Day: April 2, 2007

The article (below) by David Bruce Clark illustrates nicely one of the primary reasons the Esoteric Interfaith Church, Inc. is not mainstream, but has alternative religious / spiritual beliefs and teachings. Reading it reminded me clearly why we founded an alternative Seminary — because the mainstream Seminaries, Churches and Synagogues have kept the truth from honest seekers for CENTURIES, such as the facts regarding God the Mother, mentioned all thru the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

–Katia

Eloah: The Hidden Goddess of Israel

by David Bruce Clark, Lion of God Ministries

For a variety of reasons, interest in worshipping a Divine Female – a Goddess – has been surging through modern culture. Women and men from a variety of religious backgrounds, have sought spiritual practices that include adoration of a feminine deity. The urge in some is very strong – an irresistible spiritual pulling. Because Christianity and Judaism, overall, have denied the existence of a Goddess, many who seek Her have left those traditions, searching for alternative spiritual paths.

Just as people worship many different gods, it is true that people likewise worship an assortment of goddesses. History, religion, and the scriptures are in full agreement that there are, in fact, many gods, and many goddesses. Some worship this or that god and/or goddess, while others worship others, or perhaps many gods and goddesses.

The following is devoted to restoring to light the Goddess of the Hebrew Scriptures – the Goddess who is mentioned within the Bible that is used by Jews and Christians. The Goddess who was known to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Goddess who is mentioned from Genesis through Revelation. The Goddess of the ancient Israelites and of the earliest Christians. The Goddess who has been hidden in plain view for many, many centuries.

This is not about one of the goddesses of the ancient Egyptians or Romans, nor a goddess revered by present-day Hindus, but the authentic Goddess Who was repeatedly mentioned in the Scriptures. The Goddess of Israel[1]  Who has been deliberately concealed by churchmen and scholars, century after century. Many sympathetic scholars who have set out to find Goddess in the Scriptures have failed, often confusing the true Goddess with goddesses whose worship the Bible condemns.

What follows is a restoration of knowledge that there is a Goddess in the sacred Scriptures. It is a revelation that original Israelite and Christian worship included and depended upon a Divine Female: the Covenant People of old believed in God the Father and Goddess the Mother.

Concealed In Plain View

Among the many pearls of truth that, for centuries, have purposely been concealed from those who attend churches and synagogues is the awareness that Elohim [el-lo-HEEM], the God of the Bible, is really simultaneously both God and Goddess. In the original Hebrew, the word Eloah [el-LO-ah], is the feminine form of ‘God’. The word, Eloah, literally means “Goddess”.
For centuries, theologians, motivated by divers agendas and biases, sometimes deliberately masked profound truths about Elohim, the God of the Bible. They concealed from the common person’s view the existence of the Divine Feminine within the Holy Scriptures, either by intent or through ignorance. Even though some of the Hebrew words for God have a distinct and clear-cut feminine gender, translators and commentators have almost universally covered up this knowledge. They were unwilling or unable to use the feminine word “Goddess”. Therefore, they consistently used only masculine pronouns when referring to God – even when feminine pronouns would have been more correct. There have been misunderstandings, ignorance, and even calculated conspiracies to purge the Goddess from synagogues and churches.

Even present-day Bible dictionaries and concordances are still biased, and ignore basic Hebrew grammatical rules when it comes to translating the various words for Deity. The result is that most Christians and Jews have been hoodwinked into to believing that the God of the Old Testament is exclusively male, and Christians have been misled into believing that the Holy Spirit is genderless.
When one studies the Bible in English, only, and when an individual is limited to what preachers and rabbis teach, it seems that there is no ‘real’ goddess for the People of the Covenant to worship. Those who study the Bible can easily discover that other people worshipped goddesses, and that God’s prophets condemned such practices. But it was not the worship of the true Goddess of Israel that was condemned, but the worship of other goddesses – just as the worship of other gods is forbidden.
This has left people who have felt drawn to relate to Goddess in quite a dilemma. If they have a Scripture-based spiritual background, it would seem that their worship of the Goddess is incompatible with the very Scripture on which they base their faith. If they voice their feelings to a pastor, they are almost universally discouraged. The reason is that most priests, pastors, and rabbis are graduates of theological seminaries that teach that there is no rightful Goddess in the Bible. The doctrine of churches and synagogues is deeply influenced by denominational dogma, by culture, and by the pressure of committees within their congregations. Therefore, congregants who inquire about a Divine Feminine are usually dismissed out of hand, and are dissuaded from pursuing Her. As the result, the majority of those who became seekers of the Divine Feminine feel compelled to exit Judaism or Christianity in order to pursue their quest. Many in the present are being drawn away from their spiritual heritage and millennia of tradition, attracted to the pantheon of gods and goddesses found in Wicca, or related Neo-pagan religions[2], because it seemed to them that the belief in Goddess was contrary to Christianity or Judaism. Centuries of androcentric cultural bias have resulted in a modern exodus of those feeling the call of Goddess in their spiritual lives.

