The Bible says there's more than one god

Note this passage of Genesis 14:22 from seven different Bibles:


The interesting point here is that by using the word "the" it indicates he isn't the only god in existence.
If there was no class of entities regarded as gods there would be no need to use the definite article "the," indicating his uniqueness and particularity among others.

However, "the" is used, and therefore does indicate he's one of at least two or more. So there isn't only the god of Abraham working behind the scenes but at least one other.

Anyone familiar with his guy?

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Skwim said:

Note this passage of Genesis 14:22 from seven different Bibles:

KJ21
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

DARBY
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand to Jehovah, the Most High God, possessor of heavens and earth,

ERV
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promise to the Lord, the Most High God, the one who made heaven and earth.

GNT
Abram answered, “I solemnly swear before the Lord, the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth,

ICB
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I make a promise to the Lord. He is the God Most High, who made heaven and earth.

TLB
But Abram replied, “I have solemnly promised Jehovah, the supreme God, Creator of heaven and earth,

NIRV
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to make a promise to the Lord. He is the Most High God. He is the Creator of heaven and earth.​

The interesting point here is that by using the word "the" it indicates he isn't the only god in existence.

THE

b —used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is a unique or a particular member of its class <the President> <the Lord>
​

If there was no class of entities regarded as gods there would be no need to use the definite article "the," indicating his uniqueness and particularity among others.

However, "the" is used, and therefore does indicate he's one of at least two or more. So there isn't only the god of Abraham working behind the scenes but at least one other.

Anyone familiar with his guy?

.

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Um. Just have two comments just to be the first to reply

The Bible doesn't say there are no other god's but Jehovah in the context that no other gods exist. He is differentiating himself from other gods (whatever people use as idols) as the creator of all other gods.

If there were not more than one god, than he wouldn't have to say in his first commandment "have no other gods but me."

The key is knowing the difference between any god (idols) and the god (creator). That is the context. There are no other creators but one according to scripture.

That's the reason for the The and Most.

There must be many gods. But The Almighty God is only one.

There was always more than one god, and Yahweh is one of them. He explicitly said that no one shall worship a god before him. He not only acknowledges the existence of other god's but you don't even have to be monotheistic to be Jewish. The original Jews weren't anyway. He's just saying that you have to worship him as the most important God. So I never understood why they thought only one god exists when even God himself says there are other gods.

Skwim said:

Note this passage of Genesis 14:22 from seven different Bibles.......

The interesting point here is that by using the word "the" it indicates he isn't the only god in existence.

THE

b —used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is a unique or a particular member of its class <the President> <the Lord>
​

If there was no class of entities regarded as gods there would be no need to use the definite article "the," indicating his uniqueness and particularity among others.

However, "the" is used, and therefore does indicate he's one of at least two or more. So there isn't only the god of Abraham working behind the scenes but at least one other.

Anyone familiar with his guy? .

Click to expand...

Does the Hebrew word for "the" appear in the Hebrew of the portion of the verse quoted?

Carlita said:

Um. Just have two comments just to be the first to reply

The Bible doesn't say there are no other god's but Jehovah in the context that no other gods exist. He is differentiating himself from other gods (whatever people use as idols) as the creator of all other gods.

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Although there were certainly a lot of false gods around, concepts of god that had no validity in reality, I'm pretty certain that god would not be put in the same class as these, so much so that he would have to be differentiated from them. Nope, when it's said "He is the Most High God." it implies there are other gods who also have true "height" but just not as much as the god of Abraham. Or so it's claimed.

If there were not more than one god, than he wouldn't have to say in his first commandment "have no other gods but me."

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Yup. Don't go praising and adoring these other gods like me. I am a jealous god. Think god, an omnipotent and omniscient being would truly be jealous of an idol?

The key is knowing the difference between any god (idols) and the god (creator). That is the context.

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Excuse me, but I found no context implying that any other god is only an idol.


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RabbiO said:

Does the Hebrew word for "the" appear in the Hebrew of the portion of the verse quoted?

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You got me, but that's how it's been translated. The versions I quoted declare this is what was said.


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It's the tooth (spelling intended).

Skwim said:

Nope, when it's said "He is the Most High God." it implies there are other gods who also have true "height" but just not as much as the god of Abraham. Or so it's claimed.

