The majestic plural—What is it? How is the majestic plural used in the Bible?

TL;DR:

The majestic plural is a literary device where a singular authority speaks in plural terms to express power, greatness, and majesty. God uses this device in the Old Testament to emphasize His supreme authority and glory.

what does the bible say?

The majestic plural, also known as the "royal we," is a literary device where a singular authority uses plural pronouns to convey power, greatness, and majesty. In the Old Testament, God employs this device four times, most notably in Genesis 1:26, to emphasize His supreme authority and glory. The term Elohim, a plural form of "God," coupled with the singular "Yahweh," further illustrates this stylistic choice, highlighting that there is only one God while expressing majesty and sovereignty. Beyond pronouns, the majestic plural appears in language and culture as a way to honor those in authority, such as monarchs, popes, and leaders, signaling respect and prominence. This device is found not only in Hebrew and Latin but also in several other languages, showing its widespread use to indicate prestige. Studying the majestic plural in Scripture reveals a deeper understanding of God’s power, nobility, and supremacy, reminding us of the intentionality of His language. Recognizing the use of the majestic plural enriches how we read and interpret passages where God emphasizes His divine authority.

from the old testament

God refers to Himself using plural pronouns four times in the Bible. These verses occur before the doctrine of the Trinity is mentioned, so we can infer that God is using this stylistic device to make His power evident through language. The four times that God uses the majestic plural occur in the Old Testament. The most quoted example occurs in Genesis 1:26. God says, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Here, and also in Genesis 3:22, Genesis 11:7, and Isaiah 6:8, God uses the pronouns "us" and "our" to speak of Himself in plural form.
One of God's most common names in the Old Testament is Elohim, which translates literally to "gods." However, when Elohim is used to describe the One True God, it is translated to "God." This is a fascinating word play in translation that teaches us how the majestic plural can be used in a word that is not a pronoun. An example of this translation of Elohim occurs in Deuteronomy 4:35. It states, in part, that, "The LORD is God." Translated into Hebrew, this is "Yahweh is Elohim." Note the use of plural Elohim coupled with singular "Lord." This shows that there is only one God, and the plural usage is meant as a majestic plural. Yahweh and Elohim are also coupled in Deuteronomy 6:4, which very clearly says that there is only one God.

from the new testament

Most scholars agree that the New Testament Greek does not frequently employ the majestic plural in the way Latin monarchs did. Greek has other ways of expressing divine authority or majesty without changing from singular to plural pronouns. Some interpreters suggest passages where God or Jesus use “we” could be instances of majestic plural, though many of these are better explained by other factors. For example, in John 14:23, “We will come to him” is typically interpreted as referencing both the Father and the Son (Trinity), rather than a majestic plural.

implications for today

The majestic plural is also known as the "royal we." This term refers to the use of a plural pronoun when speaking of oneself. Another, more general word for the majestic plural is "nosism." The word "nosism" derives from the Latin root word "nos," meaning "we." The majestic plural is a stylistic device used to give honors to nobility. One of the most memorable nosistic phrases comes from Queen Victoria, who would say, "We are not amused," when turning up her nose at a tasteless joke.

Using the majestic plural indicates power and greatness. Its Western usage is saved for people who have authority, such as popes, bishops, and monarchs. Often, people of low rank would use this device when speaking to someone in an official capacity.

The Latin language has another term for the majestic plural, which is "pluralis majestasis," or "the plural of majesty." This construction does not exist solely in Latin or English, but also in ancient Hebrew, Punjabi, Telugu, Hindustani, and Egyptian Arabic. The president of Egypt is often called "Your Excellencies," which is another way to indicate prestige.

Pronouns are an important aspect of our language that we should analyze when reading Scripture. Is the majestic plural used by God Himself? What does this say about God? Should this affect the way we use majestic plurals in our language? The use of majestic plurals as a literary tool amplifies God's greatness, power, nobility, and supremacy.

understand

The majestic plural, or "royal we," uses plural pronouns to express power and majesty.
God employs the majestic plural to show His authority while affirming He is one.
The majestic plural is a literary device highlighting greatness, used both in Scripture and culture to signal respect and prominence.

reflect

How does understanding God’s use of the majestic plural deepen your view of His authority and majesty?
How does recognizing God’s intentional language in Scripture affect how you read and interpret the Bible?
How might the concept of the “royal we” influence the way you think about power, respect, and leadership in your own life?

engage

What does it reveal about God that He chose to use plural pronouns to describe Himself at times?
How does the use of majestic plural in Scripture compare to its use in human culture, such as with monarchs or leaders?
How can studying literary devices like the majestic plural help us better understand the message and authority of God in the Bible?