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I would like to submit this small item for
your consideration. Since the topic, recently, has been on the multiplicity of
God versus His Oneness, I would like to supply a small contribution. This
[rough draft] is a part of the Dissertation I am writing, so any
constructive input is valuable to me. I have tried to
remove most of the transliterations from the text to make it easier to read.
There is a small series of footnotes at the bottom for those I may have
missed. Defining Echad As
Plurality
Deuteronomy[1][1]
6:4, the watchword of the faith, tells us “YHVH, Eloheinu[2][2]
[our Elohim[3][3]], YHVH is one.” The Hebrew word used for
one is echad. People love to
quote teachers who tell us echad means a unity. However, it does not always mean
a unity; nor, it does not always mean a singularity either. We must carefully
address the context of the passage or sentence in order to determine if echad is
declaring a unity or a singularity. Genesis[4][4]
1:5, 2:24, and 11:6 provide three examples where echad is a unity, as opposed to
a singularity. For instance, in Genesis 1:5, one morning and one
evening constitutes one day. In Genesis 2:24, a woman and one man
create one flesh; meanwhile in Genesis 11:6, the whole of humanity is
considered one people. As shown, in all three examples given, the idea of
completion or the coming-together can be easily seen. Elohim called the light day, and the
darkness He called night. And there was evening and was morning, one
[echad] day.
(Genesis 1:5) Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and cling to his wife; and they shall become one
[echad] flesh.
(Genesis 2:24) In Malakhi 2:13-16,
we see a wretched priesthood who is grievously sinning. The people were not
learning the ways of YHVH from the very ones who were to be examples. The phrase
she is thy companion used in
verse 14 in the KJV really should be translated she is thy joining, indicating that the
covenant of marriage does indeed make a man and a woman echad. Refer also to
Ephesians 5:28-29 & 33, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 6:15-17, and 2
Corinthians 3:17.
Further in the
Ephesians text, Paul of Tarsus compares the joining of a man and his wife
and the love and fear expected in that relationship with the Messiah and the
Ekklesia (Ephesians 5:30-33). See also John 10:22-33, 17:20-23,
And YHVH said, “See, the people are
(singular) one
[echad], and their tongue is one
to all of them. And this is what they are beginning to do, and now nothing will
be impossible for them all which they purpose to do. (Genesis
11:6) The concept of more than one being defined as one is a readily accepted principle. In
the To continue with this thought, Exodus[5][5]
26:1-16 gives us an overview of the building of the Tabernacle[6][6]. The inner or lower section is
constructed of 10 linen curtains. The curtains are held together with 50 gold
clasps. Once together, the 10 curtains are called echad Tabernacle. (Exodus
13:13) The outer or upper section (Exodus 26:7-13)
is called the tent. It is constructed out of 11 curtains of goat hair. These are
held together by 50 bronze clasps and, as a unit, they are also called echad
tent.[7][7]
Additionally, the two large curtains together are called echad Mishkan. (Exodus
36:14-18) In the Greek New Testament, we have a
Hebraic perspective “one.” In Revelation 21:9-11, the Bride is introduced
to John the Prophet, but in verse, the prophet is shown a city coming down
out of Heaven. However, in many Scriptures, the Bride of Messiah is the
community of believers (Revelation 19:7-8, 18:23). Therefore, the Bride, New
Yerushalayim, and the Believers are echad. Defining Echad As
Singular
Meanwhile, Genesis 2:21 and 4:19 are
but two of many examples that demonstrate the concept of echad being a
singularity. However, echad is used when a single unit from multiple
choices is delineated. For example, one rib is taken from a choice of 22 to 26
ribs, or one wife of several: And YHVH Elohim caused a deep sleep
to fall on the man, and he slept; and He took one
[echad] from his ribs and
closed up the flesh under the place. (Genesis 2:21) And Lemekh[8][8]
took to himself two wives: the name of the first
[echad] was Adah, and the
name of the other, was Tzilah[9][9]. (Bereshit
4:19) Undefined
Echadim[10][10]
In the case of Deuteronomy 6:4
and Genesis 3:22, the meaning of the Hebrew word echad is unknown since the
context does not give us the privilege of knowing the absolute definition of the
word. “Hear, O Yisrael[11][11]! YHVH Eloheinu, YHVH is one
[echad]!” (Deuteronomy
6:4) And YHVH Elohim said, “See, the man
has become as one [echad]
of Us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he stretch forth his hand, and take
also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…” (Genesis
3:22) Interestingly, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4)
contains no verbs. It merely says “Hear Yisrael, YHVH our-God YHVH one.” Without
the use of verbs, one could surmise the Shema as being a commandment. The
command would be that we are to be echad with YHVH
Eloheinu. THEREFORE... one is
left with one of two conclusions with the use of Echad in reference to YHVH. The
word either indicates He is one of many, or he is a plurality. These are the
only two ways I have found that echad is used in
Scripture. [1][1] Heb. Words; The Book of Deuteronomy [2][2] Heb. Our God [3][3] Heb. God [4][4] Heb. In the Beginning; The Book of Genesis [5][5] Heb. The book of Exodus [6][6] Heb. The Tabernacle [7][7] A Midrash can be pulled from the lower curtains and the upper tent of the Mishkan. The inner ten curtains represent the Ten Words given in Shemot 20:2-17), the 11 outer curtains represent the 11 Words… the original Ten plus the New or Eleventh Commandment given by Yeshua: That you love one for another as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34-35). The Spirit of the Holy One binds us together in like manner as the clasps in the Tabernacle . [8][8] Heb. Lamech [9][9] Heb. Zillah [10][10] Heb. Best translated as “Ones” [11][11] Heb. |
- Re: [TruthTalk] Oneness vs. Plurality -- Echad Judy Taylor
