GOD, Gods, god, judges ©
-rory moore 6-10-19
This will be the most complex chapter from my forthcoming book
because we must grasp an understanding of words from the original language.
Hebrew and Greek words may have different or more complex meaning than our English translations, and translators must often choose between which definition is used in our English Bible.
For
instance, to English-speaking people, “GOD” is a simple word evoking the idea
of God in heaven. But to Hebrews in scripture “God” was/is YHWH, The self-existing, eternal, infinite, One LORD GOD.
Deuteronomy 6:4 “hear o Israel, the LORD <YHWH> our GOD, is ONE Lord.” And YHWH is the unquestionable, undivided, Almighty, and supreme God.
Yet
we find “gods” and even men likened
to or called “God” or “Gods”, and human judges
called “gods”, ALL derived from the exact same Hebrew word!
How
do we know this word “God” can be applied
to humans?
-Because
in scripture it IS applied to men.
-Remember the scripture was written in
primarily Hebrew and Greek, so we are reading a translation into our language. In
the Hebrew and Greek languages, “GOD” is translated
from Hebrew “Eloheim” and “Theos” is the New Testament Greek respectively.
An example is Genesis 1 is “In the beginning, GOD <i.e. Eloheim>
created the heavens and the earth”. 2,601
times “eloheim”, is rendered: “God” “Gods”, “judges”, or goddess, in the KJV.
Strong’s Concordance
defines:
I.
A.
rulers,
judges
B.
divine ones
C.
angels
D.
gods
II. (plural intensive, singular meaning)
A. god,
goddess
B. A. godlike one
C. works
or special possessions of God
D. the (true) God
E. God
III. Definition:
ʼĕlôhîym,
plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God; occasionally
applied to magistrates; and
sometimes as a superlative: angels,
God (gods) (-dess, -ly), great, judges,
mighty.
In
Deuteronomy 10:17 the LORD your *God is the *God of *gods and the Lord
of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God. *Eloheim of eloheim.
In
Mark 12:29; Jesus answered, The first command is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord (YHWH) our God (Eloheim-Theos), the Lord (YHWH) is one, and to love Him... ( -He and his
audience likely read the Hebrew scriptures.)
Both Eloheim (and “theos” in the New Testament) are generic for
“God” in our English language. Jesus in
quoting Deut. 6:4 in the Greek New Testament shows they are equated.
YHWH is One, The Almighty God of Gods, the Eternal, self-existing, infinite,
all-wise,
transcendent One with an image and a throne that the witnesses “saw”.
He is the only God, and Father of Jesus Christ. See their reports “GOD” is Eloheim from Strong’s: H430 Gods in the ordinary sense; of the Supreme God; occasionally applied by deference to magistrates; and sometimes as superlative: -angels, God (gods) (-dess,), great, judges, mighty. CONTEXT determines the meaning. |
Now
let’s look at Isaiah 9:6 His name shall be called … the mighty GOD…
English can bring confusion as our minds equate the passage, which is obviously a prophecy of the coming Christ Jesus, as GOD. But none of the preachers in Acts, nor Jesus Himself ever said Jesus is The God of heaven, God of Gods, God of the fathers, or YHWH. They could have in Acts as they told people who Jesus is, IF Jesus is GOD.
English can bring confusion as our minds equate the passage, which is obviously a prophecy of the coming Christ Jesus, as GOD. But none of the preachers in Acts, nor Jesus Himself ever said Jesus is The God of heaven, God of Gods, God of the fathers, or YHWH. They could have in Acts as they told people who Jesus is, IF Jesus is GOD.
In
Isaiah 9:6 a child born would have a name called mighty God.
This “child born” would also be revealed as “a man of sorrows” and “My servant” in Isaiah 53.
This “child born” would also be revealed as “a man of sorrows” and “My servant” in Isaiah 53.
What kind of “mighty
God” could a man be?
In the Orthodox Jewish Bible:
In the Orthodox Jewish Bible:
For to us a yeled is born, unto us ben is given; and the misrah (dominion) shall be upon his shoulder; and Shmo shall be called Peleh (Wonderful), Yoetz (Counsellor), El Gibbor (Mighty G-d), Avi Ad (Possessor of Eternity), Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace).
In Isaiah 9:6 "mighty god" is:
H410 אֵל 'êl shortened
from *H352;
strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used
also of any deity):
- God (god), goodly, great, idol, might (-y one),
power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”
Total KJV
occurrences: 242.
‘el is "god". Not YHVH eloheim or YHVH (LORD) GOD.
