Episode 52: Disunity of the Bible Part 1

In the episode it got mentioned that "Elohim" אלוהים could be plural, which is false.
There is no plural word for Elohim. The closest thing you can get is "Elim" אלים = Gods.

If the word gets a plural meaning out of context of the bible, please indicate and clarify.

In the episode it got mentioned that "Elohim" אלוהים could be plural, which is false.
There is no plural word for Elohim. The closest thing you can get is "Elim" אלים = Gods.

If the word gets a plural meaning out of context of the bible, please indicate and clarify.

I think you've got it the wrong way around. Elohim is plural with the singular being Eloah or El (not sure about elim). Elohim is like a collective noun so it's not incorrect to use it in the singular, but this can create a bit of confusion for translation when the context is not clear. Another example of a collective noun would be 'United States' where you could construct a sentance saying "the United States are..." or "the United States is..." (i.e. use it as a plural or singular) without being grammatically incorrect.

Far from needing to look outside the Bible for plural usage Exodus 18:11 is translated as "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." With the word 'Gods' coming from the Hebrew 'אֱלֹהִים' (Elohim). There are many other examples of Elohim being translated as either 'God' or 'Gods' depending on the context.

The word you were searching for in your description of the burning trash pits outside of Jerusalem was Gehenna, or the Valley of Hinnom. Of course, in the KJV I think it's just translated as "hell" so there's no indication that it's actually a real place. By the first century, the Valley of Hinnom had acquired quite a reputation. Early Christians would have certainly understood references to Gehenna as references to an actual place. Interestingly, the bodies of criminals who were executed (such as those executed by crucifixion) would be tossed into Gehenna to burn.

Here's a picture:

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