Introduction to the Names of God and Elohim

Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself to us through various names, from Elohim to Yahweh to Jehovah Jireh and more. Each name teaches us something about God’s character and who He really is, so that we can know Him more completely and honor Him appropriately. Over the next several weeks, we will be diving into the Scriptures and giving a brief overview of many of the names of God. As we do, we encourage you to pull out your Bibles, spend time in prayer, and ask for wisdom and insight into the character of God, praying this will draw you closer to Him and strengthen your relationship with Him. 

The first name of God in the Bible is Elohim, and it appears in the very first verse, Genesis 1:1. It says, “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” Elohim is the Hebrew word that means “supreme one” or “mighty one.” It occurs over two thousand times in the Old Testament and is one of the most commonly used names for God. 

Each of the names of God will help us honor God by revealing a deeper, more in-depth understanding of His character.

Elohim can also be used to refer to other “supreme” or “mighty” ones, like rulers, judges, or even angels. But when we know and learn about God, we come to realize that He is the ultimate mighty one, the ultimate supreme one—in essence, we see that He is the Elohim of Elohim, like it says in Deuteronomy 10:17: “For the Lord your God is the God of gods [Elohim of elohim in Hebrew] and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God…” 

Elohim is also an interesting name for God because it is plural and hints at (if not proves) the idea of the Trinity. In Genesis 1:26, “God [Elohim] said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” Which uses the plural pronoun “us.” But then in Deuteronomy 6:4, we are told to “Listen… The Lord our God [Eloheinu], the Lord is one” (emphasis added). So we see that Elohim is the name for a single, supreme, mighty God who is our one Creator, yet He refers to Himself as “us.” Many believe this hints at the Trinity, while others argue it is merely an expression that emphasizes His majesty and power. Perhaps it is both.

Another essential thing to note about the name Elohim, as we study the names of God over the next several weeks, is that Elohim is often seen in its shortened form (the singular root word for Elohim), which is simply “El.” It is then combined with another word that elaborates on a specific character trait of God. For example, El Shaddai means God Almighty. El Elyon means God Most High, and El Olam means God Everlasting and Eternal. 
That is just a surface, brief overview of Elohim, the first name of God mentioned in the Scriptures. Each of the names of God, as we will get to know them, will help us honor God by revealing a deeper, more in-depth understanding of His character, which will, prayerfully, lead us to a deeper relationship with our Creator and Savior.