Many plain and precious spiritual Scriptural teachings have been buried by the scholars of mainstream churches. For example, the many names of God have been deliberately kept from Christians and Jews. Scriptural teachings of the true nature of God, and of the plan of redemption were obscured. These were no accidents, but very conscious concealments by religious leaders. The truth “has been falsified by the lying pen of the scribes.” [Jeremiah 8:8] One of the mysteries[3] of the ancient writ is that the Goddess has been ever-present within the pages of the Bible.

The Scriptures were originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic[4] , and other Semitic languages. For that reason, the following includes a careful exposition of Hebrew words. It also includes explanations of Scripture passages, as well as comments by early church leaders. References are found in Bible, and in other ancient Hebrew and Christian texts[5].

Both Male and Female

Included among the many pearls of truth which have been intentionally concealed from nearly all churches and synagogues for many centuries is the awareness that Elohim – the God of the Bible – has both male and female attributes and aspects.
The androgynous nature of Elohim is quite evident in the account of the creation of mankind found in the first chapter of Genesis. “And God [Elohim] said, Let us make man [adam = mankind] in our own image, after our likeness…So God [Elohim] created man in the image of God [Elohim]…male and female created he them…and called their name Adam.” [Genesis 1:27, 5:2] Just as Elohim is both male and female, mankind was also created male and female.

In the original Hebrew of the Bible there is one word, Eloah, which literally means “Goddess”. Eloah is the feminine form of ‘God’. Other words describing God are also distinctly female. Hebrew nouns are usually gender-specific [although some can be gender-neutral in usage]. While some of the Hebrew words for God have a distinctly feminine gender, translators have almost universally chosen to suppress this, being unwilling to use the feminine word “Goddess”. Likewise, they have consistently used masculine pronouns when referring to God, even when gender-neutral or feminine pronouns would have been more appropriate. Most present-day Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and concordances are still biased, and ignore basic Hebrew grammatical rules when it comes to translating the words designating Deity. This has resulted in most Christians and Jews holding to the erroneous opinion that God is exclusively male. To most Christians and Jews, awareness of the Divine Feminine is not only unfamiliar, but, initially, may even seem unbelievable.

Elohim

Elohim[6] is the Hebrew word that is most often translated as the English “God.” Elohim is gender-combined, plural word. The word Elohim is concurrently male and female, and simultaneously represents both unity and majestic plurality. Elohim is a compound of the feminine singular Eloah with the masculine plural suffix –im. The word Elohim represents a majestic, awesome God that is beyond the ability of the human mind to fully comprehend. We can comprehend some of the attributes of Elohim, but the fullness of the Godhead is beyond our understanding.
El [7] is the masculine singular Hebrew word for God. Although specifically male, in practice, El is often gender-neutral. Eloah[8] is the feminine singular form of the same word, and is correctly translated ‘Goddess’. In Hebrew, the –oah¬, –oh or -ah suffix makes a word feminine. This is very similar to the English suffix –ess, used in such words as waitress, stewardess, or poetess. Eloah is Goddess, the feminine form of God.

Elohim is a combination of the singular feminine word Eloah, to which the masculine plural suffix –im has been added. In Hebrew, the –im suffix is normally added only used to make masculine words plural. The question that naturally arises is, Why add a masculine suffix to a feminine root? The answer is that Elohim is androgynous, being simultaneously male and female in principle and attributes.

Eloah / El Shaddai

El Shaddai or simply Shaddai are other titles of God. As has already been mentioned, El means ‘God’. The word shad means “woman’s breast” [Strong’s 7699], and shaddai [7706] means “breasts”, “breasted”, or “many breasts”. Though El Shaddai is translated as “Almighty God”, “God Almighty”, or “the Almighty” in the English Bible, it literally means “God with breasts” or “[many] breasted [One]”(9) There remain some who refuse to properly translate shaddai as “breasts”, however, the parallelism of the language used in Jacob’s blessing, in Genesis 49:25, emphasizes that this is the correct translation. “El Shaddai who blesses you…with blessings of the breasts and womb.”(10) The descriptive title El Shaddai depicts the Goddess of Israel.
A fascinatingly important declaration was revealed in Exodus 6:3: “To Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I appeared as El Shaddai, but I did not make my name Yahweh(11) known to them.” While there is Scriptural evidence that the Patriarchs were actually aware of the word Yahweh, evidently Elohim related to the Patriarchs primarily in the feminine manifestations of Eloah and El Shaddai. This revelation given to Moses is highly important to our understanding. The Deity the Hebrews knew was the Goddess Eloah, or El Shaddai.

Eloah appears 57 times in the Old Testament; two-thirds of those mentions occur in the book of Job. Shaddai or El Shaddai appears in the Tanakh [Old Testament] forty-eight times. Thirty-one of those occurrences are found in the book of Job. The fact that Job lived during the days of the Patriarchs, combined with Yahweh’s declaration to Moses about the Hebrew Patriarchs mainly recognizing Deity as El Shaddai, allows us to conclude that the Goddess attributes of Elohim were much more clearly understood in Patriarchal times. Although the names Elohim and Yahweh appear in Scripture many more times than Eloah or El Shaddai(13), we must notice significance in the fact that the earliest Hebrews had a considerable understanding of and relationship with the Divine Feminine.

