To see the trinity in the Old Testament, we need to look for 3 distinct persons who are one divine entity. In Christianity, we know him as 1. God the Father (neojews have no problem here) 2. God the Son (Word of God, in the flesh; The Angel of God (divine)) 3. God the Holy Spirit We also need to spot pluralities when it comes to God, as neojews deny that God is multiple persons in one entity/essence. Let this collection of facts be your guide towards truth. --- ## The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament ### Genesis 1:2 > 'And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the **Spirit of God** was hovering over the surface of the waters.' > > [Genesis 1:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/GEN.1.2) (Old Testament) > [!question] Possible argument > **Argument**: Spirit of God is just another name for God. > > **Refutation**: There are multiple persons of God in the Jewish conservative sources also, see next point. ### Genesis 1:26 > 'And God said, Let **us** make man in our image, after **our** likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.' > > [Genesis 1:26](https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.26) (Old Testament) ![[Resources/Pasted image 20250712185910.png]] > [chabad.org - Tanakh](https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8165) Notice the "us" and "our" > [!question]+ Possible argument > **Argument**: But does the "us" and "our" have significance? > > **Refutation**: Yes. The very next verse contains an example where something (mankind/man) goes from singular to plural. > ![[Resources/Pasted image 20250720010825.png]] > Here we see man referred to as "him" before the creation of female, and then referred to as "them" after creating the woman > [!question]+ Possible argument > **Argument**: The "us" and "our" is referring to the angels in heaven. > > **Refutation**: No. Let's read Isaiah 44:24 > > '“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord , the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, ' > > [Isaiah 44:24](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ISA.44.24) (Old Testament) ### Genesis 20:13 > 'And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” ' > > [Genesis 20:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GEN.20.13) (Old Testament) The phrase for "god had me wander" is plural ![[Pasted image 20250720012143.png]] ### Genesis 35:7 > 'There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. ' > > [Genesis 35:7](https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GEN.35.7) (Old Testament) The word for "revealed himself" is plural. ![[Resources/Pasted image 20250720012950.png]] ### 2 Samuel 23:2 > '“The **Spirit of Yahweh** spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.' > > [2 Samuel 23:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/2SA.23.2) ### Isaiah 63:10-11,14 > 'But they rebelled And grieved **His Holy Spirit**; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy; He fought against them. Then His people remembered the ancient days, of Moses. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put **His Holy Spirit** in the midst of them, ... As the cattle which go down into the valley, The **Spirit of Yahweh** gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name. ' Isaiah 63:10-11,14 https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ISA.63.10-11,14 --- ## The Word of God in the Old Testament ### Word of God speaking with Elijah > *9* 'And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, **the word of the Lord** came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”' > > [I Kings 19:9](https://www.bible.com/bible/114/1KI.19.9) (Old Testament) [Hebrew original](https://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_kings/19.htm) ![[Resources/Pasted image 20250712134211.png]] > *10* 'So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” *11* Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; *12* and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire **a still small voice**. *13* So it was, when Elijah heard it, that **he wrapped his face in his mantle** and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly **a voice came to him**, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”' > > [I Kings 19:10-13](https://www.bible.com/bible/114/1KI.19.10-13) (Old Testament) Here we see Elijah covering his face upon having an encounter with God. This is a sign of divinity, and we can take that the voice is God. We also see similar examples in Exodus 3:6, Isaiah 6:2 > 'Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.' > > [Exodus 3:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/114/EXO.3.6) (Old Testament) > [!question]- Possible argument > **Argument**: Elijah doesn't cover his face when the Word of God comes, but covers his face when the voice comes. Therefore, the Word of God is not divine. > > **Refutation**: How come Elijah is attributing the ownership of the covenant to the Word of God? Elijah is speaking to Yahweh directly ~~(linguistically, theologically he can be speaking through, with, or somehow else which I haven't yet explored)~~. ### The Word of the Lord speaking with Jeremiah > 'Then the **word of the Lord** came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”' > > [Jeremiah 1:4-5](https://www.bible.com/bible/114/JER.1.4-5) (Old Testament) ### The Word of God in Genesis > 'And when they heard the **voice** of the Lord God **walking** in paradise at the afternoon air, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the **face/presence** of the Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise.' > > [Genesis 3:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/55/GEN.3.8) (Old Testament) ![[Resources/Pasted image 20250712170548.png]] > [!note]- Note > Some translations say "the sound" of God, but "ק֨וֹל" is used in the bible as voice. See [occurences of ק֨וֹל in the bible](https://biblehub.com/hebrew/kol_6963.htm) Here we also see that God is present in the garden, a physical attribute of being in space and time, but not necessarily bound by those attributes like creatures are. We also see that God has a face, from which Adam and Eve hid. It is also important to note that the Hebrew word that was translated to "face" can and is also used as physical presence. For now the "face" word is not significant to the Christian argument. We also read that the Lord God is walking in the garden. **How did the jews understand and translate this verse?