1 plural in number.

a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power: האלהים Exodus 21:6 (Onk ᵑ6, but τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ ᵐ5) Exodus 22:7; Exodus 22:8; אלהים Exodus 22:8; Exodus 22:27 (ᵑ7 Ra AE Ew RVm; but gods, ᵐ5 Josephus Philo AV; God, Di RV; all Covt. code of E) compare 1 Samuel 2:25 see Dr.; Judges 5:8 (Ew, but gods ᵐ5; God ᵑ6 BarHebr.; יהוה ᵑ9 Be) Psalm 82:1; Psalm 82:6 (De Ew Pe; but angels Bl Hup) Psalm 138:1 (ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Rab Ki De; but angels ᵐ5 Calv; God, Ew; gods, Hup Pe Che).

b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels Psalm 8:6 (De Che Br; but angels ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Ew; God, RV and most moderns) Genesis 1:27 (if with Philo ᵑ7 Jerome De Che we interpret נעשה as God's consultation with angels; compare Job 38:7).

c. angels Psalm Job 97:7 (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Calv; but gods, Hup De Pe Che); compare בני (ה)אלהים = (the) sons of God, or sons of gods = angels Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7; Genesis 6:2,4 (J; so ᵐ5 Books of Enoch & Jubilees Philo Jude Jude 1:6 2Peter 2:4 Jos^{Ant. i. 3}. 1, most ancient fathers and modern critics; against usage are sons of princes, mighty men, Onk and Rab.; sons of God, the pious, Theod Chrys Jerome Augustine Luther Calv Hengst; ᵐ5^L read οἱ υιὁὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ), compare בני אלים.

d. gods האלהים Exodus 18:11; Exodus 22:19 (E) 1 Samuel 4:8; 2Chron 2:4; Psalm 86:8; אלהי האלהים the God of gods, supreme God Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:2; אלהים Exodus 32:1,23 (JE) Judges 9:13; אלהים אחרים other gods Exodus 20:3; Exodus 23:13; Joshua 24:2,16 (E) Deuteronomy 31:18,20 (JE) Deuteronomy 5:7 + (17 t. in D, not P) Judges 2:12,17,19; Judges 10:13; 1 Samuel 8:8; 1 Samuel 26:19; 1 Kings 9:6,9 (= 2 Chronicles 7:19,22) 2 Chronicles 11:4,10; 2 Chronicles 14:9; 2 Kings 5:17; 2 Kings 17:35,37,38; 2 Kings 22:17 (= 2 Chron 34:25) 2 Chronicles 28:25; Jeremiah 1:16 + (18 t. Jeremiah) Hosea 3:1; אלהי (ה)נכר foreign gods Genesis 35:2,4; Joshua 24:20,23 (E) Deuteronomy 31:16 (JE) Judges 10:16; 1 Samuel 7:3; 2Chronicles 33:15; Jeremiah 5:19; נחור ׳א Genesis 31:53 (E); מצרים ׳א Exodus 12:12 (P) Jeremiah 43:12,13; האמרי ׳א Joshua 24:15 (E) Judges 6:10; ארם ׳א etc. Judges 10:6; אלהים מעשה ידי Deuteronomy 4:28; הגוים ׳א gods of the nations 2 Kings 18:33; 2 Kings 19:12; Deuteronomy 29:17; 2Chronicles 32:17,19; Isaiah 36:18; Isaiah 37:12; העמים ׳א Deuteronomy 6:14; Deuteronomy 13:8; Judges 2:12; Psalm 96:5; 1 Chronicles 5:25; 1 Chronicles 16:26; 2Chronicles 32:13,14; כסף ׳א Exodus 20:23 (E); זהב ׳א Exodus 20:23 (E) Exodus 32:31 (JE); מַסֵּכָה ׳א Exodus 34:17 (J) Leviticus 19:4 (H).

2 Plural intensive.

a. god or goddess, always with suffix 1 Samuel 5:7 (Dagon), Judges 11:24 (Chemosh), 1 Kings 18:24 (Baal), Judges 9:27; Daniel 1:2 (twice in verse); or construct לעשתרת מואב ׳צדנים לכמוש א ׳א to Ashtoreth goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh god of Moab, etc. 1 Kings 11:33; הארץ ׳א god of the land 2 Kings 17:26 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 17:27, and so the Syrians suppose that Yahweh is a mountain-god and not a god of valleys 1 Kings 20:28.

b. godlike one Exodus 4:16 (J; Moses in relation to Aaron), Exodus 7:1 (P; in relation to Pharaoh), 1 Samuel 28:13 (the shade of Samuel), Psalm 45:7 (the Messianic king, O God, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Jerome, most scholars ancient and modern, but thy throne is God's = God's throne AE Ki Thea Ew Hup, compare 1 Chronicles 28:5). c. works of God, or things specially belonging to him (see אֵל 5) הר אלהים Psalm 68:16; Ezekiel 28:14,16; אש אלהים Job 1:16; גן (ה)אלהים Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:8,9. d. God (see 3 & 4).

