Meervoudsvorm (bronnen)

Dit is wat de theologen roepen:

• Het Hebreeuwse woord voor God is een meervoud want het heeft betrekking op God samen met zijn hofhouding.
• Nee, het meervoud betekent dat God met zichzelf beraadslaagt.
• Nee, nee, het meervoud van het Hebreeuwse woord voor God betekent dat God een trinity is, het wijst op zijn drie-enige natuur.

Hieronder enkele quotes plus vindplaatsen van dat geroep van die theologen. Dit is dus wat ze letterlijk zeggen en schrijven.

Tekst voor Tekst over Genesis 1:24-31

Laat ons mensen maken God beraadslaagt met zichzelf.

Laat ons Dit meervoud duidt waarschijnlijk niet op de hemelwezens, zoals vele Schriftverklaarders betogen. Eerder moet men denken aan het volheidsmeervoud, zoals ook in de naam elohim naar voren komt, en dat zich later in de heilige Drieëenheid ontvouwt. — Tekst voor Tekst, p.4

NIV over Genesis 1

God created. The Hebrew noun Elohim is plural but the verb is singular, a normal usage in the OT when reference is to the one true God. This use of the plural expresses intensification rather than number and has been called the plural of majesty, or of potentiality. — New International Version. p.8

De NIV over Genesis 1:26

us…our…our. God speaks as the Creator-King, announcing his crowning work to the members of his heavenly court… — New International Version. p.9

Matzken over Genesis 3:22

Het woord ‘drie-eenheid’ komt als zodanig niet in de Bijbel voor. Toch is het bijbels getuigenis hierover heel duidelijk, en daarom geloven christenen in een Drie-enig God. In het Oude Testament blijkt dit al uit de naam ELOHIM voor God (meervoud) en het woordje ‘ons’ in bijv. Gen. 3:22. — Wat Gelooft een Christen? p.11

Constable on Genesis

The Hebrew word translated “God” (‘elohim) is a plural noun. The plurality simply adds intensification to the name El, as does the personal pronoun “us” in verse 26. — Thomas Constable. Dr. Constable’s Notes on Genesis. p.10

The father of Jesus

The word Elohim in Hebrew (which many English translations render as “God”) is a plural word which can be governed by singular verbs and adjectives. It is like a uni-plural word like army (sometimes called in grammar a collective noun). There may be one army, but that army is made up of numerous soldiers. And so is the Godhead. — What Is the Proper Name for the Father of Jesus? Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D., 1991

Weekly Torah Reading Hebrew 4 Christians

The very first verse of the Bible, then, reveals the triune nature of God, further indicated by the use of the plural form of the name Elohim with the singular verb bara (he created). — Weekly Torah Reading Parashat Bereshit (“in the beginning”). http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Bereshit/bereshit.html

Hughes on Genesis 1:1

Remarkably, the mystery of the Holy Trinity is embedded in the first three Hebrew words of the text (Bereshith bara Elohim) because the name “God,” Elohim, is in the plural, and the verb “created” (bara) is in the singular, so that God (plural) created (singular). On the one hand the Bible teaches that God is a unity … on the other hand, it is equally as explicit that God is three persons (cf. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) — {Hughes, 2012, #22044}[18] - Q

Absurdity of three

Some theologians point to the Hebrew word Elohim (which means Gods, not “God” singular), and they state that it has a distinct plural meaning to it. This is a fact! We discussed this plural concept in earlier chapters. The plural meaning of Elohim in the Old Testament may first appear to vindicate the doctrine of the Trinity; that there are three Gods — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet they are one God. But this can hardly be the case. If it were so, why did not the Hebrews from the time of Moses to Christ speak about the Trinity in the Bible and in their other literature? In no way did they understand such a concept in the meaning of the Hebrew words. The fact is, the word Elohim is plural (not dual or triune of itself). Its plurality embraces a number of personalities, many more than three in its meaning. This makes excellent sense from other parts of the Old Testament. Even the Sons of God are called Elohim (Genesis 6:1–2; Job 1:6; 2:1), as well as angels. 13 The term Elohim has a very expansive meaning. It refers to a plurality of beings. Though angels and humans are not a form of Deity to be worshipped (certainly not humans at the present), the word Elohim cannot be restricted to three Gods in one. It embraces many Sons and Daughters of God of which we humans are a part (1 John 3:1–2). That’s right. The New Testament says that spirit-filled humans are already divine. Christians now sit at God’s right hand. — Early Christians Knew that Mankind Is Destined to Become Members of the Godhead. http://www.askelm.com/essentials/ess041.htm

Keathley on Trinity

(1) The name Elohim, translated God, is the plural form of El. While this is what is called a plural of plenitude pointing to the power and majesty of God, it certainly allows for the New Testament revelation of the Triunity of God. — The Trinity (Triunity) of God. J. Hampton Keathley, III

Notes on Genesis 1

The word used to denote GOD in the original Hebrew language was “ELOHIM” which means GODS’. A singular entity with plural appearance. Throughout the BIBLE we see GOD as triune GOD and we call HIM as trinity, existing in the form of the FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT. Throughout the BIBLE we see them as equal and working in perfect harmony with each other. This word “ELOHIM” did not create any distinction between the plural of GOD’s. All of them are equal and same. The creation was done by all THREE together. — Notes on Genesis Chapter 1. http://www.biblesupport.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=1679

NET Bible on ‘elohiym’

The Hebrew word translated “God” (‘elohim) is a plural noun. The plurality simply adds intensification to the name El, as does the personal pronoun “us” in verse 26. Hebrew is the only ancient Semitic language that intensifies nouns and pronouns by making them plurals. — NetBible. http://net.bible.org/

Gesenius on plural

the pluralis excellentiae or maiestatis, as has been remarked above, is properly a variety of the abstract plural, since it sums up the several characteristics2 belonging to the idea, besides possessing the secondary sense of an intensification of the original idea. It is thus closely related to the plurals of amplification, treated under e, which are mostly found in poetry. So especially ֱאלִֹהים Godhead, God (to be distinguished from the numerical plural gods, Ex 12:12, &c.). — Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar as edited and enlarged by the late E. Kautzsch. 1909

Elohiym is vocative God

Certain scholars regard the word as being a singular version of the common plural form, a plural of majesty. [It] is commonly thought to be vocative in nature, meaning “O God.” But it is not clear why a special form for the vocative in an address to God should be needed, since the plural is frequently translated as a vocative when the worshiper is speaking directly to God, as in Ps. 79:1. There is an obvious general linguistic relationship […] but determining its precise nature is difficult. — W.E. Vine’s “Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words” published in 1940, without copyright. Edited by Merrill F. Unger, Th.M., Th.D., Ph.D. William White, Jr., Th.M., Ph.D.

Plenitude

Young’s Concordance gives a proper and detailed account of the different original Hebrew words which refer to the Almighty and which our modern Bible translations render as ‘God’ or ‘gods’.
5) “Elohim” - Object of Worship - 2222 times. (Note: Plural used in Hebrew to denote plenitude of might). e.g. “EL” - Mighty One - 225 times. e.g. Gen. 14:20, “Blessed be the Most High EL”. Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning Elohim created.” — “GOD” or “ELOHIM”? A “Bible Revelations” Presentation. 1998, updated Jan. 11, 2015. http://www.revelations.org.za/Elohim.htm

❧