The Shema is of course our most sacred prayer and declaration of our beloved faith; however, I have always wondered why the word Elohenu (plural) was used by Hashem. Is Elohenu a majestic plural as Elohim (referring to Hashem)or is there another meaning for its use in The Shema Y'srael?

I always understood elokeynu to mean Our G-d. Is that what you mean by plural? A person is saying that he does not only accept G-d as his person G-d, but that he also believes that G-d is the G-d of all b'nai yisrael.

I was taught as a youngster that Elohenu ( Elokeynu)meant "our G-ds" and I never could understand why the word was used in The Shema Y'srael. Perhaps I misunderstood at a young age or maybe the Rabbi who taught me was just wrong.
Thank you for your response, Leppi.
G-d Bless, Tim

Shalom,
in the shema it declares that HaShem is not only the G-d of our forefathers but HaShem is our G-d.
This however can not happen until we have expereince a relatship with HaShem who is not two or more but is soley One and Only.

Eloknu is relate to Elokim in the sense that both are: attribute of stict judgement. grammatically it is in the pluar form of El.

thus one can say that it is there to teach that G-d is One least one believe that there are more then one G-d as the other have done. when they came to explain certain verse in the Torah.


Dvarim chapter 6:3&4
Jewish Meditation pg 112
don't know the last source.

I have always thought that 'Elohenu' is plural because '-nu' expresses 'OUR' G-d as opposed to the g-ds worshipped by the Gentile Nations - that it simply expresses that Hashem is the G-d of the Jews, and that He is the Only G-d we are permitted to worship. Especially as it is expressed in the Shema.

the "NU" means OUR as in the plural for us Jewish people. Also, one should be careful in writing out the name of G-d as it is said in prayer etc. when simply learning - if one can avoid doing so.

Good Shabbos (Just 11 hours away for me),

I do a great deal of anti-missionary work, and I get the questions of "Let US create man..." and "Elo--him (plural)" all the time. Therefore, to save time I keep answers on file which I just copy/paste when I receive those quesions. I'll copy/paste them for you here:

Elo--him and US

In Bereishis (Genesis) 1:26, There is no CREATING, just discussion, and you find the term, "US." G-d is, among other things, demonstrating the proper way to deal with others respectfully. G-d is taking counsel with those below Him, even though their input is really meaningless. G-d treats them as important.

When the actual CREATING of MAN occurs, in Verses 1:27, and 2:7, there is no more "US." ONLY G-D can create from nothing, so G-d alone is now represented.

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The other PLURAL which Christians like to point to in G-d's Hebrew Scriptures, is the word, "Elo--him," which is one of G-d's Names in a plural form.

"In the beginning G-d (Elo--him - plural) created the Heavens and the Earth."

Christians make the mistake of not understanding how G-d's Hebrew language actually works. For example, a plantation owner is also an "elohim - plural." This is a lower case "e," and not the upper case "E" used when referring to G-d.

The plantation owner has many powers to enforce his rule over his workers, and the "elohim-plural" is talking about this pluralality of powers. Even though he is only one man, he is spoken of in the plural.

G-d has many powers He can use to rule His world, many more than 3, and it is those powers which are being referenced by "Elo--him" in the plural.

It is the same with "baalim - plural." The "master of the house" is sometimes referred to as the baalim, in the plural, because of his dominance (powers) over the family. Even though he is only one person, he may be spoken of in the plural.

Regards, Eliahu