Are Jehovah and Elohim different gods? 

The Old Testament uses many different words to refer to God. The LDS Church teaches that the Old Testament word “God” (or in Hebrew, Elohim) properly refers to Heavenly Father, while the word “LORD” (or Jehovah) refers to Jesus.

Mormons believe that both Elohim and Jehovah are “united in purpose”, but that they are actually two separate exalted beings.

But is this true? Does the Bible really teach that Jehovah and Elohim are two different gods merely united in purpose?

1. “Elohim” is not God’s name

The word “Elohim” is used more than 2,500 times in the Old Testament, and is most commonly used as a title.

It is translated in English as “God” or “gods”, and is used to refer to God.  In Genesis 17, it is “Elohim” who makes a covenant with Abram:

“Then Abram fell on his face. And God [Elohim] said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17:3–4)

But the word “Elohim” can also be used to refer to angels, idols, or even demons. 2 Chronicles 32 says:

“And they spoke of the God [Elohim] of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods [Elohim] of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.” (2 Chronicles 32:19)

2. “Jehovah” refers to God’s proper name

When God appeared to Moses in the wilderness as a burning bush, He revealed what His name was:

“God [Elohim] said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:14)

 “I AM” is God’s proper name, and shows up in the rest of the Hebrew Bible as YHWH. The word Jehovah is sort of a historical mash-up word from this proper name (YHWH) and Adonai (which means Lord or Master). In our Bibles today, YHWH appears as “LORD” in all caps, as it does in the next verse in Exodus 3: 

God [Elohim] also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD [Jehovah], the God [Elohim] of your fathers, the God [Elohim] of Abraham, the God [Elohim] of Isaac, and the God [Elohim] of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” (Exodus 3:15)

3. Elohim and Jehovah are used interchangeably to refer to the one Uncreated Creator.

Throughout the entire Old Testament, our one God is referred to as both “Elohim” and “Jehovah”.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD [Jehovah] our God [Elohim], the LORD [Jehovah] is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

 “Know that the LORD [Jehovah], he is God [Elohim]…” (Psalm 100:3a)

 “…the LORD [Jehovah] is God [Elohim]; there is no other besides him.” (Deuteronomy 4:35)

The Old Testament even repeatedly uses the words “YHWH-Elohim” together to refer to God. It is translated as “the Lord God as in Genesis 2:5 where it says:

“…the Lord God [Jehovah] [Elohim] had not caused it to rain on the land…” (Genesis 2:5)

So are Jehovah and Elohim names for two separate beings? No! 

Elohim does not distinctly refer to the Father, nor Jehovah to the Son. Both, “Jehovah” and “Elohim” refer to the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In other words, Elohim is Jehovah, and Jehovah is the one true Elohim.

“But the LORD [Jehovah] is the true God [Elohim]; he is the living God [Elohim] and the everlasting King…” (Jeremiah 10:10a)