# H0259 - echad **Strong's:** [H0259](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h259/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** ekh-awd' **Part of speech:** numeral, used as adjective **Greek equivalent (LXX):** [G1520 - heis](/codex/g1520-heis/), εἷς, "one", direct numerical equivalent. **OT occurrences:** ~976 ## Semantic range (Brown-Driver-Briggs) 1. **One (numerical, cardinal)**, the basic counting sense. 2. **First (ordinal)**, the *first* day, the *first* man, etc. 3. **Each, every** (distributive), when used distributively. 4. **A (indefinite article-like)**, "a man," "a certain one." 5. **Together, alike**, when emphasizing collective unity / agreement. 6. **United, single (compound unity)**, when applied to multiple entities forming one whole. The semantic flexibility of *echad*, particularly the **compound unity** sense (6), is critical for biblical theology. *Echad* can name a *plural-of-united-parts* in addition to a strict numerical one. ## Theological force, *echad* vs *yachid* Hebrew has two main "one" words; the distinction is theologically loaded: | Term | Strong's | Sense | Implication | |------|----------|-------|-------------| | **אֶחָד** *(echad)* | H0259 | One, *can be compound or simple unity* | Compatible with internal complexity | | **יָחִיד** *(yachid)* | H3173 | Only, solitary, unique, single | Excludes internal plurality | When the Shema ([Deuteronomy 6:4](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4/)) declares *YHWH echad*, "the LORD is *echad*", it uses the term that is **compatible with** internal unity-in-plurality, not the term that strictly excludes it (*yachid*). Had Moses meant "YHWH is solitary / single in absolute terms with no internal complexity," the natural Hebrew word would have been *yachid*. Examples of *echad* as **compound unity** in OT: - **[Genesis 2:24](/codex/genesis-2-24/)**, *vehayu lebasar echad*, "and they shall become *one* flesh" (man + woman = *echad* flesh; clearly two persons forming one unity) - **[Genesis 1:5](/codex/genesis-1-5/)**, *yom echad*, "*one* day" (composed of evening and morning, two halves forming one) - **[Genesis 11:6](/codex/genesis-11-6/)**, *am echad ve-saphah achat*, "*one* people and *one* language" (composed of many individuals) - **[Numbers 13:23](/codex/numbers-13-23/)**, *eshkol anavim echad*, "*one* cluster of grapes" (a single cluster composed of many grapes) - **[Ezekiel 37:17](/codex/ezekiel-37-17/)**, "join them for yourself one to another into *one* stick" (two sticks become one) - **[2 Samuel 2:25](/codex/2-samuel-2-25/)**, "they became *one* band" (many soldiers, one unit) The grammar in itself does not prove the Trinity from [Deuteronomy 6:4](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4/) alone, Jewish exegetes legitimately point out that *echad* is also the standard Hebrew for *strict* numerical one ([Genesis 2:11](/codex/genesis-2-11/) "one of the rivers"). The argument is more modest: *echad* is **compatible with** the Trinitarian doctrine; it does not *exclude* internal-divine-plurality the way *yachid* would have. The full Trinitarian doctrine is grounded across the canon, but the Shema's word choice is one piece of the case. ## The Shema's grammar [Deuteronomy 6:4](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4/), *Shema Yisrael, YHWH eloheinu, YHWH echad*. Multiple translations: - "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one." (NASB95, ESV) - "Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD alone." (NRSV alternative, taking *echad* as "alone") - "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD." (KJV) - "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God; the LORD is one!" (NLT) The standard Christian-Jewish reading: YHWH is the one true God; no other gods are real. This is the Shema's monotheistic confession. The Trinitarian-Christian reading adds: this *one* God exists in tri-personal unity (Father, Son, Spirit), which the *echad* of the Shema *permits* (compatible with internal complexity) without explicitly *requiring* it. ## Notable verses ### Numerical / simple - **[Genesis 1:5](/codex/genesis-1-5/)**, "evening and morning, *yom echad*" - **[Genesis 2:11](/codex/genesis-2-11/)**, "the name of the *first* (*echad*) is Pishon" - **[Exodus 12:46](/codex/exodus-12-46/)**, Passover lamb to be eaten in *echad bayit* (*one* house) ### Compound unity - **[Genesis 2:24](/codex/genesis-2-24/)**, *basar echad* (one flesh) - **[Genesis 11:6](/codex/genesis-11-6/)**, *am echad* (one people) - **[Numbers 13:23](/codex/numbers-13-23/)**, *eshkol… echad* (one cluster of grapes) - **[Ezekiel 37:17](/codex/ezekiel-37-17/)**, two sticks become *echad* (one) ### The Shema - **[Deuteronomy 6:4](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4/)**, *YHWH echad*, "the LORD is one" - **[Mark 12:29](/codex/mark-12-29/)**, Jesus quotes the Shema (the only NT-recorded citation by Jesus, in answer to "what is the greatest commandment") - **[Galatians 3:20](/codex/galatians-3-20/)**, "God is one" - **[James 2:19](/codex/james-2-19/)**, "you believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder" ### Yachid contrast (for reference, not the same word) - **[Genesis 22:2](/codex/genesis-22-2/)**, *yachid* of Isaac (Abraham's only / unique son) - **[Judges 11:34](/codex/judges-11-34/)**, *yechidah* of Jephthah's daughter - **[Psalm 22:20](/codex/psalms-22-20/)**, *yechidati* (my only one, my soul) ## Patristic / scholarly note The patristic tradition uniformly affirms strict monotheism while also affirming Trinitarian distinction-in-unity, exactly what *echad* permits. The patristic argument for Trinity rarely depends solely on *echad* of [Deuteronomy 6:4](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4/); it depends on the broader canonical witness (especially NT). But Athanasius (*Discourses Against the Arians* III.62), Augustine (*De Trinitate*), and the Cappadocians all note the *echad* / *yachid* distinction as consistent with Trinitarian doctrine. The Jewish-Christian apologetic literature engages this question extensively. Michael Brown (*Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus*, vol. 2, 2000) gives the most comprehensive Christian apologetic treatment. The Jewish counter-position (e.g., David Klinghoffer, *Why the Jews Rejected Jesus*, 2005) argues that the Shema's monotheism is incompatible with Trinitarian doctrine. The Christian rejoinder: monotheism (one divine being) is preserved by Trinitarian doctrine (three persons sharing one divine being); *echad* is precisely the right Hebrew word for this if true. ## Verses in this codex _See Obsidian's backlinks pane for every verse page linking here._ ## See also - [H3173 - yachid](/codex/h3173-yachid/), the contrasting "only / solitary" term - [G1520 - heis](/codex/g1520-heis/), Greek "one", direct equivalent - [H0430 - elohim](/codex/h0430-elohim/), paired in the Shema - [H3068 - YHWH](/codex/h3068-yhwh/), the *echad* God - [Deuteronomy 6.4](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4/), the Shema; locus classicus