Divine Plurals/2

Divine Plurals

Exegetical Approaches

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Partnership with Others

The plural form is used because Hashem either consulted, or actively acted with others.  The commentators disagree regarding the identity of Hashem's partner:

Angels

Sources:PhiloOn the Confusion of Tongues 35:179About Philo,¹ Bereshit Rabbah8:821:5About Bereshit Rabbah, Targum Pseudo-JonathanBereshit 1:26About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, RashiBereshit 1:26Bereshit 3:22Bereshit 11:7About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RashbamBereshit 1:26About R. Shemuel b. Meir, Ibn EzraBereshit 1:26Bereshit 3:22Bereshit 11:7About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RadakBereshit 1:26Bereshit 3:22Bereshit 11:7About R. David Kimchi, Abarbanel #2, SefornoBereshit 1:26About R. Ovadyah Seforno

What did the angels do? According to most of these commentators, Hashem simply consulted with the angels, but they did not actually do anything.  In his comments on the creation story Rashi stresses that the act of creation was Hashem's alone., as evidenced by the very next verse, ‏"‏וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם"‏‎²

Why work with angels?

• According to Rashi, following Bereshit Rabbah 8:8, Hashem consulted with the angels to teach a lesson in humility to humans.  If even Hashem asks permission of those lesser than He, all the more so should mankind.³
• Philo and Abarbanel, in contrast, explain that the angels actively participated together with Hashem. According to Philo, Hashem utilized the angels so that all the errors and wickedness of mankind could be attributed to these subordinate powers.  Abarbanel, instead, explains that all of life sprang forth from that which it was similar to in nature. Thus, mankind, having an intellect, like the angels was created via these beings.

Why specifically in these verses?

"בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ"

Belief in angels

"כְּאַחַד מִמֶּנּוּ לָדַעַת טוֹב וָרָע"

Earthly Elements

R. Yosef Kimchicited in Radak Bereshit 1:26About R. Yosef Kimchi, RambanBereshit 1:26About R. Moshe b. Nachman, Abarbanel #1, Maasei Hashem,

Honorific Plural

As is the way of kings and other honored people, Hashem sometimes speaks of himself using the "royal we".

Sources:R. Saadia GaonHaEmunot VeHaDeot 2:6About R. Saadia Gaon, Lekach TovBereshit 1:26Bereshit 11:7About R. Toviah b. Eliezer, Ibn Kaspi, R. S"R HirschBereshit 1:26Bereshit 3:22About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch

Way of the Text

The use of a plural verb form for a singular noun is normal Biblical usage.

Sources:R"Y Bekhor Shor #1, ShadalBereshit 1:26About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, R. D"Z Hoffmann, Cassuto

¹ This is Philo's understanding in his work, On the Confusion of Tongues.  In On Drunkenness, however, he implies another reading, that Hashem created together with wisdom.

² In this verse Hashem alone is the subject of the root "ברא", implying that He (and not the angels) created.

³ In his comments on the creation story Rashi stresses that, despite the consultation, the act of creation was Hashem's alone.  As proof he points to the very next verse, "וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם", which mentions only Hashem as creating mankind.