"One" means "united" in this context.
Subject-verb agreement, Genesis 1:1: Is it "GOD IS", OR "GOD ARE"?
Grammar
proof
for
collective (group) nouns in
Hebrew Plurals
THE OLD TESTAMENT ORIGINALLY WAS WRITTEN IN HEBREW. In the Hebrew version of the Bible, the original word for God is consistently plural. In both English and Hebrew grammar there must be a subject and verb agreement in number. i If the verb is singular, the subject must be singular. In Genesis 1:1 the verb for created is singular. This gives the unbelieving Jew a denial point for the existence of the plural Trinity in their Scriptures. ii HOWEVER, there is an exception to this subject-verb agreement rule in both Hebrew and English.
THE SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT RULE. In
the Hebrew text of
the “Old Testament” God
is referred
to
in the plural but has
a
singular verb, e.g.,
Genesis 1:1.
But
this
is what we would expect if the deity is plural acting as
a unified
group.
The
unbelieving Jews argue that plural
God
has to be understood as singular in the
text
because
the verb is singular in Hebrew when
referring to the true God.
They
interpret it as meaning something
like “extra
majesty,
majesty.”
iii Some, no doubt, might think that the Jews should know their Hebrew language and hence, we should take their advice. However, I'm reminded about the Abraham Lincoln wisdom of the story of the "calf's tail." He remarked that if someone called a calf's tail a leg, how many legs would she have? Someone answered him, "Why, five of course." His response: "No, she would still have four legs. Calling a tail a leg does not change the facts." So, I am persuaded that unless we can find an inspired explanation for why God's prophet declares a plural for God, we must accept the plural as being a true plural and a mystery for the Trinity. xvi Surely, the audience (which in this case includes the Jewish people) would only be guessing without being told.
GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CONSISTS OF THREE. According to the New Testament, the THE THREE DIVINES ARE considered a united team, hence, it can be called a legitimate collective plural noun. Collective nouns, even though plural, usually take singular verbs. iv This is true in both languages, Hebrew and English. Three persons make up the united group, called the Godhead in the New Testament (Colossians 2:9). In addition, Jesus uses the expression that “they are one” ( plural is one, i.e., united, John 17: 2 2 ). A group example of a singular verb : "The team is taking the field." v When would you say, “the team are taking the field”? Would it not be when the team is not coordinated and not working together? Such could definitely not be said of the close-knit Godhead. Someone has written this: " ... like the Three Musketeers, the power of triads lies in their unique and close-knit dynamic." xix The key question then is when to treat collective nouns as singular or plural. Should we write the jury is or the jury are? vi The editors of Merriam-Webster’s English Usage Dictionary: “[W]hen the group is considered as a unit, the singular verb is used; when it is thought of as a collection of individuals, the plural verb is used.” So Genesis 1:1: “ El ohim created” [Hebrew collective plural but singular union of verb action of creating in the Hebrew ]. vii “bara (verb ): "[he] created/creating". The word is in the masculine singular form, so that "he" is implied with this special verb ["create"] which [is] used only of God.” viii ISAIAH 6: A PLURAL BEING TREATED AS A SINGULAR. The Lord calls Isaiah. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8). Notice that God asked, "Whom shall I (singular) send" and then "Who will go for us (plural)" in one sentence. "It emphasizes God's plurality in being and unity in action." xviii “Jews” are said to deny “the Trinity” and think of "God(s)" (though plural in Hebrew) is singular because the subject must agree in number with its action verb (which is, in this case, singular). "The reformers who translated the Bible into English used the singular form because that corresponded with their belief." xvii Translating “Gods” as a single “God” was apparently fine with the Masoretic scribes-or-scholars. That is, until the translator comes to idols in the text that use the same plural term for deity. Here the translators translate it correctly as plural. This is okay, they would say, because an idol “is not the real god.” But the fact is the original inspired Bible text uses the plural for both! To be consistent the English should have reliably translated the plural in all cases in the Old Testament. But since it wasn’t done correctly, we have to work with the singular word “God” with its developed usage, especially when the English text is quoted or read. and use the word as plural except perhaps in the New Testament. People are not accustomed to using the word "gods." “Over time, customs become the laws of social life, and because customs are so important to social harmony, breaking them can theoretically result in an upheaval.” ix The same