The Gods (Elohim) of Genesis 1- Jehovah is Never Mentioned...Why?
In my first book, (The Genesis Race, Amazon) I examined the first two chapters of the Old Testament (Torah). My aim was to analyze it from a fresh perspective. I mean without any preconceptions.
To achieve that I first make my mind a blank slate as it were, setting aside any and all prior interpretations that I had been given or concluded on my own. I suggest that you do the same now.
Moreover, my goal was to read and understand biblical Genesis using a forensic approach to the text, examining every word in each sentence. Not just as to their meaning but in relation to the flow of concepts presented and the context they appeared within.
In addition, I realized that to be truly objective, and thorough, I had to make sure that the English version agreed with the ancient Hebrew version. I quickly found it patently does not.
That is not hard to do today, since there are many interlinear versions that contain the original Hebrew above or alongside the English translation. For example, ת 1
1: (b·rashith) in·beginning (בָּ רָ א) bra he-created (אֱ הִ ים) aleim Elohim (אֵ ת ath » הַ שָּׁ מַ יִ ם e·shmim) the·heavens (וְ אֵ ת u·)) ath and (·» הָ אָ רֶ ץ e·artz) the·earth: .
We see here the Hebrew word followed by the English translation. Every word is defined before the full sentence is translated and given. This structure was exactly what I needed since it made me stop and understand each concept instead of breezing through sentences in English.
However, I went even further by consulting a Hebrew to English dictionary when necessary as it was immediately with very important concepts like God. Note that in the very opening the expected term for God, Jehovah, is not used the term we find instead is Elohim.
Right away that has to be fully understood.
God is such a heavy, loaded word in English and it has a very specific meaning in western cultures. However, that was not the case with the ancient Hebrews who had many words for God; such as El, El Shadai, Jehovah, Elohim, Shekim, etc. Each of the different names carried a slightly different meaning, in a specific, given context.
The word God, in western culture, is understood as the single creator, always framed in a monotheistic context. I knew that was not the case with Hebrew. From the onset I realized I was dealing with a lot more than just the text of Genesis.
I was also dealing with an ancient, non-western culture that had a very different mindset. This is a critical point that has to be kept in mind when trying to get to the truth of what the Bible actually says.
It was clear to me, from the beginning of the endeavor that correctly understanding the first reference to the creator, Elohim, was pivotal. Keep in mind the English translation only refers to God, in English, in the singular in Genesis 1.
But that is not at all what the text says word for word. What we find is surprising, even shocking, given how translators defined the term when they translated the Hebrew into Greek; and much later into English. What follows are some definitions of the term Elohim, according to three different sources
Elohim: “ĕlôhîym, el-o-heem'; plural of H433; 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, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.” (Strong’s Hebrew to English dictionary)
Collins Dictionary
noun
Old Testament
a Hebrew word for God or gods.
Word origin of 'Elohim'
C17: from Hebrew 'Elōhim, plural (used to indicate uniqueness) of 'Elōah God; probably related to 'El God.
The pluralistic majesty of the Godhead as revealed in Genesis even before the expression Yahweh is used revealing a majestic plurality of excellence. It occurs over 2,500 times in the Old Testament and 32 times in Gen. 1. (e.g., Genesis 1: 1; Psalm 68: 1)
All sources agree, Elohim is a plural concept, a noun. It is not synonymous with the English word, God. I referred to numerous dictionaries, books, Hebrew scholars and linguists to absolutely verify this fact.
In English, the terms God and gods are not all interchangeable or synonymous. We have one word, a monotheistic concept we apply to the word God and or Lord. Whereas, gods or lords have an entirely different connotation. Those terms can refer to the polytheistic deities of the Greeks or Romans or even to a lord of an estate or British manor or a member of parliament.
To any western reader this is both surprising and shocking to say the least.
What is shocking about it is that it is not rendered gods in Genesis and no attempt is made in the English translations to clarify this disturbing mistranslation. I say disturbing because the word Elohim is used purposely 2500 times in the Old Testament, the Torah.
This is so blaring a blatant that it does raise the notion of their being an elitist, religious conspiracy to conceal the True Intent and Meaning of the Original Hebrew Scriptures.
To claim that the concept Elohim is highly significant -- being a plural noun in ancient Hebrew -- would be a gross understatement. Since it is used so many times it is clearly the critical word to fully comprehend as the Hebrews meant it.
I don’t care how later translators spun the word Elohim. All I do care about is the true intent and meaning of the concept used throughout Genesis 1. You should intuit exactly why at this point. Remember, there is a crucial contradiction that has confused countless bible students. What is that?
When we come to the English “God” suddenly revealing (his Elohim nature) in Verse 26: We shall create mankind in Our image and Likeness
That verse throws a monkey-wrench into the whole bogus story spun by the modern Jews, Christians and Moslems, which are all based upon the Old Testament.
Oh, wait a minute. So the One God, who we know is formless, eternal, omnipotent Spirit actually has a human form from which human beings were drawn out? That is what the text says.
