The term “God” appears frequently in virtually every English translation of The Bible. This term is typically a translation of el, elohim, or theos. It has become a generic term, due to its common usage, both in the bible and in the world. Upon careful review you'll discover this one English word has been "translated" from numerous Hebrew and Greek words as the same English word. Please refer to Definitions... for the meaning of "translation" and "transliteration.
While many people use this term as a name for The Supreme Being, it is anything but a name. It is actually a title or a description of the nature of a supreme being. To understand this, all you have to do is read the definitions of the actual Hebrew and Greek words "translated" as "god". They are listed below for your reference.
This process of translating multiple terms as the same English word is very confusing. It does not convey the meaning or intent of the original Hebrew, and the translations from Greek simply cannot cope with the multiple Hebrew concepts involved in these terms. It is foolishness to translate 29 different terms with one English word. This simply makes no sense. It's a bastardization of the original languages, and of the English language. The very last place this should happen is in The Scriptures.
The information below will give you some insight into the problems related to the translation and the meaning of the terms involved. Please note the number of different words, 29 in total, that are translated as “god” (These are from the King James Version of the Bible – others bibles follow a very similar pattern, however.) That, alone, is the first clue there’s a very serious problem. Please ask yourself, “How can 29 different Hebrew and Greek words all mean the same thing?” The obvioius answer is, “They can’t, and they don’t.”
On top of this, 66 times the word is inserted into the English text as an assumed or inferred identifier by the translators. There is no word in the original to supply that insertion. It is, potentially at least, an alteration or adulteration of the text. Here are some interesting statistics obtained from my Accordance Bible Software program:
Total words translated as “God” - 4444.
Total number of different words thus translated – 13 Hebrew, 16 Greek.
Insertions – 66. Inserted into the text with no word in the original text to provide a basis for it.
Not all of the words translated as “god” properly mean “god”.
Not all of the words so translated are even applied to “god” as The Supreme Being.
To understand the terms used in our example, the KJV Bible, one needs to refer to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance numbers supplied with each term as identified in the list below. Take special note of the highlighted ones and the number of times they occur. Those beginning with “el…” are all variations of the same Hebrew root word in one degree or another.
Here are the terms used, and how they’re "translated" (a real misnomer):
god = 57
G2316 theos qeo/ß = 4
H0410 ’el lEa = 14
H0426 ’elahh ;hDlTa = 2
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 30
H0433 ’elowahh, ’eloahh ;AhølTa ,;AhwølTa = 5
(No Key number) = 2
GOD = 1
G2316 theos qeo/ß = 1
God = 4386
G0112 atheos a‡qeoß = 1
G2316 theos qeo/ß (variant) = 1
G1161 de de÷ (variant)
G2312 theodidaktos qeodi÷daktoß = 1
G2314 theomachos qeo/macoß = 1
G2315 theopneustos qeo/pneustoß = 1
G2316 theos qeo/ß = 1301
G2318 theosebes qeosebh/ß = 1
G2319 theostuges qeostugh/ß = 1
G2316 theos qeo/ß (variant) = 1
G2532 kai kai÷ (variant)
G2962 kurios ku/rioß = 1
G2316 theos qeo/ß (variant) = 1
G3361 me mh/ (variant)
G2316 theos qeo/ß (variant) = 1
G3754 hoti o¢ti (variant)
G3785 ophelon o¡felon = 2
G5377 philotheos filo/qeoß = 1
G5537 chrematizo crhmati÷zw = 5
G5538 chrematismos crhmatismo/ß = 1
H0136 ’Adonay yÎnOdSa = 1
H0305 ’achalay, ’achaley yElSjAa ,yAlSjAa = 1
H0410 ’el lEa = 211
H0426 ’elahh ;hDlTa = 79
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 2334
H0433 ’elowahh, ’eloahh ;AhølTa ,;AhwølTa = 51
H1008 Beyth-’El ;Eb = 4
H3068 Yhwh hDwøh◊y = 4
H3069 Yhwh hIwøh◊y = 304 lEa_ty
H3863 luw’, lu, luw …wl ,aUl ,a…wl = 2
H4310 miy yIm (variant) = 6
H5414 nathan NAtÎn (variant)
H6697 tsuwr, tsur rUx ,r…wx = 2
(No Key number) = 66
Next, I'd like you to take a closer look at some of these individual terms and their meanings. Several terms occur quite frequently, and it is these we need to look at more closely to understand what they represent. Once we have that perspective it's far easier to recognize what a huge problem we have in our English translations of the Scriptures. From there it's possible for you to find a way to make notes in your own bible translation, or to study this problem in more depth, so you can understand what YAHWEH (God) intended His Word to say to us.
God - as EL
This is a subset of the terms above, but because of its frequent usage it demands separate treatment. Its essential meaning is strength or might. It is often used in the sense of the “mighty one”, or even “the mightiest one”, when used, and translated, as “God”. There are other forms of this term that need to be identified and explored as well. The most important of them is “elohim”, which we will explore in a moment. For a review of the terms please see Definitions…
410. lEa }el, ale; shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity): —God (god), x goodly, x great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”
352. lˆyAa }ayil, ah´-yil; from the same as 193; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree: —mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.