In the book of Job are two specific declarations of the femininity of Eloah. Yahweh announced to Job, “the sea…leapt tumultuous from the womb.” [Job 38:8] Then, Yahweh rhetorically asked, “Out of whose womb came the ice?” [Job 38:29] Obviously, these verses [and others] undeniably attribute feminine characteristics to Eloah.

Eloah is synonymous with Shaddai, the Goddess. “Can you claim to fathom the depth of Eloah? Can you reach the limit of Shaddai?” [Job 11:7](14) “Then Shaddai will be your delight, and you will lift your face to Eloah.” [Job 22:26] “Can he be happy with Shaddai? Can he call on Eloah at all times?” [Job 27:10] A similar verse is, “Now what portion does Eloah allot from above; what fate does Shaddai apportion from [Her] heaven?” [Job 31:2]
A number of verses, mostly within the book of Job, mention either El or Yahweh as distinct from Eloah. “I would seek unto El, and unto Eloah I would commit my case.” [Job 5:8] “Does El pervert judgment, or does Shaddai pervert justice…if you search for El and plead for mercy from Shaddai?” [Job 8:3,5] “This is the portion of a wicked man from El, and the heritage appointed him by Eloah.” [Job 20:29] “I swear by the living El who denies me justice, and by Shaddai who has filled me with bitterness.” [Job 27:2] “El judges the Righteous and Eloah is angered by the Wicked every day.” [Psalm 7:11] Similar passages include Job 15:25, 22:17, 23:16, 33:4, 34:12, and 35:13.

The Holy Spirit

The Hebrew Ruach ha Kodesh is the phrase that translates into the Holy Spirit. Ruach is feminine, and the Aramaic equivalent ruah is also a feminine noun. These words are paired with feminine verbs and pronouns(15). The Hebrew phrases “Spirit of Elohim” and “Spirit of Yahweh” consistently use feminine grammatical construction. The Holy Spirit is feminine, and is another designation of Eloah. Therefore, following the original texts, the Messiah promised: “I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that she may dwell with you forever.” [John 14:16]

The Holy Spirit is identified as the Comforter in John chapters 14 to 16. This role of comforting is associated with mothering, of course. “As a mother comforts a child, so shall I comfort you.” [Isaiah 66:13] In Isaiah 11:2, the “Spirit of Wisdom” is also called the “Spirit of Yahweh”. Irenaeus, a second century bishop, declared that the ‘Wisdom’ of whom Solomon wrote in the Old Testament is identical to the Holy Spirit so often mentioned in the New Testament. [Against Heresies]

The Holy Spirit inspired those who wrote the Scripture. [2nd Timothy 3:16] It is through infusion of insight from the Holy Spirit that we are able to understand the depths of Scripture. [1st Corinthians 2:11] The Holy Spirit reveals spiritual truths to sincere believers. [Moroni 10:5] She interprets our prayers and the intents of our hearts. [Romans 8:26] She gives spiritual gifts to believers, such as the gifts of healing, prophecy, beholding spirits and angels, and speaking words of wisdom. [1st Corinthians 12:1-12; Moroni 10:7-17 (7-11)]

Another word commonly used to refer to the Holy Spirit is ‘shekinah’. The feminine word shekinah appears in Aramaic translations of the Bible, and is commonly used within modern Judaism. Shekinah is the equivalent of the Holy Spirit; it means “Divine Presence”. The –ah suffix indicates that it is Feminine Divine Presence.

The Didascalia, Apostolic teachings written during the 3rd century, compared the Deaconess [female minister] with the feminine Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Deacon was likened to the masculine attributes of God. “Let the Deaconess be honored by you in the place of the Holy Spirit.” [II:4:26]

In the Gospel of Philip, written in the late 2nd or early 3rd century, it is also quite evident that the Holy Spirit was understood by the earliest Christians to be the Divine Feminine. In lines 24 and 25 we read: “Some said, ‘Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit.’ They are in error. They do not know what they are saying. When did a woman ever conceive by a woman?” The author of Philip was making an important clarification. The Scriptures say that Mary, the earthly mother of Messiah, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit – not that the Holy Spirit impregnated her(16).

God Became

In some Hebrew traditions [Katia inserts:  such as Kabbalah], God is referred to as Ain Sof – which means “without end”. God is infinite, ultimate, and immeasurable – beyond our capability to fully understand. Although we cannot fully comprehend God, the Scriptures do contain a wealth of knowledge about the Divine that we can understand.