is true for semantic change for language. Semantic use of the meaning for “God” as plural in usage has become rooted.x Having both the Old and New Testament, we can conclude that the name for God is used by inspiration as a collective noun in the Old Testament. A collective noun God (El-ohim) must be understood as creating in concert in either Hebrew or English. This is the significance of “creates” being in the singular form and not in a plural form.xi PLURAL COLLECTIVE NOUNS CAN TAKE SINGULAR VERBS. In English, if we are thinking about a group as a authoritive plural entity acting in unison, then we can use designations such as “government”, “board”, “legislature” as collective nouns. We can add the Trinity or Godhead to this list. This is what the Hebrew language is doing for the “God” as a plural, such as in Genesis 1:1. In verse 26 the plural deity speaks among themselves: “Let us make.” This is consistent with the group the Bible designates as the “Godhead” in the New Testament (Colossians 2:9). This is the way we should understand the word Bible word “God” in the Old Testament; i.e., plural but in a collective sense (Genesis 1:1; cf. John 1:1-3). The Hebrew prophets revealed the plural of God as a collective entity with united singular actions. But the translators have translated it as the single word “God” in both English and the Septuagint Greek. Consequently, by common use the definition of “God” for us in English should be understood as the plural collective noun in the Old Testament. “In the beginning GOD [a collective noun for the plural Elohim] created the world.” When we turn to the New Testament the collective group God act individually. When the word God is used, the word refers to the individuals of the group; i.e., either to the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit. Our collective noun "God" now operate (not operates) as a plural in their respective roles. We now use the word "God" with its single connotation for each respective roles of the Trinity. We have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit carrying out separate salvation operations. xii Still the three collectively are united, working as one team although in separate roles of complementary work. Hence, Jesus says that we are to be as one like them. ... united as His people in the church with the Godhead (John 17:21, 22).
The New Testament uses the
word “God” then with its single meaning in designating each
individual of the group, the Godhead, e.g., “God our
Father.” xiii
Jesus meanwhile is designated specifically with terms as “Son of
God”, “Christ”, “our Lord”, “Holy One of God”, “Lamb
of God”, and “Savior.”
xiv
Jesus is still God (John 1:1, 13; Matthew 1:23; Mark 2:5-7; John 10:30; John 20:28; Philippians 2:5-7; Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:3; 2 Peter 1:1; etc. And let us not forget that He is God in Genesis prior to His humbling Himself and coming to Earth to save believers (Philippians 2:5-7).
--GAYLON WESTedited by Janie W. Ward, Mary J. West
i https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/subjectverbagreement ii https://www.jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/oneness-of-god-the-meaning-of-elohim iii Ibid. iv https://www.scribbr.com/nouns-and-pronouns/collective-nouns/
viii
Walton,
John H. (2006). Ancient
Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the
Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible. Baker
Academic. ISBN 0-8010-2750-0. ix https://www.thoughtco.com/custom-definition-3026171 x https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_change xi [Note: in English past tense for create singular is not obvious as it is in Hebrew.] xii https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/nouns/collective-nouns xiii Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 8:6; 15:24; 2 Corinthians 1:2,3; 11:31; Galatians 1:1, 3, 4; 4:6; Ephesians 1:3, 17; 5:20; 6:23; Philippians 1:2; 2:11; Colosssians 1:2, 3; 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3; James 1:27; James 3:9; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Peter 1:17; 1 John 3:1; 2 John 1:3, 9; Jude 3. xiv Matthew 8:29; 26:63; 27:54; Mark 1:1, 24; 5:7; Luke 8:28; John 1:36; Acts 2:36; 3:26; 8:37; 13:23; 28:31; Romans 1:7; 6:23; 7:25; 8:39; 1 Corinthians 1:4, 9; 2 Corinthians 1:2, 19; Galatians 1:2; Ephesians 1:2; etc. xv The Spirit provides fellowship, 1 Corinthians 6:19; Searches all things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), seals for day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30); 1 Corinthians 12:11, works and distributes and wills; Romans 8:2, Spirit of life, Hebrews 9:14, eternal Spirit John 14:16,17, Helper & Truth. xvi https://timpanogos.blog/2007/05/23/lincoln-quote-sourced-calfs-tail-not-dogs-tail/ xvii https://askgramps.org/who-changed-the-scriptures-to-read-god-in-the-singular/ xviii https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/why-are-singular-pronouns-and-plural-pronouns-used-in-reference-to-god/ xix https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close-knit |