Squirm, twitch and try to wriggle out of it but this is not the only time that Genesis will make it clear that the Elohim are physical beings, a plurality. Digressing momentarily it happens again in Genesis 6, when the b’nai Elohim, literally the sons of the gods, look down, find women attractive, marry, mate with them and live on Earth.
That absolutely confirms the Elohim were physical beings with similar DNA to ours that they used to bioengineer us. Yes, re-read Genesis 2 and 3. Adam was put to sleep before the surgery.
Why would the bible specifically describe the Elohim as having made mankind in their image and likeness if that were not the case? In order to do that the Elohim had to have bodies that could be replicated just as we can replicate animals today via cloning.
Of course the ancient Hebrews understood none of this. But we have no excuse here in the 21st century. The Elohim created humanity and later their descendants returned to earth and interbred with human females. This has all been confused and turned into childish, falsely spiritual gibberish purposefully by a secret group and by accident.
. In addition, since it was the first word used to describe the creator(s), it is therefore absolute, pivotal concept, upon which Genesis turns.
(I shall fully clarify what I mean later in this chapter.)
I mentioned above that we have two stumbling blocks to overcome when reading the English translation of Torah: 1) whether the Hebrew was translated correctly and 2) ancient Hebrews had many names for the creator(s) or deity. It is crucial to keep these factors in mind.
For example, Jehovah (Yahweh) is the name used for God in the English versions of the bible. However, it did not mean to the ancient Israelites Hebrews what western readers assume it did. Yahweh was used and is understood as the revealed name of god. Jehovah then, is one of the seven names of god used by the ancient Israelites.
Yahweh (YHVH) is not really a Hebrew word it is the conjugation of four consonants. Jehovah makes it sound like it is actually god’s name, which some errant Christians claim.
However, any cursory study will reveal that YHVH is not a word, not a name, but an oblique reference used by the ancients because they believed that using G-ds actual name was forbidden.
Here again, modern people believing Jehovah is the actual name of the only God is a sign of ignorance. Go back to the source culture, the ancient Hebrews and study the various names of ‘god’ and which can used and which not.
Most of modern Christianity is sheer rubbish and nonsense and downright, false teachings. Catholicism is a cult and has nothing to do with Christ and more to do with Satanism!
To remain in the dark and get tangled and tripped up by the stumbling blocks is a very serious and ironic matter. Most fake Christians have no idea the original reference to god (Elohim) is a plural word. Jehovah does not appear at all in the first chapter Genesis.
The average western reader then is thrown off track assuming that the God in the first chapter, means the one creator the whole Universe. Not so. The ultimate Creator created the Elohim very long ago and they are truly gods meaning superior to us.
Jehovah is defined as a singular masculine noun is every dictionary. It is assumed that the original old testament (Torah) used the name Jehovah in the opening verses of Genesis 1. But we now know such was not the case. The first major clash, or seeming contradiction in the bible, then comes when we get to Genesis 1 v. 26 this is the well- known oft quoted verse:
“Let us make mankind in Our image…
This is very confusing to every ready who believes the above, that the God being referred to in the opening verses was Jehovah, the supposedly one God. But now we know that it is not the case and even YHWH is not the ultimate name of the Creator.
This verse is our first tip off, the proof that the opening verses referred to a plurality as creating or terraforming the planet. In fact, we do not have any confusion since we now know the term Elohim was used and not Yahweh.
It makes sense the Elohim were being referred to when we come to verse 26. No confusion, since they are a plurality.
It is no coincidence to find this verse, which is really about the genesis of humanity -- comes after the world has been created. Of course that seems only logical. However, I am referring to the account of the steps, of the creation process, which can be viewed as a compressed summary of a terraforming operation.
Now we must ask who then are the Elohim?
All we know, which the text reveals, is that they are not human, but defined as described as gods in the text. However, there are logical inferences we can draw from verse 26. The Elohim had the knowledge and skills to bioengineer the creation of our species or of a proto-human race
That is an obvious conclusion. We are told that they conferred and decided to make man in their image. Here is another key concept we must understand. We now know that it takes DNA to biogenetically engineer any organism. The verse also implies the Elohim were physical beings that had DNA they could use, at least in part, to make mankind.
How else can we interpret this verse? Then also Genesis 6?
No we cannot invoke unknown, spiritual mechanisms because we are reading within the confines and context of the actual text of Genesis one. It says nothing of spirit or anything spiritual. These concepts were all injected into the narrative by various theologians and bible scholars down through the centuries. (False teachings)
The same people that turn the bible into metaphors and allegories, also believe that Jehovah is the God of the first chapter. Genesis, everything in genesis it focused on the creation of the world, living things, the biosphere, mankind, the real, physical universe.
That is what we need to drill into our heads and fully understand.
Of course if you believe that God created mankind in his image, then you accept that it was through a miracle. However, this belief has two critical contradictions first a) god has no image and second b) you cannot resolve the use of Us and Our in the verse,
So your interpretation then means the Bible contradicts Itself in the very first page. God, who has no image, creates Mankind in His Image and He is not One but many as well…Hmmm…Houston, we have a problem.
(We shall resolve this whole matter in a number of sequels)