Context determines the meaning.
* "gibbor" "mighty:
The KJV translates Strong's H1368 in the following manner: mighty (63x), mighty man (68x), strong (4x), valiant (3x), .... ones (4x), mighties (2x), man (2x), valiant men (2x), strong man (1x), upright man (1x), champion (1x), chief (1x), excel (1x), giant (1x), men's (1x), mightiest (1x), strongest (1x).
-From “eloheim” in the Hebrew meaning: (very) great, judges, mighty, magistrates”.
Who will
judge the world?
Paul testified this in Acts 17:31
because HE (GOD) has fixed a day in which HE (GOD) will judge the world in righteousness through a Man
(JESUS) whom HE (GOD) has appointed having
furnished proof to all men by raising Him (Jesus) from the dead.”
Who is highly exalted, exercises all
power and authority in heaven and earth?
JESUS! The "man approved of GOD.." Acts 2:22
And in this he IS the mighty God, Judge, Magistrate, our high priest, KING OF KINGS.
Consistently
Jesus said the rulers of Israel were also “eloheim” as He quoted Psalm 82 “ye
are GODS” (eloheim).
-The “gods” of
Psalm 82 are simply MEN who, by God’s sovereignty, are permitted to rule over
other men, aka, “magistrates”.
Some may disagree, but looking at the references from a relative these facts emerge:
Some may disagree, but looking at the references from a relative these facts emerge:
In the Old
Testament Strong’s #H430-elohim occurs 2,601 times.
11 (0.42%)
refer to humans either directly or indirectly.
5 (0.19%)
are miscellaneous.
235 (9.03%)
refer to idols/false gods.
2350
(90.34%) refer to God, the creator and so much more.
Elohim
occurs 811 times in the Pentateuch, 736 times (90.75%) it refers to God, and 75
times (9.25%) it does not refer to God.
John
10:34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you
are gods’? (35) If He (God) called them
gods, to whom the word of God came…..
This
same “eloheim,” in Ps. 82:6, is also translated as “judges” in the Old Testament. An
example of this is found in Exodus 21:6, “his master shall bring him to the judges …”
And Exodus 22:8 “If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the *judges …”, (*the eloheim.)
And Exodus 22:8 “If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the *judges …”, (*the eloheim.)
This
is why Jesus is eloheim (God) because
GOD (The Father) has given him authority to judge.
In
the New Testament, the Greek word “theos” carries the same
understanding and is used in the same manner.
Here are two examples:
Acts 12:22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god (theos,-divine one) and not of a man!”
Acts 12:22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god (theos,-divine one) and not of a man!”
1Cor 8:5
For though there be that are called gods, whether in
heaven OR IN EARTH, (as there be many gods, and many
lords,
but to us there is but ONE GOD, THE FATHER,
and ONE Lord Jesus.
The GOD and Father of Jesus Christ is also the generic “Theos” so "eloheim” and context helps us better understand which version of “God” is spoken of.
With
this in mind, we will resolve the confusion of multiple passages
ascribing the word translated as “God” to Christ who has “His God”.
Revelation 1:6 and he (Jesus) made us… to be priests to his GOD and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever.
Revelation 1:6 and he (Jesus) made us… to be priests to his GOD and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever.
Isaiah 9:6. ..his name shall be called…. The mighty God.. <el gibbor>
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Understanding God
and God in Hebrews chapter 1 may now be easier to understand how “God” is used.
5 For to which of the angels did He (GOD-YHWH/ Theos) ever say,
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”
5 For to which of the angels did He (GOD-YHWH/ Theos) ever say,
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”
And again,
“I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me”?
:6 And when He (GOD-YHWH/Eloheim/Theos) again brings the firstborn into the world, He (GOD-YHWH/Theos) says,
“I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me”?
:6 And when He (GOD-YHWH/Eloheim/Theos) again brings the firstborn into the world, He (GOD-YHWH/Theos) says,
“And let all the angels of God
worship Him.”
:8 But of the Son He says,
:8 But of the Son He says,
“Your throne, O God (i.e. theos (eloheim)
mighty one, judge, magistrate), is
forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter
of His kingdom.
9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God (YHWH/Theos), Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”
9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God (YHWH/Theos), Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”
These are places Jesus Christ is referenced and the word “God” is in context:
-John 1:1 In the beginning was the *word (*means something said/ thought expressed ), and the word (what God said) was with God (Eloheim/TheosYHWH),
and the word (what God said) was God (Eloheim/ Theos).
