Echad, Eloheem, and Jehovah/Yahweh
Introduction
This study is intended to concisely address some common objections of those who refuse to believe Jesus' teaching that His Father is the only true God. Specifically, I will address these false teachings:
The Hebrew word "echad", mostly translated to the English word "one", always means "one group of two or more".This is used to try to prove a 3-in-1 god.The Hebrew word "eloheem", mostly translated to the English word "God" or "gods", always refers to a plurality of gods. This is also used to try to prove a 3-in-1 god.Jehovah is a 3-in-one God.This, in direct conflict of Deuteronomy 6:4 => "Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God[eloheem] is one[echad] Jehovah:"
Definitions
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary 259: 'echad (ekh-awd') => a numeral..., i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first... KJV translations => mostly the word one but also many other similar words...
Webster's 1828 English Dictionary: One (wun) => Single in number; individual; as one man; one book...
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary 430: ʼĕlôhîym (el-o-heem') => gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used... of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates... KJV translations => angels, exceeding, God, gods, great, judges, mighty, and other similar words.
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary 3068: Yəhôvâh, (yeh-ho-vaw') => (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; KJV translation(s) => Jehovah, the Lord. In some other translations, Yahweh.
Echad
As near as I can tell, the Hebrew word "echad" means the same thing as the English word "one" (1). So, when we read Deuteronomy 6:4 => "Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God[eloheem] is one[echad] Jehovah:" => it seems clear to me that Jehovah is one being. This may be totally obvious to you, as it is to me.
However, there are many who insist that echad always means "one group of two or more", insinuating that Strong's Hebrew Dictionary is wrong, thus also insinuating that echad has a different meaning than the English word "one". They may cite Gen1:5; Gen2:24; Num13:23; as their so-called proof. Then they will apply their theory to Deut6:4, saying that Jehovah is actually one group of three persons (God the Father: God the Son; God the Holy Spirit). But, is that true?
While it is true that echad can refer to one group of two or more, just as the English word one, they will ignore the fact that, in the Bible, there are many uses of the word echad that are obvious references to a single person or thing. For example, in Numbers 7:3-82, you will see echad translated to the English word "one" ~84 times, always referring to a single person, animal, or thing, with no groups of two or more.
For a more complete, 6-minute, study of the Hebrew Bible word "echad", see => https://sidnash.org/t/echad.html
So, can it be proven (as many wish), that the "one[echad] Jehovah" of Deut6:4 is actually one group of three persons because of the definition of "echad"? NO! It is impossible because of Num7:3-82 and other texts.
Eloheem
Since eloheem can be used in a plural sense, there are many who think that it is group of three persons (God the Father: God the Son; God the Holy Spirit). But, is that true? Let's look at the first(of ten) commandments =>
- Exodus 20:1-3 And God[eloheem] spake all these words, saying, 2 I am [Jehovah] thy [eloheem], which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other [eloheem]s before me[Jehovah]...
- Notice that eloheem was used here as a reference to Jehovah, but also as a reference to false gods.
- The speaker here identified Himself as "Jehovah, your eloheem". In the forth commandment Jehovah also identified Himself as the Creator =>
- Exodus 20:11 For in six days [Jehovah] made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is.
- Does the Bible further identify Jehovah, the Creator? Yes =>
- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ... there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things... and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things...
- More about the Creator => http://sidnash.org/?1stAC
- From these texts we see that our supreme worship must be to the Creator. In the old testament, He is mostly (over 5,000 times) referred to as Jehovah. In the new testament, He is known as the Father, Christ's Father. And, He is the only true God =>
- Jeremiah 10:10 But Jehovah is the only true God[eloheem]. He is the living God[eloheem] and the everlasting King! ...
- John 17:1,3 Jesus said, Father, "this is life eternal, that they might know thee[Christ's Father] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
So, is eloheem a reference to a group of three persons, commonly known as the trinity? Never, in the Bible. Christ's Father is the Creator and the only true eloheem. He identified Himself as Jehovah and commanded that we have no other gods before Him.
Prior studies on the Hebrew word eloheem:
Jehovah, Christ's Father, the Creator
Deuteronomy 6:4-9,13-15 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our [eloheem] is one Jehovah: 5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy [eloheem] with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; 7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates. ... 13 Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy [eloheem]; and him shalt thou serve, and shalt swear by his name. 14 Ye shall not go after other [eloheem]s, of the [eloheem]s of the peoples that are round about you; 15 for Jehovah thy [eloheem] in the midst of thee is a jealous [eloheem]; lest the anger of Jehovah thy [eloheem] be kindled against thee, and he destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
For a more-complete study of Jehovah see => http://sidnash.org/?1God
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )
-Sid Nash: 09/20/2025. Latest version: https://sidnash.org/docs/EchadEloheem.html