Echad, Eloheem, and Jehovah/Yahweh
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 reference 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
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah (Deut8:3; Matt4:4)
-Sid Nash: 09/19/2025. Latest version: https://sidnash.org/docs/EchadEloheem.html