How to Say God in Hebrew: Elohim (אֱלֹהִים)

Quick Answer: How to Say God in Hebrew

God in Hebrew is:

אֱלֹהִים

Elohim Pronounced: eh-loh-HEEM

Meaning: God, gods, divine beings

---

When I first learned that the Hebrew word for God — אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) — is technically plural, I was confused. Doesn't the Bible teach that there is one God? Then I discovered something that changed how I read Scripture: the plural form isn't about multiple gods. It's about majesty. Hebrew uses what scholars call the "plural of majesty" — a grammatical quirk that packs infinite greatness into a single word. Have you ever noticed how royalty speaks of themselves as "we"? Elohim does something similar, but far more profound. This is one of those words that changes how you read the whole Bible.

How to Pronounce Elohim

Say it slowly: eh-loh (pause) HEEM. The emphasis lands on that final syllable — eh-loh-HEEM. The "h" in "heem" is soft, almost like a breath. Once you've got it, try it at normal speed. There's a weight to the way it lands, isn't there? The root א.ל.ה (a.l.h) means "power," "strength," or "might" — and you can hear it. Elohim carries the sense of the Mighty One. Our full word page for Elohim has pronunciation audio if you want to nail it.

The Plural of Majesty: Why It Matters

Here's where it gets fascinating. Elohim ends in -im, the standard Hebrew plural ending. You'd expect plural verbs to follow. But when Elohim refers to the one true God, it takes singular verbs. Every time. In Genesis 1:1 — בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים — the verb bara (created) is singular. One God. One act of creation. The plural form isn't confessing polytheism; it's declaring that God is so vast, so beyond category, that ordinary singular grammar can't contain Him. It's like the language itself is straining to express divine greatness.

You see this pattern throughout the Hebrew Bible. Over 2,500 times, Elohim appears — especially in Genesis and the Psalms. And when it refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel, the grammar never wavers: singular verbs, singular pronouns. The form says "majesty." The grammar says "one."

Elohim in the Biblical Story

The very first verse of Scripture opens with Elohim: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." From that moment, the word establishes who God is — the Creator, the One who speaks and worlds come into being. You can explore Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew for the full phrase.

Later, when Israel gathers to recite the Shema — "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" — Elohim appears as Eloheinu (our God). The Shema is Judaism's central declaration of faith, and right there in the middle of it: our God. Personal. Covenantal. One.

Psalm 46:10 captures another dimension: "Be still, and know that I am God." Here Elohim names the One who commands our worship and deserves our trust. When you say Amen at the end of a prayer, you're affirming the God who bears this name — the One who is firm, reliable, and worthy of our faith.

Names That Echo Elohim

The root אֵל (El) — "God" or "mighty one" — shows up in dozens of biblical names. Elijah means "Yahweh is my God." Daniel means "God is my judge." Samuel means "heard by God." Every time you read these names, you're hearing a confession: El is real, El is personal, El has drawn near. The God of Elohim isn't abstract. He's the God of Abraham, of David, of the prophets — and the God who hears when you call.

Going Deeper

Elohim often appears alongside other divine names: Yahweh Elohim (LORD God), Elohim Chayim (Living God). Each combination adds another facet. Our Elohim word page unpacks the etymology, related words like אֵל (El) and אֱלוֹהַּ (Eloah), and more Scripture references.

This word has carried me through years of Bible study. When I see "God" in my English translation now, I often hear the Hebrew behind it: majesty, might, the One who is so great that language bends to describe Him. Elohim — eh-loh-HEEM — isn't just a vocabulary lesson. It's an invitation to worship.

---

Want to learn more Hebrew words like Elohim? Subscribe to our free Hebrew newsletter for daily word studies, pronunciation guides, and biblical insights delivered to your inbox.