Is God One in Number or in Unity?

by Stephen Otto

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!"

Isaiah 43:10 “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me." 

The Bible teaches that there is only one God! However, there are two Hebrew words translated as “one” in the Old Testament: “echad” and “yachid.” 

The word “yachid” means one in number (Judges 11:34; Prov. 4:3; Zech. 12:10), while the word, “echad,” means one in unity. The word “echad” is translated “first” in Genesis 1:5 to unify the seven days of recreation. It is translated “one” in Genesis 2:24 to describe Adam and Eve becoming “one flesh.” It is translated “few” in Genesis 27:44 to unify a number of days. It is translated “one” in Exodus 24:3 to describe all the people answering with “one voice.” It is translated “together” in Isaiah 65:25 to describe the unity in which the wolf and the lamb will feed during the millennium. Finally, the word “echad” is translated “one” in Deuteronomy 6:4 to express the unity of God, the Father, and Yeshua, His Son.

There are two Hebrew words translated as "one in the Old Testament: “echad” and “yachid”. While the word yachid means one in number (Judges 11:34; Prov. 4:3; Zech 12:10), the word echad means one in unity. 

The word echad is translated “first” in Genesis 1:5 to unify the seven days of recreation. It is translated “one” in Genesis 2:24 to describe Adam and Eve becoming “one flesh”. It is translated “few” in Genesis 17:44. 

And it is translated “one” in Exodus 24:3 to describe all the people answering with “one voice”. (cf. Neh. 8:1: “one”; Isa. 65:25 “together”; 2 Chron. 5:13 “one” Gen. 11:6 “one”) 

Finally, it is translated “one” in the Shema to express unity: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord [Yahweh] our God [Elohim], the Lord [Yahweh] is one” (Deut 6:4). 

Amos 3:3 states, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Shortly before Jesus was arrested He prayed for His disciples. During the prayer He said, “Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” (John 17:11) 

If Jesus and God are one in number, than Jesus prayed for His followers to become one in number. Obviously, Jesus didn’t pray for His followers to become one in number; He prayed for them to become one in unity, as God the Father and Jesus Christ are one.

Shortly before Yeshua was crucified, He prayed for His disciples. During His prayer He said, “Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (John 17:11). I

If God, the Father, and Yeshua are one in number, than Yeshua prayed for His followers to become one in number also. Obviously, this is not the case. The truth is that Yeshua prayed for His followers to become one in unity, as God the Father and Yeshua are one.

From  My Bible Commentary

1. God – The Hebrew word “Elohim”, translated “God”, is a plural word which reveals that the Godhead is comprised of more than one person (Gen. 1:26; 3:22; 11:6-7; Isa. 6:8; 19:24; Ps. 45:6-7). 

Adam Clarke’s Bible Commentary states, “The original word Elohim, God, is certainly the plural form of El, or Eloah, and has long been supposed, by the most eminently learned and pious men, to imply a plurality of Persons in the Divine nature…” 

Robert Jamieson’s Bible Commentary states, “The name of the Supreme Being, signifying in Hebrew, “Strong,” “Mighty.”  It is expressive of omnipotent power; and by its use here in the plural form, is obscurely taught at the opening of the Bible, a doctrine clearly revealed in other parts of it, namely, that though Elohim is one, there is a plurality of persons in the Godhead …who were engaged in the creative work (Prov. 8:27, John 1:3,10, Eph. 3:9, Heb. 1:2, Job 26:13).”  In this verse “Elohim” is plural and refers to God the father and Jesus Christ, the Word (John 1:1-2, 14). “Elohim,” which literally means the “Mighty Ones” is the family name of the God family (Gen 1:26-27; Eph 3:15). Elohim is, at this time, comprised of two equal beings (Phil 2:5-7; Heb 1:3), God the father and God the son, the Word (John 1:1-2, 14; 5:18; Phil 2:6).

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1. The Bible teaches repeatedly that there is only one God (Elohim). Numerous examples from the Scriptures could be cited, but these few verses will suffice to prove the truth of this important doctrine.

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3. Moses declared, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3). Moses also declared the oneness of God (Elohim) in the famous words of the “Shema,” the daily affirmation of righteous Jews throughout the world for thousands of years: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord [Yahweh] our God [Elohim], the Lord [Yahweh] is one” (Deut 6:4).

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5. The prophet Isaiah also declared the oneness of God [Elohim] in his prophetic words, “I am the Lord [Yahweh]: that is my name; And my glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images” (Isa 42:8). Isaiah 43:10 states, “You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.”  Isaiah also wrote of God in the following words: “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?”  (Isa 46:5). The prophet Malachi wrote of one God when he said, “Have we not all one father?  Has not one God [Elohim] created us?” (Mal. 2:10).

An example of this concept is evident in the decree God gave mankind for the institution of marriage. He said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24).