3 הָאֱלֹהִים the (TRUE) God, הוא האלהים ׳י Yahweh is (the) God Deuteronomy 4:35,39; Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Kings 8:60; 1 Kings 18:39 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 33:13; הוא האלהים Isaiah 45:18; האלהים ׳י Joshua 22:34 (P ?) 1 Kings 18:21,24; 2Chronicles 32:16; אתה הוא האלהים 2 Samuel 7:28; 1 Kings 18:37; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 17:26; Isaiah 37:16; Nehemiah 9:7; האלהים as subject or object is used in E 33 t., Chronicles 38 t., Eccl 31 t., Jonah 5 t., elsewhere Genesis 5:22,24; Genesis 6:9,11 (sources of P) Genesis 17:18 (P) Joshua 22:34 (P ?) Genesis 44:16 (J) Deuteronomy 4:35,39; Deuteronomy 7:9; Judges 6:36,39; Judges 7:14; Judges 10:14; Judges 16:28; Judges 21:2; 1 Samuel 10:3,7; 1 Samuel 14:36; 2 Samuel 2:27; 2 Samuel 6:7; 2 Samuel 7:28; 2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Kings 8:60; 1 Kings 18:21,24 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 18:37,39 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 19:15 (Ephr) Job 2:10; Jeremiah 11:12; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 45:18; Psalm 108:14; Daniel 1:9,17; הקדוש ׳הא ׳י 1 Samuel 6:20; הגדול ׳הא ׳י Nehemiah 8:6; אשר ׳בירושלם הא Ezra 1:3; אדני האלהים Daniel 9:3; in many phrases, as איש האלהים the man of God, acting under divine authority and influence: = (a) angel Judges 13:6,8, (b) prophet (the term coming into use in the Northern kingdom in the age of Elijah 1 Samuel 9:9-10, compare אִישׁ הָרוּחַ Hosea 9:7): of Moses Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua 14:6 (E) 1 Chronicles 23:14; 2Chronicles 30:16; Ezra 3:2; Psalm 90:1; of Samuel 1 Samuel 9:6-10; of David2Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 12:24,36; Shemaiah 1 Kings 12:22 (= 2 Chronicles 11:2); Elijah, Elisha, and others of their time 1 Kings 13:1-31; 1 Kings 17:18-24; 1 Kings 20:28; 2 Kings 1:9-13; 2 Kings 4:7-42; 2 Kings 5:8-20; 2 Kings 6:6-15; 2 Kings 7:2-9; 2 Kings 8:2-11; 2 Kings 13:19; 2 Kings 23:16-17 (Ephr) 2 Chronicles 25:7,9; unnamed prophet 1 Samuel 2:27; Hanan Jeremiah 35:4; a later title of prophet was עֶבֶד האלהים the servant of God, used of Moses 1 Chronicles 6:34; 2Chronicles 24:9; Nehemiah 10:30; Daniel 9:11. בית האלהים the house of God, Judges 18:31, especially late, Chronicles (52 t.) Ecclesiastes 4:17; Daniel 1:2; ׳בית י ׳הא 1 Chronicles 22:1; ארון (ברית) האלהים the ark (of the covenant) of God Judges 20:27; 1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; 1 Samuel 14; 2 Samuel 6:1-7:29; 15(23 t.); 1 Chronicles 13; 1 Chronicles 15; 1 Chronicles 16; 2Chronicles 1:4 (13 t.); מטה האלהים the rod of God Exodus 4:20; Exodus 17:9 (E); הר האלהים the mount of God (Horeb) Exodus 3:1; Exodus 4:27; Exodus 18:5; Exodus 24:13 (E) 1 Kings 19:8 (Ephr); מלאך האלהים the (theophanic) angel of God Genesis 31:11; Exodus 14:19 (E) Judges 6:20; Judges 13:6,9; 2 Samuel 14:17,20; 2 Samuel 19:28; in other combinations Exodus 18:16; Numbers 23:27 (E) Judges 20:2; 1 Samuel 4:8; 1 Samuel 5:11; 1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Samuel 16:23; 1 Kings 12:22; 1 Chronicles 21:7 + (14 t.) Psalm 87:3; Ecclesiastes 9:1.