** > 'And they heard **the voice of the word of the Lord God** walking in the garden in the repose of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from before the Lord God among the trees of the garden.' > ... > \[JERUSALEM. Walking in the garden in the strength of the day......And **the Word of the Lord God** called to Adam, and said to him, Behold, the world which I have created is manifest before Me; and how thinkest thou that the place in the midst whereof thou art, is not revealed before Me? Where is the commandment which I taught thee?\] > > [Pentateuchal Targumim Gen. 1-6](http://targum.info/pj/pjgen1-6.htm) (Jewish source, translation from Aramaic) ### Zechariah 1:1 > 'In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying, ' > > [Zechariah 1:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ZEC.1.1) ### Zechariah 1:7 > 'On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying, ' > [Zechariah 1:7](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ZEC.1.7) ### Zechariah 2:8-11 > 'For thus **says Yahweh** of hosts, “After glory **He has sent Me** against the nations which have taken you as spoil, for he who touches you, touches the apple of **His** eye. For behold, **I** will wave **My** hand over them so that they will be spoil for their slaves. Then you will know that **Yahweh of hosts has sent Me**. Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold, **I am coming** and **I will dwell in your midst**,” declares Yahweh. “And many nations will join themselves to Yahweh in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that **Yahweh of hosts has sent Me** to you.' > > [Zechariah 2:8-11](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ZEC.2.8-11) ### Isaiah 48:12,16-17 > '¶“Hear Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; **I am He, I am the first, I am also the last**. ... “Draw near to Me, hear this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. So now **Lord Yahweh has sent Me**, *and* **His Spirit**.” Thus **says Yahweh**, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go. ' > > [Isaiah 48:12,16-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ISA.48.12,16-17) ### Genesis 19:24 > 'And **Yahweh** rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire **from Yahweh out of heaven**, ' > > [Genesis 19:24](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/GEN.19.24) ### Hosea 1:7 > 'But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and save them by Yahweh their God, and I will not save them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen.” ' > > [Hosea 1:7](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/HOS.1.7) ### Isaiah 63:10 > 'But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy; He fought against them.' > > [Isaiah 63:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ISA.63.10) This is linked to Psalm 78:40-41 > 'How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the wasteland! Again and again they tested God, And pained the Holy One of Israel.' > > [Psalm 78:40-41](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/PSA.78.40-41) ## The Son of God in the Old Testament ### Proverbs 30:3-4 > 'Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I know the knowledge of the Holy One.' > > [Proverbs 30:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/PRO.30.3) (Old Testament) When we explore the Hebrew version of the verse above, we see that "the Holy One" is actually plural, "**the Holy Ones**" ![[Resources/Pasted image 20250712191815.png]] קְדֹשִׁ֣ים (kedoshim) = plural קָדוֹשׁ (kadosh) = singular >'Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I know the knowledge of the Holy One. >Who has ascended into heaven and descended? >Who has gathered the wind in His fists? >Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? >Who has established all the ends of the earth? >What is His name? **And what is His Son’s name**? Surely you know! ' > > [Proverbs 30:3-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/PRO.30.3-4) (Old Testament) ### Isaiah 9: 6-7 > 'For **a child will be born** to us, **a son** will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, **Mighty God**, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this. ' > > [Isaiah 9:6-7](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ISA.9.6-7) ### Psalm 2:7-12 > '“I will surely tell of the decree of Yahweh: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth as Your possession. ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like a potter’s vessel.’ ” So now, O kings, show insight; Take warning, O judges of the earth. Serve Yahweh with fear And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!' > > [Psalm 2:7-12](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/PSA.2.7-12) ### 2 Samuel 7:12-16 > 'When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up one of your seed after you, who will come forth from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a **son** to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will reprove him with the rod of men and the strikes from the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not be removed from him, as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ” ' > > [2 Samuel 7:12-16](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/2SA.7.12-16) This is about Solomon but has a messianic interpretation pointing to a future eternal king from David's line. ### Psalm 89:26-28 > '“He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth. “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him. ' > > [Psalm 89:26-28](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/PSA.89.26-28) ## The Angel of God ### Genesis 22:11-12 > 'But **the angel of Yahweh** called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the boy, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, **from Me**.”' > > [Genesis 22:11-12](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/GEN.22.11-12) (Old Testament) Here the angel of God is speaking as if he is God. ### Genesis 22:15-18 > 'Then **the angel of Yahweh** called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares Yahweh, because you have done this thing and have not spared your son, your only one, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have listened to My voice.”' > > [Genesis 22:15-18](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/GEN.22.15-18) (Old Testament) Here also, the Angel of God is speaking as if he is God. ### Genesis 31:11-13 > 'Then **the angel of God said** to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Lift up now your eyes and see that all the male goats which are mating are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. **I am the God of Bethel**, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your kin.’ ”' > > [Genesis 31:11-13](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/GEN.31.11-13) (Old Testament) Here we clearly see the angel of God claiming to be God. ### Exodus 3 > 'And **the angel of Yahweh** appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of the bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, “ I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burned up?” And Yahweh saw that he turned aside to look, so God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here. Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said also, “**I am the God** of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.' > > [Exodus 3:2-6](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/EXO.3.2-6) (Old Testament) ### Exodus 23:20-25 > '“Behold, I am going to send **an angel** before you to keep you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Keep watch of yourself before him and listen to his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for **he will not pardon your transgression**, since My name is in him. ' > > [Exodus 23:20-21](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/EXO.23.20-21) (Old Testament) Who is this angel that has the power to **judge** and **pardon**? Clear claim of divinity. Let's continue > '“Behold, I am going to send an **angel** before you to keep you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Keep watch of yourself before him and listen to his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him. But if you truly listen to his voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I will annihilate them. You shall not worship their gods, you shall not serve them, and you shall not do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly pull them down and shatter their sacred pillars in pieces. **But you shall serve Yahweh your God**, and **He** will bless your bread and your water; and **I** will remove sickness from your midst. ' > > [Exodus 23:20-25](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/EXO.23.20-25) (Old Testament) ### Zechariah 3:3-4 > 'Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the **angel**. And he answered and spoke to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, **I have made your iniquity pass away** from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” ' > > [Zechariah 3:3-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ZEC.3.3-4) (Old Testament) Another instance of the angel forgiving sins. ### Genesis 48 > 'And he blessed Joseph and said, “May **the God** before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, **The God** who has been my shepherd throughout my life to this day, **The angel** who has **redeemed** me from all evil, Bless these boys; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”' > > [Genesis 48:15-16](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/GEN.48.15-16) (Old Testament) If this was a Christian prayer to the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son of God, we wouldn't be surprised. ### Judges 13:20-22 > 'Indeed, it happened when the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, that the angel of Yahweh went up in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife saw this , so they fell on their faces to the ground. Now the angel of Yahweh did not appear to Manoah or his wife again. Then Manoah knew that **he was the angel of Yahweh**. So Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, for **we have seen God**.” ' > > [Judges 13:20-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/JDG.13.20-22) In the context it is also given that the Angel of the Lord appeared as a man. > [!question]+ Possible argument > **Argument**: Do angels speak as God in other places? It could be that angels are word-for-word saying what God is saying. > > **Refutation**: There are other instances of the word *מַלְאָךְ* (*malʾakh*) being used for angels that are not divine and that use linguistically separating and distinguishing speech. > > > 'Then the *angel* of Yahweh answered and said, “O Yahweh of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?” ... Therefore **thus says Yahweh**, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” **declares Yahweh** of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.” ’' > > [Zechariah 1:12,16](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/ZEC.1.12,16) > > Here the angel quotes Yahweh in a linguistically separate manner. Not only that, the angel also intercedes with God on behalf of others. > > > > 'And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of what has appeared.” So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was terrified and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.” ' > > [Daniel 8:16-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/DAN.8.16-17) > > In the passage above, Gabriel is clearly following the instruction and not claiming to be God. > > > 'and while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, touched me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. Then he made me understand and spoke with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the word was issued, so I have come to tell you , for you are highly esteemed; so understand the message and gain understanding in what has appeared.' > > [Daniel 9:21-23](https://www.bible.com/bible/3345/DAN.9.21-23) > >