(14 And the word (something God said) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
-John 1:1 In the beginning was the *word (*means something said/ thought expressed ), and the word (what God said) was with God (Eloheim/TheosYHWH),
and the word (what God said) was God (Eloheim/ Theos).
(14 And the word (something God said) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
-Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.
-Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of
His kingdom.
John 20:28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas was not calling Jesus YHWH or “Father” when he used “Lord”.
The word “God” that Thomas likely used is “theos”, “Lord” is “”kurios,
meaning “master, sir, your honor”.
-His words could refer to the One True God that Jesus referred to in the same chapter, or as an exclamation to God in heaven, (as we ourselves do),
-or he could have said “GOD!” with understanding from his Hebrew culture that meant “God” as an exalted man, a mighty one, ruler, king, magistrate, “potentate”.
And in John 20, another statement is made that must be
reconciled with Thomas’ exclamation.
(17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”
(17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”
Once we grasp that a man or men may be called “God” in the sense of the meaning of eloheim and theos as a ruler, judge, mighty one, the English word confusion is resolved because the same word is translated in different terms.
We
see the word “God” our mind goes to God in heaven, but it is not always so.
The same word “eloheim” is used as:
“In the beginning GOD created…”
“ye are Gods”
“he shall appear before the judges..”
“his name shall be called the mighty God”
“Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians”
The same word “eloheim” is used as:
“In the beginning GOD created…”
“ye are Gods”
“he shall appear before the judges..”
“his name shall be called the mighty God”
“Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians”
Again defined:
“Gods in the ordinary sense; of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates (judges-rulers); and sometimes as a superlative: -angels, exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), (very) great, judges, mighty.”
“Gods in the ordinary sense; of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates (judges-rulers); and sometimes as a superlative: -angels, exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), (very) great, judges, mighty.”
Rather than diving into all the “BUT’s”, please read "I SAW", where the prophets saw by vision the heavenly throne and image. Then apply the witness testimonies to passages such as John 1, John 8, etc. and ask the Lord to reconcile them. The One on the throne who spoke and expressed His words and thought, “In the beginning…”
You may begin to realize how we erred in our conclusions and
in so doing, made scripture say
something it does not. Acts confirms what the disciples testified. Those Jewish writers that delivered the scriptures understood the Hebrew word ”eloheim”
(i.e. “God”), different than we do.
An example is the word “truck”.
In general terms it may be an 18 wheeled diesel tractor trailer, a pickup,
a 4-wheel drive truck, a dump truck, a
standard 2-wheel drive, a flat bed, a tow truck, or a tiny old Datsun. They are ALL “trucks”.
But when specifying “my truck is a silver Toyota Tundra Crew cab 2-wheel drive”,
context makes clear which kind of truck.
But when specifying “my truck is a silver Toyota Tundra Crew cab 2-wheel drive”,
context makes clear which kind of truck.
In like manner, “God” (eloheim-theos) is understood by the Hebrew
writers as a broad term that becomes clear in context when applied to
either The LORD God, the Supreme Eternal, glorious Father, or to men, goddess, judges,
magistrates, rulers, and the exalted
man, the Lord Christ Jesus.
“Wherefore GOD has made this same Jesus BOTH LORD AND CHRIST”. -Peter in Acts 2.
Let’s touch on John 1:1 “in the beginning was the word,
and the word was with God and the word was God.
God's word was “with” God, not as a person, but the Father's eternal wisdom, thought, and expression. In the beginning God spoke, His word and His thought-expression was the beginning of all creation.
God's word was “with” God, not as a person, but the Father's eternal wisdom, thought, and expression. In the beginning God spoke, His word and His thought-expression was the beginning of all creation.
Gen. 1: and GOD **said**: “LET
THER BE…”.
Thus Jesus, the
“last Adam”, being foreknown of God, as "the
Lamb slain *from the foundation of the world* was, in the fullness of
time manifested.
The word (what God said) conceived and made the child, the "last Adam", our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God..
The word (what God said) conceived and made the child, the "last Adam", our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God..
1 Peter 1:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation
of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.
As with us: Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.
And again, Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Do you see Christ was “foreknown” and
“slain” from before the foundation of the world? -not as a second
God-person, but as God’s eternal “foreknowledge”?
And God’s works were finished before the world’s foundation? “although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
Here is a clincher in John 17:24 : that they may behold my
glory, which You have given me: for You loved me before the foundation of
the world. Again this is witnessed by the visions in chapter 12
of One “God ALONE”.
Notes:
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