The Scriptures are emphatic that there is one God – one Elohim. The Shema declares: “Listen, O Israel, Yahweh your Elohim is One.” [Deuteronomy 6:4] Though there is unmistakable unity in God, the Scriptures simultaneously reveal a plurality. “The Father, and…the Son, and…the Holy Ghost(17) …are one God. [Mormon 7:7 (3:29); Alma 11:44 (8:102-104)] The Spirit Eloah is part of the Divine – one facet. This is just like the Father and Son existing as distinct elements within the majestic plurality that is Elohim. The ‘trinity’ is Father, Mother [Holy Spirit], and Son.
The words Elohim and Yahweh may each be classified as collective nouns. Collective nouns include words such as family, flock, herd, forest, jury, staff and team. The plurality of Elohim [or of Yahweh] can be understood in the collective sense of family. Paul wrote that “the whole family in Heaven” receives its name from Elohim. [Ephesians 3:15]

The ancient American prophet, Abinadi revealed the astonishing truth that God [Elohim] became the Father and the Son. [Mosiah 15:3 (8:30)] This is an essential teaching. Abinadi stated that Elohim divided, as it were, to become the various roles and persons of God. This is likened to the Apostle’s inspired statement that “the Word became flesh. [John 1:14] Elohim became the Father and the Mother and the Son.

In about 200 CE, Clement of Alexandria wrote similarly: “God…out of love to us became feminine. In his ineffable essence He is Father; in His compassion to us He became Mother, …by loving, became feminine. [The Rich Man’s Salvation, XXXVII, in the Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2] Methodius, a bishop of the third century, wrote: “Adam [was] the type and resemblance of God the Father…whilst Eve, who proceeded from Adam, signified the person and procession of the Holy Spirit.” [Ante Nicene Fathers. Fragments from the Homily on the Cross and Passion of Christ]
Adam, the first human, was created in Elohim’s image. At first, Adam, like Elohim, was simultaneously male and female. [Genesis 1:27] Then, Elohim divided Adam, separating the feminine from the masculine into two individuals, with distinct male and female gender. [Genesis 2:21-23]

Synesius, Bishop of Libya in the early 5th century, in his 2nd Hymn, wrote of the Divine as both masculine and feminine. ‘Thou art Father, thou art Mother; Thou art male, and thou art female.’ [lines 63-64]

The Aramaic word, abwoon, is gender-inclusive. It means ‘ancestor’, and includes both male and female. In the Aramaic version of the “the Lord’s prayer”, abwoon is the first word. It was translated into ‘father’ in Greek, instead of ancestor. Consequently, the Lord’s Prayer in the English, Greek or Latin New Testament begins with “Our Father in Heaven”, whereas in Aramaic it begins by addressing “Our Parents in Heaven”.
There is a principle of opposites of all things. [2nd Nephi 2:11 (2:81-84)] Among other things, this means that there can be no happiness without sadness, no good without bad, no sacred without profane, and so forth. There can also be no maleness without femaleness. There is no Father unless there is Mother. There is no Bridegroom unless there is a Bride. There is no Savior without they who are the Lost. There are no children unless there are parents.

Elohim became the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the whole Divine Family. The presence of family necessitates the existence of gender. Similarly, the fact that Messiah is the Bridegroom necessitates that there must be a Bride(18). Not only did Elohim become the masculine Father and the masculine Messiah, Elohim also became the feminine Holy Spirit / Eloah / Wisdom, and the Bride [the Elect]. There is a perfect male-female balance within the Divine.

Because of the unity of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son, when an individual believes in one, she believes in the other aspects of Elohim as well. Messiah said, “Whoso believeth in Me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of Me, for He will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of Me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and Me; for the Father and I and the Holy Ghost are one.” [3rd Nephi 11:35-36 (5:36-38)]

Wisdom

Wisdom is another name for the Goddess. ‘Wisdom’ is translated from the feminine Hebrew word Hochmah. [Strong’s 2451, 2452 and 2454] Hochmah has the –ah feminine suffix. The equivalent name in Greek is Sophia. [4678]

Although the word ‘wisdom’ definitely is equated with good judgment and astuteness, in several Scripture passages, Wisdom is also unmistakably a Divine Personage. Wisdom is feminine, and consistently referred to by feminine pronouns. “Say to Wisdom, You are my sister.” [Proverbs 7:4]

The Messiah also referred to Wisdom as a person. He said: “Wisdom is proven by Her children.” [Luke 7:35] He also quoted(19) a declaration made by Her. “The Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles…’” [Luke 11:49]

“How blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek Wisdom, neither do they desire that She should rule over them.” [Mosiah 8:20 (5:85)]
In a number of passages of scripture, Wisdom is described and adored by writers, and also speaks on Her own behalf. This is particularly true of the 8th chapter of Proverbs, the 24th chapter of Ecclesiasticus, and the 7th chapter of the Wisdom of Solomon(20).