193. l…wa }uwl, ool; from an unused root meaning to twist, i.e. (by implication) be strong; the body (as being rolled together); also powerful: —mighty, strength.
This term occurs 245 times. It is used as follows:
god = 14
H0410 ’el lEa = 14
God = 211
H0410 ’el lEa = 211
God’s = 2
H0410 ’el lEa = 2
gods = 2
H0410 ’el lEa = 2
goodly = 1
H0410 ’el lEa = 1
great = 1
H0410 ’el lEa = 1
idols = 1
H0410 ’el lEa = 1
Immanuel = 2
H6005 ‘Immanuw’el lEa…wn;DmIo (variant) = 1
H0410 ’el lEa (variant)
H0410 ’el lEa (variant) = 1
H6005 ‘Immanuw’el lEa…wn;DmIo (variant)
might = 1
H0410 ’el lEa = 1
mighty = 5
H1121 ben N;Eb (variant) = 5
H0410 ’el lEa (variant)
power = 4
H0410 ’el lEa = 4
strong = 1
H0410 ’el lEa = 1
God - as Elohim - Old Testament
Elohim is the plural form of el. It indicates more than one, but is used as a singular term when referring to the unified nature of YAHWEH. It is often found combined with the personal name in the form of YAHWEH Elohim. In this form, depending on which Hebrew grammar book you may read, this term can mean several different things. It can mean YAHWEH of elohims (it is a plural term), referring to YAHWEH as the supreme one who is over all elohim (gods). Or, it could be read as YAHWEH my elohim, making Him your personal “mightiest one” – the one you honor above all others.
Since I’m not a Hebrew scholar I can make no claim to fully understanding these concepts. I really cannot determine what is correct in the absolute sense. What is very clear, however, is that these term should never be translated as “LORD God” (nor any variation thereof). That is not a translation, it is a perversion of the text. In fact, it is a replacement of the actual Hebrew words with words that have different meanings, and do not represent the truth of the original language.
I can, however, give my opinion concerning this term. I believe, when it’s used in reference to or in connection with the concept of a supreme being, that it should be thought of as a superlative. It adds, descriptively, the concept of honor and praise to YAHWEH as the One who alone is the creator and sustainer of all things. He is, as the definitions below reveal, The Mightiest One among any that are referred to as"'gods" - in a strict sense, the literal meaning of elohim.
To show a basis for such a view I’ll present Strong’s definition of the term:
430. MyIhølTa }elohiym, el-o-heem´; plural of 433; 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: —angels, x exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), x (very) great, judges, x mighty.
Note: It’s important to remember that the words that occur after the (--) in Strong’s definitions are not the actual meaning of the term. These words represent how the term is "translated" in English text. Note that exceeding, and very great, are two of the terms thus used. Perhaps we should be reading the text as “YAHWEH, The (or my) Exceedingly Great One” whenever we encounter the combination of "YAHWEH Elohim". It would seem to make more sense than the commonly applied word, "god". It would also serve to honor YAHWEH as He should be honored.
Now, take a moment to review how the term, elohim, is actually translated in the KJV. Note that it is used of angels, pagan gods and goddesses, judges, and powerful persons - as well as being used of YAHWEH as The Supreme Being.
angels = 1
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 1
exceeding = 1
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 1
god = 30
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 30
God = 2334
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 2334
goddess = 2
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 2
godly = 1
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 1
God’s = 7
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 7
Gods = 2
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 2
gods = 214
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 214
God-ward = 1
H4136 muwl, mowl, mowtl, mul lUm ,lawøm ,lwøm ,l…wm (variant) = 1
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa (variant)
great = 2
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 2
judge = 1
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 1
judges = 4
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 4
mighty = 2
H0430 ’elohiym MyIhølTa = 2
God - as Everlasting
“The Everlasting God” is not a name. It is, rather, a description, and perhaps could be seen as a title if you capitalize the first letters and make it look like a title. But when you read the text you must remember there are no upper and lower case letters in Hebrew. It then appears to be a description of YAHWEH as the “olam el”, meaning the sovereign for etetnity, or the eternal sovereign. Here are the three paces it occurs. Strong’s definition follows. Look at it for yourself:
Gen. 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of YAHWEH (the LORD), the eternal sovereign (olam el - everlasting God.).
Is. 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The eternal sovereign (olam elohiym - everlasting God), YAHWEH (the LORD), who creates (the Creator) the boundaries of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.
Rom. 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the Eternal Sovereign (the everlasting God), made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
5769. MDlwøo {owlam, o-lawm´; or MDlOo {olam, o-lawm´; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always: —alway (-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.
5956. MAlDo {alam, aw-lam´; a primitive root; to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively):—x any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).