4 אֱלֹהִים = God אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת ׳י = Yahweh is God in truth Jeremiah 10:10.

a. אלהים (as subject object direct or indirect) is used by P (50 t. in story of creation and deluge, elsewhere 28 t.), by E (91 t.), J chiefly in poetic sources Genesis 3:1,3,5 (twice in verse); Genesis 9:27; Genesis 39:9; Deuteronomy 32:17,39, by D (11 t.) Judges (21 t.) Samuel (50 t.) Kings (29 t.) Chronicles (45 t.); in Psalm 42-86 (180 t. often by editorial change for an original יהוה), elsewhere Psalm 3:3; Psalm 5:11; Psalm 7:11; Psalm 7:12; Psalm 9:18; Psalm 10:4; Psalm 10:13; Psalm 14:1; Psalm 14:2; Psalm 14:5; Psalm 25:22; Psalm 36:2; Psalm 36:8; Psalm 77:14; Psalm 100:3; Psalm 108:2; Psalm 108:6; Psalm 108:8; Psalm 108:12 (twice in verse); Psalm 149:9; Job 5:8; Job 20:29; Job 28:23; Job 32:2; Job 34:9 (& in Prologue 6 t.) Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 25:2; Ecclesiastes (7 t.) Hosea (5 t.); Amos 4:11 (כמהפכת אלתים את סדם as God overthrew Sodom = Jeremiah 50:40 = Isaiah 13:19) Zechariah 8:23; Zechariah 12:8; Micah 3:7 (but אליהם ᵐ5 ᵑ6) Isaiah 35:4; Isa² (9 t.); Jeremiah 10:10; Ezekiel (13 t.); Malachi (5 t.); Jonah (4 t.); the phrase לאלהים ׳היה ל Genesis 28:21 (E^R) Genesis 17:7,8; Exodus 6:7; Exodus 29:45; Leviticus 11:45; Leviticus 22:33; Leviticus 25:38; Leviticus 26:12,45; Numbers 15:41 (P); Deuteronomy 26:17; Deuteronomy 29:13; 2 Samuel 7:24 (= 1 Chronicles 17:22); Zechariah 8:8; Jeremiah (6 t.); Ezekiel (6 t.); אלהים צדיק righteous God Psalm 7:10; קדשים ׳א holy God Joshua 24:19 (E); חיים ׳א living God Deuteronomy 5:23; 1 Samuel 17:26,36; Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 23:36; חי ׳א 2 Kings 19:4,16 (= Isaiah 37:4,17). For the phrases ׳יהוה א, צבאות ׳א ׳י, צבאות ׳א, ׳י ׳אל א, ׳יה א, ׳צבאות א ׳י, אלתי ׳י, צבאות, ׳אדני א see יהוה, יה, צבאות & אדני.

