Francis Patrick Kenrick

D'rhH- This noun of a plural form, connected with the verb in the singular number, aptly inti* mates the mysterious nature of the Deity, although it does not directly reveal it. The unity of the crea- tive act Is consistent with a plurality of Persons in the Divine Nature. Elsewhere the unity of the Godhead is insisted on. Deut. 4 : 36, 30 ; 6:4. The tern is thought to be derived from an Arabic verb, which signifies to fear, or to worship, and denotes the object of the fear and worship of men. 1 102. This sometimes means to fashion a material already existing; but it is here employed in the strict sense of creating, that Is, bringing forth from nothing, since otherwise the Divine act could not have been styled M in the beginning," if matter previously existed. Hence the creation has been oele- brated by all subsequent Jewish writers as the great work of Almighty Power. Ps. 32 : 6 ; 185 : 6 ; Eccl.