God of Hosts
This is a very interesting title. It is most certainly not a name in its compound form, as so many try to make it. It is a description of an attribute of YAHWEH. It is “elohei tsebaot” in the Hebrew text. When you look at the definitions of the terms, elohei is a form of elohim, and it refers, as outlined above, to the mighty One, or the mightiest One. The term tsabeot, from tsaba, is typically translated as “host”, or “army”. But it refers to a mass of people, an assembly. We have stated elsewhere on these pages that YAHWEH is the leader of The Assemblies of Israel. This is a Hebraic concept that is well noted in the history of Israel. Thus, it seems the most likely meaning is “Mighty One of Assemblies” in most contexts. YAHWEH is always The Head of the assemblies of Israel, whether for peace, or for warfare. And an assembly is not always an army.
The Strong’s definitions and some Scripture references are given below for your review:
6635. aDbDx tsaba}, tsaw-baw´; or (feminine) hDaDbVx tsbadah, tseb-aw-aw´; from 6633; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship): —appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).
6633. aDbDx tsaba}, tsaw-baw´; a primitive root; to mass (an army or servants): —assemble, fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war.
Jer. 38:17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus says YAHWEH (the LORD), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsebaot - God of hosts), Mighty One (Elohei - God) of Israel; If you will assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and you shall live, and your house:
Jer. 44:7 Therefore now thus says YAHWEH (the LORD), the Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts), the Mighty One (Elohei) –God) of Israel; Why do you commit great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;
Amos 3:13 Hear, and testify in the house of Jacob, says Sovereign (adon) YAHWEH (the Lord), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts),
Amos 4:13 For, lo, He that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares unto man what is His thought, that makes the morning darkness, and treads upon the high places of the earth, YAHWEH (The Lord), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts), is His name.
Amos 5:14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live: and so YAHWEH (the LORD), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts), shall be with you, as you have spoken.
Amos 5:16 Therefore YAHWEH (the LORD), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts), your sovereign (adon - the Lord), says thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.
Amos 5:27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, says He whose name is YAHWEH (the LORD), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts).
Amos 6:8 Sovereign YAHWEH (adon YAHWEH -The Lord GOD) has sworn by Himself, YAHWEH (the LORD), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts), says, “I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces. Therefore I will deliver up the city with all that is in it.”
Amos 6:14 But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, says YAHWEH (the LORD), Mighty One of Assemblies (Elohei tsevaot - God of hosts); and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.
God of Israel
This phrase occurs 88 times. It occurs for the first time in Exodus 5.1. Moses and Aaron are speaking to Pharaoh, who is familiar with the concept of elohim (gods). Egypt had many of them. They were all different from the elohim of Israel. Moses and Aaron now come to him and specifically identify their “elohim” as YAHWEH, the elohim of Israel – the “god” of Israel, and not one of the gods (elohim, same word) of Egypt.
Elohim Yisrael, therefore is not a name for a “god”, it is a reference to YAHWEH as The One who is The Elohim, the only elohim, of the nation of Israel. This sets the stage for all subsequent appearances of this term. It is a descriptive reference, not a name. It is often used as a title, but it is not a personal name.
Ex. 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what Yahweh, the elohim (God) of Israel, says, ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”
430. MyIhølTa }elohiym, el-o-heem´; plural of 433; 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: —angels, x exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), x (very) great, judges, x mighty.
3478. lEa∂rVcˆy Yisra}el, yis-raw-ale´; from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: —Israel.
God of Truth
This is a title that occurs only once. Literally, the Hebrew word means to be certain, or sure. While it’s translated as “truth”, it would probably be more accurate to translate it as “certainty”, indicating that YAHWEH is always reliable. We can depend on Him to be unchanging, always the same. Note the Hebrew word used here. Is it familiar to you? It "certainly" should be.
Is. 65:16 That he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the Mighty One of certainty (elohei amen – God of truth); and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the Mighty One of certainty (elohei amen – God of truth); because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from my eyes.
543. NEmDa }amen, aw-mane´; from 539; sure; abstract, faithfulness; adverb, truly: —Amen, so be it, truth.
539. NAmDa }aman, aw-man´; a primitive root; properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (Isa. 30:21; interchangeable with 541) to go to the right hand: —hence, assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.
God of your Salvation
This wording occurs only once. It is a description, not a name. It does not seem to be properly translated, given the context. The story line is about prosperity or the lack thereof. It is not focused on salvation. The “pleasant plants and foreign seedlings” become a heap of desparation, because they have forgotten their Elohim.
Is. 17:10 Because you have forgotten the Mighty One (elohim – God) of your prosperity (yesha - salvation), the rock of your strength, and have not remembered Him who is over you, you shall plant pleasant plants, and foreign seedlings.
3468. oÅv‰Ry yesha{, yeh´-shah; or oÅ´vy yeshai, yay´-shah; from 3467; liberty, deliverance, prosperity: —safety, salvation, saving.
6697. r…wx tsuwr, tsoor; or rUx tsur, tsoor; from 6696; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous): —edge, x (mighty) God (one), rock, x sharp, stone, x strength, x strong. See also 1049.
4581. zwøoDm ma{owz, maw-oze´; (also z…woDm ma{uwz, maw-ooz´;); or zOoDm ma{oz, maw-oze´; (also zUoDm ma{uz, maw-ooz´; from 5810; a fortified place; figuratively, a defence: —force, fort(-ress), rock, strength(-en), (x most) strong (hold).