אֱלֹהַּ (e.lo.ah)

The word ’ĕlōahh is a singular noun meaning "god" or "God." It appears in fifty-five verses, with a heavy concentration in the book of Job and some passages in Daniel and Psalms. This form is a shortened variant of the more common ’ĕlōhîm. While the plural form dominates Hebrew scripture to express majesty or fullness, this singular shape is rare and typically found in poetry or later texts.

Its usage distinguishes between the true God and false deities. In Daniel 11:37, it refers to a foreign god that the king will not honor. Conversely, in Job 35:10, it describes the true God who answers when people cry out in distress. A striking example is Habakkuk 1:11, where an arrogant nation’s strength itself becomes their "god," illustrating how the term can apply to anything a person trusts above all else.

Etymologically, this word likely stems from ’ēl, meaning "might" or "power." The sources suggest it may be an emphatic prolongation of that root. By using this singular form instead of the plural, the text often highlights the specific nature or power of a deity, whether divine or idolatrous, without the grammatical weight of the plural majesty.