b. construct אֱלֹהֵי (a) with persons אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם = God of Abraham, a phrase of J, Genesis 26:24; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 31:53, elsewhere Psalm 47:10; 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Chronicles 29:18; 2Chronicles 30:6; אדני אברהם ׳א Genesis 24:12,27,42,48 (J); אלהי אב father's God (various suffix & names), a phrase of E, Genesis 31:5,29,42; Genesis 46:3; Genesis 50:17; Exodus 3:6,13,15,16; Exodus 15:2; Exodus 18:4; Joshua 18:3, elsewhere Genesis 32:10; Genesis 43:23 (J) Exodus 4:5 (J ?) Deuteronomy (8 t.); Judges 2:12; 2 Kings 21:22; Chronicles (31 t.); Daniel 11:37; אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel's God, phrase of E, Genesis 33:20; Exodus 5:1; Exodus 24:10; Exodus 32:27; Joshua 8:30; Joshua 14:14; Joshua 22:16; Joshua 24:2,23, elsewhere Exodus 34:23; Joshua 7:13,19,20 (JE) Numbers 16:9; Joshua 9:18,19; Joshua 22:24; Joshua 10:40,42; Joshua 13:14,33 (R see Di Joshua 7:13) Judges 4:6; Judges 5:3,5; Judges 6:8; Judges 11:21,23; Judges 21:3; 1 Samuel 1:17 + (20 t.) Kings (26 t.) Chronicles (45 t.); Psalm 41:14; Psalm 106:48 (doxology) Psalm 59:6; Psalm 69:7; Isaiah 17:6; Isaiah 21:10,17; Isaiah 29:23; Isa³, Isaiah 24:15; Isaiah 37:16,21; Isa², Isaiah 41:17 + (6 t.); Jeremiah 35:17 + (48 t.); Ezekiel 8:4 + (7 t.); Zephaniah 2:9; Malachi 2:16; Ruth 2:12; מערכות ישראל ׳א God of the battle array of Israel 1 Samuel 17:45; ׳א יַעֲקֹב 2 Samuel 23:1 (poetry) Psalm 20:2; Psalm 46:8; Psalm 46:12; Psalm 75:10; Psalm 76:7; Psalm 81:2; Psalm 81:5; Psalm 84:9; Psalm 94:7; Isaiah 2:3 (= Micah 4:2); העבריים ׳א God of the Hebrews Exodus 3:18; Exodus 5:3; Exodus 7:16; Exodus 9:1,13 (JE); it is used with other proper names, Nahor Genesis 31:53 (E), Shem Genesis 9:26 (J), David 2 Kings 20:5; 2Chronicles 21:12; 34:3; Isaiah 38:5, Hezekiah 2Chronicles 32:17, Elijah 2 Kings 2:14; ארני המלך ׳א the God of my lord the king 1 Kings 1:36. (β) with nouns of attributes or relationships, קֶרֶם ׳א ancient God Deuteronomy 33:27; עולם ׳א everlasting God Isaiah 40:28; אֱמֶת ׳א true God2Chronicles 15:3; אָמֵן ׳א Isaiah 65:16 (see אָמֵן); משפט ׳א Isaiah 30:18; Malachi 2:17; מרום ׳א Micah 6:6; כָל בָשָׂר ׳א God of all flesh Jeremiah 32:27; compare ׳א הרוחות לכל בשר Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16 (P); השמים ׳א God of heaven Genesis 24:7 (J^R) 2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:2; Nehemiah 1:4,5; Nehemiah 2:4,20; compare כל הארץ ׳א Isaiah 54:5; ׳השמים וא ׳א ׳י הארץ Genesis 24:3 (J^R); מִקָּרֹב ׳א a God at hand opposed to מֵרָחֹק ׳א Jeremiah 23:23, ישועתי ׳א, יִשְׁעִי ׳א God of my salvation Psalm 18:47 (= 2 Samuel 22:47) Psalm 24:5; Psalm 25:5; Psalm 27:9; Psalm 65:6; Psalm 79:9; Psalm 85:5; Isaiah 17:10; Micah 7:7; Habakkuk 3:18; 1 Chronicles 16:35; ישועתי ׳א Psalm 88:2; תשועתי ׳א Psalm 51:16; צִדְקִי ׳א God of righteousness Psalm 4:2; חַסְדִּי ׳א Psalm 59:11; Psalm 59:18; צוּרִי ׳א God who is my rock 2 Samuel 22:3 (compare Psalm 18:3); מָעוּזִּי֯ ׳א God who is my stronghold Psalm 43:2; תְהִלָּתִי ׳א God who is my praise Psalm 109:1.

c. with suffix in P (22 t. including phrase ויראת מאלהיך) Leviticus 19:14,32; Leviticus 25:17,36,43 (H) Exodus 8:21; Joshua 24:27 (E) Deuteronomy 32:37 (poetry) Joshua 9:23 (JE) Deuteronomy 10:21; Deuteronomy 31:17; Judges 10:10; Judges 16:23,24; 1 Samuel 10:19; 2 Samuel 10:12; 2 Samuel 22:32 + (4 t. poetry) 1 Kings 12:28; 1 Kings 20:23; 2 Kings 19:10; Chronicles (83 t.); Psalms (62 t.); Proverbs 2:17; Proverbs 30:9; Ruth 1:15,16 (twice in verse); Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 7:13; Isaiah 8:19,21; Isa² (29 t.); Jeremiah 5:4,5; Jeremiah 23:36; Jeremiah 51:5; Ezekiel 34:31; Daniel (5 t.); Hosea (12 t.); Amos 2:8; Amos 4:12; Joel 1:13 (twice in verse); Joel 1:16; Joel 2:17; Micah 6:8; Micah 7:7; Jonah 1:5,6; Zephaniah 3:2; Nahum 1:14; Zechariah 9:7; Zechariah 12:5; אלהים with suffix is also used with יהוה several hundred times (see יהוה).