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When words like Most, The, etc are used, the Creator is separating himself from other gods-idols (anything and anyone who is worshiped other than the creator himself) by putting himself on a pedal stool. It doesn't mean there are multiple creators. The Bible only mentions one creator. That is the difference.

When the Bible refers to God (or translators refer to it), they are referring to the creator. When they refer to god(s), they are focusing on idols because in comparison to the creator, they are not most high. Everything center's around one god.

Can you post a scripture that says there are more than one god/creator or entity other than angels, demons, and things of that nature?

Skwim said:

Excuse me, but I found no context implying that any other god is only an idol.

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An idol is something or someone worshiped other than God-the Most high. So, if I were Christian and worshiped you, you would be an idol because only the Most High God is to be worshiped. I just made you a g-od (lower g). So, yes, there are many gods but in scripture, there is only One God/creator. Once you make more than one creator, it becomes polytheism.

Many gods. One God.

Carlita said:

When words like Most, The, etc are used, the Creator is separating himself from other gods-idols (anything and anyone who is worshiped other than the creator himself) by putting himself on a pedal stool. doesn't mean there are multiple creators.

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None of which precludes the existence of other gods on par with the god of Abraham. And perhaps one of them is the actual creator, and the god of Abraham is just taking credit for it. After all, this isn't too much of a stretch for a god who set out to fool A&E with the apple tree---I know, I know it was suppose to be a test, but being omnipotent he knew what they would do: be fooled by his compatriot the snake.

The Bible only mentions one creator. That is the difference.

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And why? Just think of who was in charge of seeing that the Bible was put together as it is. Yup, the god of Abraham. Think he's going to share the credit? Nope. he positioned himself in the Bible as the one and only grand god deserving of your worship.

When the Bible refers to God (or translators refer to it), they are referring to the creator.

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See comment above.

When they refer to god(s), they are focusing on idols because in comparison to the creator, they are not most high.

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Heck, they're idol-gods, which aren't even real gods of any sort. Certainly nothing a real god, such as the god of Abraham need concern himself with. Which is why when it's cautioned that there are other gods about as in Gen. 14:22, these necessarily have to be gods like the god of Abraham.

Everything center's around one god.

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Exactly how the god of Abraham wanted it to be.

Can you post a scripture that says there are more than one god/creator or entity other than angels, demons, and things of that nature?

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Not any god/creator of course, because the entire Bible is biased around the god of Abraham. However, there is Genesis 14:22, which definitely alludes to them.

An idol is something or someone worshiped other than God-the Most high. So, if I were Christian and worshiped you, you would be an idol because only the Most High God is to be worshiped. I just made you a g-od (lower g).

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But we're not talking about any lower-case g god, although this is how I prefer to spell all gods. We're talking about your upper-case gods.

Once you make more than one creator, it becomes polytheism.

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No, once you believe in/worship more than one god does. Creating something does not.


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RabbiO said:

Does the Hebrew word for "the" appear in the Hebrew of the portion of the verse quoted?

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There is no Hebrew word for "the". The English article "the" distinguishes the definite from the indefinite given by "a". Hebrew has no indefinite article, just an article that has comparative semantic functions to a particle signifying definiteness

Goddess_Ashtara said:

Let us create man in our image...

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That might be the "royal we". A speaker of Hebrew would know if it's first person plural referring to one entity, or the royal we.

It was explained in the ten commandments that no one shall worship gods before him. If there were no other gods to worship, he wouldn't have that rule in the beginning. Not to mention the original Jews worshipped more than one god and became more monotheistic later on.

It is clear to me that Abraham knew that false gods were worshipped by many. Joshua told the Israelites: "remove the gods that your forefathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt, and serve Jehovah." (Joshua 24:14) Abraham knew and worshipped the one true God, but was certainly aware that other gods were worshipped.

Jainarayan said:

That might be the "royal we". A speaker of Hebrew would know if it's first person plural referring to one entity, or the royal we.

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It might be. I've certainly heard it said it's meant as a singular noun based on the verb conjugation. However, at least in English, "everyone" is ALSO conjugated as a singular noun and yet is CLEARLY speaking of a multitude of whatever.