THE COMPOSITE ONENESS OF GOD 
(ECHAD ELOHIM)
by Dave R. Mode, Jr.

The subject of God among believers in Messiah tends to generate different views regarding the composite nature of His being in relationship to humankind. For one to receive a proper view of the Most High, it is important that we examine the scriptures from the original Hebrew language from which He is first revealed.  We shall begin by looking at a variety of terms relative to our subject. 

DEFINITIONS 

El, Elahh, Eloah - Hebrew words meaning "God" or any other single deity. (God, god) 

Elohim - Hebrew word that is the plural form of "eloah" meaning gods or deities. This word is used more than any other word to describe Yehowah as deity. 

Echad - Hebrew term for the words "one", "unity", "united" and "together". Literally meaning "to unify" or "to collect". It specifically denotes a composite unity, a plural oneness or a unity of parts. 

Yachid -Hebrew term for the word "one", "solely" and "only". It specifically denotes a singular oneness. 

I. ONE PROPER NAME 

According to the scriptures, the Most High has only one proper name by which he is identified. That name is translated as Yahweh, Yehovah, or Yehowah from the four Hebrew letters yud, heh, vav, heh. The name Yehovah means “the self existent one”. The scriptures clearly confirm this meaning in Exodus 3:14 where God refers to himself as “I AM THAT I AM”. 

In a number of places throughout the scriptures, it appears that other names are applied to the Most High. However, these other names were not given to the Most High to show that He had more than one proper name. Rather, they were given to reflect His dealings with mankind. One should consider that these other names are composed of God’s proper name with an affixation added to the proper name. Look at some of the following examples given. 

1) Yehovah-Rapha - Yehovah the healer or Yehovah who heals. 
2) Yehovah-Yireh - Yehovah the provider or Yehovah who provides. 
3) Yehoshua or Yeshua - Yehovah is salvation or Yehovah who saves. 

II. THE USE OF ELOHIM IN THE SCRIPTURES 

Elohim is a generic plural term defined by the words "gods" or "deities". As a generic term, elohim is used not only in reference to the Most High, but also to refer to the gods of peoples that were polytheistic (Ex. 12:12; Deut. 6:14; Judges 10:6). 

(cont. page 2)

<1, 2, 3, 4>