Wisdom announced that She was brought forth before the creation(21). She also assisted in the creative process, alongside Yahweh. “Yahweh created Me, first-fruits of His fashioning, before the oldest of His works. From everlasting I was firmly set – from the beginning, before the earth came into being. The deep was not when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I came to birth; before He had made the earth, the countryside, and the first elements of the world. When He fixed the heavens firm, I was there; when He drew a circle on the surfaces of the deep, when He thickened the clouds above, when the sources of the deep began to swell, when He assigned the sea its boundaries (and the waters will not encroach on the shore), when He traced the foundations of the earth. I was beside(22) the Master Craftsman, delighting Him day after day, ever at play in His presence, to play everywhere on His earth, delighting to be with the children of men.[Proverbs 8:22-31]

Within the apocryphal books of Ecclesiasticus [also known as Ben Sirach], and the Wisdom of Solomon [sometimes known simply as Wisdom], the Feminine Deity is quite evident. It is apparent that the following passages refer to much more than mere personifications of the attribute of wisdom, but actually represent statements by and about Eloah. {The surviving originals of these manuscripts exist only in Greek. However, based upon translation in the Septuagint, we can extrapolate the original Hebrew equivalent of certain words.}

“Wisdom [Sophia] speaks Her own praises in the midst of Her people She glories in Herself. She opens Her mouth in the assembly of the Most High {El Elyon}; She glories Herself in the presence of the Mighty One {Abi’ir}: I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and I covered the earth like mist. I had My tabernacle in the heights, and My throne was a pillar of cloud. Alone I have made the circuit of the heavens, and walked through the depths of the abyss. Over the waves of the sea and over the whole earth, and over every people and nation I have held sway. Among all these I searched for rest, and looked to see in whose territory I might pitch camp. Then the Creator of all things instructed Me, and He who created Me fixed a place for My tent. He said, ‘Pitch your tent in Jacob; make Israel Your inheritance.’ From eternity, in the beginning, He created Me, and for eternity I shall remain. In the holy tabernacle I ministered before Him, and thus became established in Zion. [Ecclesiasticus 24:1-10]

“And so I prayed…I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I esteemed Her more than scepters and thrones; compared with Her, I held riches as nothing. I reckoned no precious stone to be Her equal, for compared with Her all gold is a pinch of sand, and beside Her silver ranks as mud. I loved Her more than health or beauty; preferred Her to the light since Her radiance never sleeps. In Her company all good things came to me, and at Her hands incalculable wealth. All these delighted me, because Wisdom brings them, though I did not then realize that She was their Mother…” [Wisdom of Solomon 7:7-12]

“And now I understand everything, hidden or visible, for Wisdom, the designer of all things, has instructed me. For within Her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd, irresistible, beneficent, friendly to human beings, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all-surveying, penetrating, all-intelligent, pure and most subtle spirits. For Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; She is so pure, She pervades and permeates all things. She is a breath {ruach} of the power of God {Elohim}, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty {Shaddai}; so nothing impure can find its way into Her. For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, and image of His goodness.” [Wisdom of Solomon 7:21-26]
“Although She is alone [only one power, but] She can do everything. Herself unchanging, She renews the world, and, generation after generation, passing into holy souls, she makes them into God’s friends and prophets; for God loves only those who dwell with Wisdom. She is indeed more splendid than the sun; She outshines all the constellations. Compared with light, she takes first place; for light must yield to night, but against Wisdom, evil cannot prevail. Strongly She reaches from one end of the world to the other and She governs the whole world for its good.” [Wisdom of Solomon 7:27-30]

Solomon prayed to Yahweh regarding Wisdom. “With You is Wisdom; She Who knows your works, She Who was present when You made the world. She understands what is pleasing in Your eyes, and what agrees with Your commandments. Dispatch Her from the holy heavens, send Her forth from Your throne of glory to help me and toil with me, and teach me what is pleasing to You. Because She knows and understands everything, She will guide me prudently in my actions, and will protect me with Her glory.” [Wisdom 9:9-11]

Mother in Heaven

Eloah is the Heavenly Mother(23). She is the Father’s partner and spouse, the true Queen of the Universe. In language similar to that used by Job, the Heavenly Mother is mentioned in Ecclesiasticus 40:1. “A hard lot has been created for human beings…from the day they come out of their [earthly] mother’s womb, until the day they return to the Mother of them all.”
In the gnostic book of Sophia, we read, “The great Sophia is [the Father’s] spouse…[She is the] Begetress Sophia, Mother of the Universe…” [3:104] The word used in some Greek texts in reference to Goddess is koinonos, which means [equal] partner. In common use, it meant ‘spouse’, or ‘consort’, particularly in the sense of the wife of the king, or the husband of the queen. This is not precisely the same as human marriage, but mortal marriage is a reflection of the hierosgamos – or sacred cosmic union of El sand Eloah.

Yahweh commanded Moses to have sculptures of two cherubim placed atop the Ark of the Covenant. When Solomon built the Temple, images of cherubim were embossed upon the walls, carved in relief into doors and panels, and were incorporated into tapestries and other furnishings. According to a few historical accounts, the two cherubim were male and female, representing the Divine Male and the Divine Female – El and Eloah.

