What does it mean that God is the Elohim of elohim?

from the old testament

• Genesis 1:1 is the first example of elohim being used: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” God is all-powerful, and that is how He is the Creator of mankind. 
  
• A good example of elohim being used to refer to God is Psalm 7:9, in which the psalmist writes: “Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous—you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!” God is so powerful that He knows our minds and our hearts. 
  
• Interestingly, the term elohim is often shortened and attached to other names to represent a specific aspect of God’s character. Some examples in the book of Genesis include “El Shaddai” which means “God Almighty” (Genesis 49:24), and “El Roi,” which means “God Who Sees” (Genesis 16:13).
  
• Later, in the book of Exodus, another name is used, “El Elyon,” which means “God Most High.” Moses uses this name in Exodus 20:1-6 when he delivers the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, making it clear that God is “above” all other gods and He alone is to be worshiped (Exodus 20:1-6).
• Elohim can at times refer to people—specifically those who are rulers and judges (Psalm 82:6). It is important to note, however, that Scripture is not elevating these people as being equals with God. Rather, they are representatives of God who have to answer to Him.
  
• Passages like Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 4:28 also use elohim to describe false gods, while others like Psalm 8:5 and Psalm 82:1 can use elohim to refer to God-honoring spiritual beings.
• There is only one true elohim, and that is Yahweh. He is described in various passages as the God of gods, or the Elohim of elohim (Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:2; Daniel 2:47). So, while other things, whether spiritual or human, are described by the word elohim, there are none like God; He is above all.

from the new testament

• While suffering on the cross, Jesus uses a shortened form of the name Elohim in Mark 15:34: “‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’"
  

implications for today

God is the Elohim of elohim. He alone is God. When we understand and believe that, we confront the lesser “gods” in our lives that compete for authority and attention. We may not bow down to carved idols, but we often give weight to approval, success, fear, control, or comfort. Calling God the Elohim of elohim forces a realignment: He is not just a priority among many; He is the One who defines, rules, and judges all things, including the influences we tend to elevate. That means we don’t just add Him into our lives—we reorder our lives under Him.

This calls us to examine what actually drives our decisions and responses. What influences the way we live? If something other than God dictates our response—whether it’s fear of people, desire for control, or pursuit of comfort—that “something” is functioning like an elohim in our hearts and lives. But when we live for God and intentionally submit all things to God—through prayer, obedience, and trust—we begin to live in the freedom of His true authority. We stop reacting as if lesser powers are in control and start responding with confidence that God alone reigns.

This begins by actively choosing to know Him, not just know about Him (Jeremiah 9:23–24). If He is truly above all (Deuteronomy 10:17), then knowing His character, His Word, and His ways becomes central—not optional (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2–3). God is good (Psalm 34:8), faithful (Lamentations 3:22–23), just (Deuteronomy 32:4), righteous (Psalm 145:17), in control (Daniel 4:35), sovereign (Psalm 103:19), perfect (Matthew 5:48), a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16), among many things (Exodus 34:6–7). Do you know this God? Does He have primary influence in your life?

This means we also grow in discipleship and allow Him to form our lives. We spend time reading and engaging God's Word not as a routine but as a way of submitting ourselves to the ultimate reality of who God is. In it we see who God is, who we are, and what that means for our lives. It means memorizing Scripture so when life happens, we have His Word as our foundation and framework for how to respond. It means worshiping Him and living in community with others who point us to Him. And as we grow, our reverence deepens, our fears shrink, and our priorities sharpen. Do we live as if He is the Elohim of elohim?