod
hand, work
𐤌
Mem
water
The promise
What it reveals.
The Creator who spoke the world into being remains sovereign over what He made and sustains His people within it.
Supporting Scripture
Written in the Word.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… And God said, Let there be light.”
Genesis 1:1–3
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”
Deuteronomy 6:4
“From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
Psalm 90:2