Several first or second-century Christian documents discovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt, plainly identify the Holy Spirit as feminine – as the Mother figure within the Godhead. In the Apocryphon of John, Elohim appeared to John and said, “I am the Father, I am the Mother, I am the Son. I am the undefiled and uncorruptible One.” In the Gospel According to the Hebrews we read the phrase “my Mother the Holy Spirit”. Regarding this phrase, Jerome commented around 400 AD, “No one should be offended by this, because ‘spirit’ in Hebrew is feminine, while in our language [Latin] it is masculine, and in Greek it is neuter. [Commentary on Isaiah 11]

In the Acts of Thomas, written around 200 CE, an invocation includes: “Come, compassionate Mother; come She that revealeth the hidden mysteries.” [2:27] Another prayer, referring to the Holy Spirit as the “Holy Dove”, invites “Come, hidden Mother.” [5:50] “We glorify and praise thee [Messiah], and thine invisible Father, and thine Holy Spirit, the Mother of all creation.” [3:39]

The Holy Spirit gives new birth to the Elect. The believers are ‘born again’ of the Heavenly Mother. The sons and daughters of God/dess are the assembly of believers. The New Testament epistles often speak of the fellowship of believers as ‘brethren’. The covenant members of the church or synagogue are spiritual brothers and sisters, born of the same spiritual Mother. The Greek word for ‘brethren’, adelphos, literally means “of the same womb” [delphos meaning ‘womb’].

Not the Goddesses of the Gentiles

The apostle Paul wrote that people give honor to many different gods and goddesses. [1 Corinthians 8:5-6] We acknowledge the same to be true today – adherents to a variety of religions worship many gods and goddesses. Although people worship “many gods and many lords”, for the People of the Covenant, there is only one true God – Elohim. Those whom the Scriptures call Gentiles(24) generally worshipped other gods or goddesses. This means that they worship gods or goddesses that have been invented within their own imagination, or are misinterpretations of the true El and Eloah. Instead of worshipping the true Elohim, they worship gods and goddesses that were created within human minds. [Romans 1:25] Elohim consistently and plainly banned worship of Gentile gods and goddesses.

Contrary to modern pluralistic thinking, this means that there is a difference between Elohim and the gods and goddesses of other nations. Plainly said, Baal is not the same as Yahweh, just as Ashtoreth is not the same as Eloah(25). Inanna, Isis and Lilith are not Eloah called by other names – they are truly “other gods”.
Throughout the history of Israel, the nation waxed and waned through cycles of the worship of “other gods”. The Heavenly Father’s condemnation of their practices focused on whom Israel was worshipping, and how they were worshipping. Yahweh did not condemn reverence for Eloah – the Feminine Deity of Israel. Worship of the star goddess Ashtoroth [also spelled Ashtoreth] was denounced, however. Five times in the book of Jeremiah, a goddess of the Gentiles is referred to by the title “Queen of Heaven”. In other cultures the star goddess was known as Astarte, Ishtar, and Ostara. An example of censuring the worship of other gods is found in Deuteronomy 32:17. The wicked people were condemned for sacrificing “to demons that are not Eloah. These were new gods who came from nearby – gods your ancestors never worshipped.”

Asherah is another name for the Gentile goddess. In the King James translation of the Bible, asherah is translated as “grove” or “groves”, but the contextual meaning is usually “a place to worship [the goddess Asherah]”, or “idols [of Asherah]”. Asherah was the companion of Baal. “And the children of Israel did evil…and forgot Yahweh their Elohim, and served Baals and Asherahs.” [Judges 3:7] “And the king commanded Hilkiah the High Priest…to bring out of the temple of Yahweh all the vessels that were made for Baal and for Asherah…and he burned them.” [2nd Kings 23:4]

[Katia inserts:  I disagree with the author and regard Asherah and the Queen of Heaven, possibly even Inanna and Isis, as other names of Eloah, names used for Her by surrounding ethnic groups different from the ancient Israelites, yes, so that may be why there was confusion of who was a demon and who wasn’t.  Now Lilith, she probably was a demoness the way she is described.  Also Lilith was never worshipped by the Israelites as their Goddess. They knew of her as a demoness.]

Another goddess is mentioned in Isaiah 34:14, in a purely negative way. She is Lilith, a winged goddess or demoness of the ancient Sumerians(26). The Semitic root lil means ‘wind’ or ‘spirit’. In the King James translation, Lilith is called “screech owl”. Other translations of lil’ith are “night terror”, “night hag”, “night demon”, “goddess of the night”, or “maiden of desolation”.
Roman Catholic tradition gradually elevated Mary, the human mother of the incarnate Messiah, to the position of goddess. This was not based upon Scripture, but purely upon human invention. Popes have declared that she is the Queen of Heaven, and that salvation is dependent upon her mediation along with the intercession of the Messiah. This doctrine, which encourages Catholics to pray to Mary, is not scripturally founded, but is a manufactured falsehood devised by Catholic theologians in recent centuries. Mary is not Eloah – she is not the Goddess incarnate.

[Katia inserts: Here’s where I strongly disagree with the author because I think Mother Mary was indeed an incarnation of God-the-Mother who then gave birth to God-the-Son. Very simple.]

