Is "elohim" singular or plural?

[TonyChanYT]

Genesis 1:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

God
אֱלֹהִ֑ים (’ĕ·lō·hמm)
Noun - masculine plural

It is in plural form but

created
בָּרָ֣א (bā·rā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

Elohim:

The masculine plural ending does not mean “gods” when referring to the true God of Israel, since the name is mainly used with singular verb forms and with adjectives and pronouns in the singular

The plural elohim followed by the singular verb bara refers to the one true God. There is plurality in unity within the divine being.

On the other hand, Exodus 32:

1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us.

gods
אֱלֹהִ֗ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

will go
יֵֽלְכוּ֙ (yê·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

In this case, we have the usual plural noun followed by a plural verb. This elohim is not the LORD God.

The Hebrew word elohim is plural in form, but in a sentence, it can function as singular or plural depending on the verb or the adjective accompanying it. When it is singular in function in a sentence, it always refers to the LORD God.

 

[Randy Kluth]

Genesis 1:


God
אֱלֹהִ֑ים (’ĕ·lō·hמm)
Noun - masculine plural

It is in plural form but

created
בָּרָ֣א (bā·rā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

Elohim:


The plural elohim followed by the singular verb bara refers to the one true God. There is plurality in unity within the divine being.

On the other hand, Exodus 32:


gods
אֱלֹהִ֗ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

will go
יֵֽלְכוּ֙ (yê·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

In this case, we have the usual plural noun followed by a plural verb. This elohim is not the LORD God.

The Hebrew word elohim is plural in form, but in a sentence, it can function as singular or plural depending on the verb or the adjective accompanying it. When it is singular in function in a sentence, it always refers to the LORD God.

Yes, this is true. The word is derived from its pagan use in reference to a plurality of gods. It appears the Bible is using the common vernacular to state something that is different from the ordinary understanding of "the gods." It would be like saying, "the gods," aka THE God, created the heavens and the earth. Moses was in effect re-defining "the gods" to mean the *only* God.

Putting this in the context of our own times it might be like an agnostic saying "Religion is responsible for some of the disorder in our reason-based society." And a Christian might better say this as, "God is responsible for some of the turmoil in a society that is skeptical towards Him and in fact resistant to Him.