Christians will claim that because elohim is plural, this demonstrates the Trinity. What does God mean when he says “Let us create man in our image…”? Obviously God has a composite nature, like a trinity!

Furthermore, Christians will claim that “elohim” is a special plural which represents at least three; while a -yim plural, such as waters in “ma-yim” (ex. gen 1:1) is a dual plural.

Therefore, Genesis 1:1 is evidence which supports a Christian view of a trinitarian god.

First, it is important to note that elohim as used here is a name. We know this from the surrounding grammar in every instance where elohim is used (including this instance).

One, the full name is “Yahweh Elohim”.

Secondly, the verbs attached to the “plural” (name) elohim are singular.

• Example: Exodus 20:1
• way-ḏab-bêr And spoke (masculine singular verb)
• ’ĕ-lō-hîm,
• ’êṯ (direct object marker particle)
• kāl- all
• had-də-ḇā-rîm words
• hā-’êl-leh these
• lê-mōr. saying (masculine singular verb)

Even when all the grammar is plural the implication can still be singular. This shows us you cannot blindly apply rules of grammar to determine count; when it is not mentioned it is not mentioned because it is not relevant to the point. Ex. exodus 20:3

• lō (not)
• yih·yeh- (you shall have)
• lə·ḵā (for you)
• ’ĕ·lō·hîm (god)
• ’ă·ḥê·rîm (other) (plural)
• ‘al- (before)
• pā·nā·ya, (my face)

The negative case of any (other), indicates any plural-or-one. This is verified by the case of the single golden calf; even though the people demanded “elohim” to go before them, even as a single intermediary as moses was.

But how do we know “elohim” itself always refers to a true singular?

In Exodus 7:1 we read elohim used to refer to a person we already know is a pure singular (i.e. one) person:

• nə-ṯat-tî-ḵā I have made you
  • I – first person common singular
  • YOU – second person masculine singular
• ’ĕ-lō-hîm
• lə-p̄ar-‘ōh; to Pharaoh
• wə-’a-hă-rōn and Aaron
• ’ā-ḥî-ḵā your brother

Above we see elohim being used to represent a true singular.

Based on the above, let's look again at Genesis 1:1:

• bə-rê-šîṯ In the beginning
• bā-rā created – third person masculine singular
• ’ĕ-lō-hîm;
• ’êṯ
• haš-šā-ma-yim the heavens
• wə-’êṯ and
• hā-’ā-reṣ. the earth

We can also examine genesis 1:26 using the same rule. Following the plurals in 1:26, singular forms of verb are used in 1:27;

• way-yiḇ-rā So created – third person masculine singular
• ’ĕ-lō-hîm
• ’eṯ-
• hā-’ā-ḏām man
• bə-ṣal-mōw, in His [own] image – third person masculine singular (!!)
• bə-ṣe-lem in the image
• ’ĕ-lō-hîm (!!)
• bā-rā He created – third person masculine singular
• ’ō-ṯōw; him
• zā-ḵār male
• ū-nə-qê-ḇāh and female
• bā-rā He created – third person masculine singular
• ’ō-ṯām. them

Christians will also sometimes claim that nouns ending in –yim are DUAL plurals, and nouns ending in –im are TRIPLE/MULTIPLE plurals. For example the Christian will claim “ma-yim” (1:1) refers to two bodies of water (waters above and waters below) and that eloh-im (ibid.) refers then to a specifically trinitarian concept of God.

This is utterly false. First, there is an idea of a dual noun I.E. a pair; such as ears (oz-na-yim) or socks (gar-ba-yim). In this specific form, there are two yuds used to create the y, the i, and them (yud yud m.). In every other case where there is one yud, such as “ma-yim”, this does not represent a dualistic plural, despite the fact that it is transliterated using the same English letters.

Secondly, many times (ex. Genesis 10:25) a mulitiple plural will be used to delineate a non-pair plural; here we read šə-nê (two) ḇā-nîm; (sons).

Thirdly, we will often find examples of true multiple plurals being transliterated with -yim as mentioned above and/or without plural endings at all (shown for exhaustive completeness):

• Genesis 6:20, 8:1, et al.
• mê-hā-‘ō-wp̄ (birds, singular)
• hab-bə-hê-māh (animals, singular)

Therefore to assume Elohim is a plural of trinity is incorrect; the numeric number must be mentioned before we can assume it is a singularity, duality, trinity or multiple plural

Hebrew is a state-based language, like English. Where in English, the tense of the verb and noun must agree both within and accross sentances within a context, so must they agree in Hebrew.

• The farmer has a sheep.
• The farmer has a pair of sheep.
• The farmer has two sheep.
• The farmer has three sheep.
• The farmer has many sheep.

In Hebrew, as in English, the tense and count of any noun must agree (is defined by) it's article.

• (they) open the door – always a plural noun.
• (he) opens the door – always a singular noun.

In Hebrew, as in English, the tense and count of any noun must agree (is defined by) the plural form of the verb. Ex. any ambiguous noun; even regular nouns which may double as irregular nouns (such as chicken vs. chickens).

Therefore, Elohim is a name which refers solely to a singular entity.