Relating to Eloah

Is it blasphemy to teach that there is a Heavenly Mother? Certainly not! The Scriptures, in their original language, proclaim it to be true.

Having become aware of this previously hidden mystery of Eloah, many will wonder about their own personal relationship to Her. The Scriptures naturally provide guidance in this regard.

It is appropriate to pray to Eloah. For example, Job wrote: “My desire is that Shaddai would answer me.” [Job 31:35] “Oh that I might have my request, and that Eloah would grant me the thing that I long for!” [Job 6:8] “He will pray to Eloah who has restored him to favor.” [Job 33:26] “I shall say to Eloah, ‘Do not condemn me; tell me what Your case is against me.” [Job 10:2] My friends scorn me, and my eyes pour out tears unto Eloah. [Job 16:20] “I want to speak to Shaddai; I wish to argue my case in front of El.” [Job 13:3] “Seek El, and plead with Shaddai.” [Job 8:5] “[The Wicked say] ‘What is the point of serving Shaddai? What shall we gain from praying to Her?’” [Job 21:15] “Then Shaddai will be all your delight, and you shall lift your face to Eloah. You will pray and She will hear.” [Job 22:26-27] “I am one who calls on Eloah and expects an answer.” [Job 12:4]

Attributes of the Goddess are signified through Her titles. She is El Shaddai, having many comforting, nourishing spiritual breasts. All who desire can come to Her and suckle and find security and sustenance, just as children, regardless of gender, find comfort at their mother’s breasts. “The Divine power, though exalted far above our nature and inaccessible to all approach, like a tender Mother who joins in the inarticulate utterances of Her babe, gives to our human nature what it is capable of receiving; and thus in the various manifestations of God to humanity, God both adapts to humanity and speaks in human language.” [Gregory of Nyssa, late 4th century]

The Ruach ha Kodesh [Holy Spirit] trait of Goddess is associated with the breath. The word ruach means ‘breath’ or ‘wind’. We can deliberately increase our breath when we like, or stifle it at will. In a like manner, we can willfully influence the degree to which we fellowship with the Ruach ha Kodesh, or Holy Spirit – and we can also suppress the degree of communion with Her. As breath or wind is normally only noticed when it is in motion, it is common for people to only notice the Holy Spirit when She is moving. When She is still, She cannot be perceived.

The Spirit of Elohim

Elohim, as the Holy One, acted to create the world, and now sustains the universe. Elohim hears and answers prayers, blesses the Righteous, and punishes the Wicked. Elohim is the source of Life and Light. Elohim, as One God, is worthy of praise and worship, as well as the Father, Son, and Eloah individually. Each One within Elohim is referred to as ‘the Rock’.

Within Elohim, there is a hierarchy – an organized order – a division of responsibility within the Godhead. Each member has a role to play. We remember that Elohim became the Father and the Son and the Spirit – each with particular characters and tasks.

The Father is the Source of the power within the Godhead – distributing it through the Spirit and the Son and the Elect. The Father is the One who covenants with individuals and nations. The specific ‘work of the Father’ is focused on making and fulfilling the terms of the Covenant [including the gathering and restoration of Israel]. The Father directs the Son and the Spirit, and is, in that sense, supreme.

The Messiah is our Kinsman-Redeemer, and the Firstborn. He is the Bridegroom of the Church [Bride]. He is God in the flesh. He broke the bonds of death, making the resurrection possible for all people. Messiah was the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, paying the penalty of sin for all those who will have faith in Him, as well as those who are ignorant of the Plan of Redemption. The Messiah is our Shepherd, our High Priest, and Chief Judge, the Captain of our Salvation, and our Brother. He is the Atonement for our sins.
Eloah is the Holy Spirit; She unites mankind with Elohim. She is the medium through which spiritual gifts are manifested. The Spirit of Wisdom gives instruction, as well as interpretation and understanding. She is the Comforter. She convinces and convicts. Through the Spirit of Eloah comes revelation and inspiration. The power of Elohim is manifested through the Spirit. Eloah resides within the hearts of the Righteous.

El Shaddai is more delicate that the Father or the Son. She can be insulted, so is safeguarded. The sin against the Holy Spirit is unpardonable. [Matthew 12:32; Alma 39:6 (19:8-9)] Unlike the Father [Yahweh] and Son [Yahshua], Her personal name is never revealed [perhaps to prevent it from being blasphemed]. Eloah, the Holy Spirit, has never been incarnate – She has ever existed only in the spiritual realm.

Summary

There is, unquestionably, a feminine aspect within Elohim, the God of the Hebrews. The Divine Feminine is known as Eloah, El Shaddai, Wisdom [also Hochmah or Sophia], and the Holy Spirit. She is the Goddess ‘concealed’ within the Scriptures. She is part of the One True God [Who is beyond our ability to fully comprehend]. Spiritual Israel has justifiable reason to worship, praise and give honor to Eloah, the Holy Spirit, Who, with the Father and Son, are One God. The People of the Covenant are not permitted to honor other goddesses, such as Ashtoreth or Asherah, but should give praise and worship to El Shaddai – the Goddess of the Scriptures – the Feminine within Elohim.
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David Bruce Clark
Lion of God Ministries
PO Box 33
Oak Grove MO 64075

Foot Notes :
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[1] The word Israel has both a racial and a spiritual meaning. In this paper, the word is used mainly in a spiritual sense.

