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GOD: the different names in the Hebrew Bible by which He is referred
God is referred to by different names in the Torah (Hebrew Bible). One name that God is referred to, as transliterated in the Hebrew, is Elohim. That name refers to God as the God of justice, ruler, the Creator.
At other times, God is referred to, as transliterated in the Hebrew, as Adonay. That name is used to refer to God when stressing His loving kindness, acts of mercy, and close relationship to man.
In the story of Genesis prior to Genesis 2:4, God is only referred to as Elohim.
During the story of the parable of the Garden of Eden from Genesis 2:4 through Genesis 3:24, God is always referred to by both names, Adonay Elohim together. With the exception of being referred to by both names at the same time again in Exodus 9:30, nowhere are both names used again together in the Torah when referring to God.
After Genesis 3:24, God is only referred to as either Adonay or Elohim depending on the topic.
Referring to God as Elohim only during the story of creation in Genesis 1 and referring to Him by both titles through the story of the parable of the Garden of Eden is one of the proofs that the physical story of creation is separate from the parable of the Garden of Eden episode. For more details proving that the Garden of Eden story is a parable and not a continuation of or a second story about creation, one should read the book. Note that the explanation for the mind boggler presented in blog #5 is also found in the book.
Unfortunately, all English translations of the Bible refer to God as God or Lord. Both names are seen as synonyms and the nuances of the significance of the Hebrew names indicating particular title characteristics are lost by nature of such translation.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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