Peace & Blessings Beloved,
TGBTG for allowing us to see another day. I pray all is well with you and yours, and that your week has been fruitful & blessed thus far.
Today we are going to take a deep dive into our first Old Testament name of God, Eloah. as found in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.
EL, ELOAH [el, el-oh-ah]: God mighty, strong, prominent (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19)
Etymology
El appears to mean power and might (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of might remains.
References
Deut. 32:15; 2 Chr. 32:15; Neh. 9:17; Job 3:4, 23; 4:9; 5:17; 6:4, 8f; 9:13; 10:2; 11:5ff; 12:6; 15:8; 16:20f; 19:6, 21, 26; 21:9, 19; 22:12, 26; 27:3, 8, 10; 29:2, 4; 31:2, 6; 33:12, 26; 35:10; 37:15, 22; 39:17; 40:2; Ps. 18:32; 50:22; 114:7; 139:19; Prov. 30:5; Isa. 44:8; Dan. 11:37, 39; Hab. 3:3.
The word Eloah is the singular (or dual) of Elohim and appears more than 70 times in the Tanakh, primarily in more poetic passages. The root-meaning of the word is unknown. It is generally thought that the same divine name is found in Arabic (Ilah as singular a god) and in Aramaic (Elah). In the Tanakh, the singular form is used in six places for heathen deities (e.g., 2 Chronicles 32:15; Daniel 11:37-38;), though in the majority of cases the name is used for the God of Israel.
Three times it occurs in parallel to rock as a descriptive term for God (Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalm 18:31 [H 32]; Isa 44:8). Once it is found in a context in which God is described as a shield to those who take refuge in him (Proverbs 30:5). Three times it is used in a context of terror for sinners (Psalm 50:22; Psalm 114:7; Psalm 139:19).
This would suggest that the term conveyed to God's people comfort and assurance while conveying fear to their enemies. The concepts of strength and might conveyed by the term are further seen in the three successive verses of Daniel's vision about the great anti-god (Daniel 11:37-39). Here the anti-god's god (Eloah) seems to be strength itself. In Habakkuk 1:11 the term is used similarly.
In Habakkuk 3:3, the prophet speaks of Eloah coming from Teman. In Job, Teman is associated with one of Job's three friends, Eliphaz (Job 4:1). Interestingly, the term Eloah, used for God, is predominantly used in Job by Job and Eliphaz in their debating. Only in one context does Zophar use the term (Job 11:5-7). Bildad never does. Of course Elihu uses it, perhaps in imitation of the former speakers (six times in chapters 33-37). God himself, in speaking to Job, uses the term twice: once in a context of his providence and once in parallel to the Almighty.
This term for God was usually clearly used for Israel's God, the true God. This is evident from the fact that the Levites in the postexilic period used the term in quoting the descriptive revelation of God given in Exodus 34:6-7, where the original revelation to Moses had used El and Yahweh (Nehemiah 9:17).
The Hebrew word is quite similar to the Aramaic Elah, the usual name for God in Biblical Aramaic. It has been suggested that the term has come, via Aramaic, from two elements: El and Ah (a shortened form of Ahyeh, Exodus 3:14, I shall be, the designation of Yahweh in the first person.
It is probably akin to the term El. It was in use quite early, then, after a period of neglect among God's people, the term was revived to a limited use perhaps through the contacts with Aramaic, where a similar term was in constant use.
Examples
Eloah Ya'akov The God of Jacob. Psalm 114:7
Eloah Selichot
The God of Forgiveness. Neh. 9:17
May we establish, nurture, and grow a sincere love for the word of God, and study it lovingly & faithfully.
I pray you receive this with the love intended, and apply it to wisdom.
Love you much.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Blessed!
-Humble Servant
P.S- If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, I implore you to take the time to do so right now. Use John 3:16 & Romans 10:9-10 as a foundation for making your confession of faith. And use Ephesians 2:1-10 to provide proper context for your salvation.