[2] Although claiming lineage from ancient societies, these religions were created in the second half of the 20th century, and developed into their present form in the past one or two decades.

[3] The ancient sense of the word ‘mystery’ is something that is hidden – not evident without profound study or through revelation. “We speak the wisdom of God [Elohim] in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which [Elohim] ordained before the world began.” [1st Corinthians 2:7

[4] Aramaic was the colloquial form of Hebrew spoken by Israelites living during the time of the Messiah.

[5] The fact that a text is ancient does not automatically make it valuable for doctrine. A few ancient texts are quoted herein for the purpose of pointing out that various sects of Christians and Jews in fact worshipped the Goddess. Quotation from a text, particularly an apocryphal text, does not necessarily indicate endorsement.

[6] Elohim is word number 430 in Strong’s Concordance.

[7] El is word number 410 in Strong’s Concordance. El is also sometimes translated as ‘power’, ‘mighty’, or ‘strong’.

[8] Eloah is assigned number 433 in Strong’s Concordance; it is feminine singular, and means Goddess [although it is almost always translated as ‘God’ in English].

[9] Realizing this, we can have more sympathetic understanding of cultures that portrayed goddesses with many breasts, including the Roman goddess Diana, the Greek goddess Artemis, or Mayahuel the many-breasted goddess of the Aztecs.

[10] The Odes of Solomon, a collection of hymns from about the first century CE, contain this verse, in which Elohim or Eloah is the speaker: “I fashioned their members, and My own breasts I prepared for them, that they might drink My holy milk and live by it.” [8:14]

[11] Yahweh [pronounced yah-way] is the personal Name of the Father. Although Yahweh is chiefly masculine, like Elohim, it contains both male and female components.

[12] Scholars generally agree that, other than the first 11 chapters of Genesis, Job is the earliest written book of the Bible. Job lived at about the same time as Abraham.

[13] The word Elohim appears a total of 2606 times in the Tanakh [Old Testament]. Yahweh appears 6519 times in the Hebrew text.

[14] By using a concordance, such as Strong’s, a person can verify the original Hebrew words translated as ‘God’ and ‘Almighty’.

[15] The New Testament was originally written in Aramaic or Hebrew, in which the word for ‘spirit’ is feminine in gender. The numerous copies that have survived were written in Greek, in which ‘spirit’, pneuma, is neutral or masculine.
[16] “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power [dunamis] of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” [Luke 1:35]“She shall conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost’ [Alma 7:10] See also Matthew 1:18-20.

[17] ‘Ghost’ is an archaic English equivalent to ‘Spirit’.
[18] The Bride is the assembly of believers – the Elect – those who have covenanted with Messiah. Matthew 25:1-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 3:31-32; Revelation 21:10, 22:17

[19] The specific source of the quotation is unknown. It must be from an apocryphal book.

[20] Similar passages occur in Proverbs 1:20-33, 9:1-6; Job 28; and Baruch 3:9-4:4. Ecclesiasticus and the Wisdom of Solomon are books within the Apocrypha of the Bible.

[21] It must be remembered that Elohim became the Father and the Spirit and the Son.

[22] A translation of Proverbs 8:30 by R.B.Y. Scott reads: “I was beside Him binding [all] together.”

[23] A few American religious movements expressed beliefs of the existence of the Heavenly Mother. The Shakers, founded in 1772 by Ann Lee, believed in God the Father-Mother. Mary Baker Eddy, who in 1866 founded the Christian Scientist movement, also spoke of “Father-Mother God”. By the end of the 1830’s, latter-day prophet Joseph Smith had begun to teach select individuals about the Mother in Heaven – a Goddess, who is the spouse of God the Father. A favorite Mormon hymn, published in 1845, is “The Eternal Father and Mother”.

[24] Quite regrettably, there are not adequate words to describe “those who worship different gods”. The English “Gentile” is translated from the Hebrew goyim, and means “[other] nations”. “Pagan” comes from the Latin word meaning “farmer” or “country-dweller”. Similarly, “heathen” literally means “one from the heath” – another way of saying a rural-dweller. The words ‘gentile’, ‘pagan’, and ‘heathen’ all imply one who is unenlightened, ignorant, and who does not know the right way. These words are not synonymous with ‘wicked’.

[25] Judges 3:7 and 2nd Kings 23:4 affirm this.

[26] The Lilith mentioned in Isaiah has little or no direct relationship to the goddess of the same name who is venerated by many in the present. Lilith evolved. Most myths about Lilith originated in medieval times, and her popularity as a goddess began only in the last part of the 20th century.