This is an old revision of the document!
im
ים
Pronounced “im”, this suffix is appended to a root word in order to make a phrase that references the name of a group of intelligent entities.
The suffix im always indicates a plural, and therefore a group. In a handful of cases the “grouping” itself is the salient feature and the word ending in 'im' is in fact a numerative device, either a specific number, or a general amount (for example “dozens”). Aside from these distinctly numeric cases, the suffix is generally applied to not merely a group of any random objects, but a group of living beings. These beings are sometimes animals and sometimes humans.
In the case of humans, we see the root appearing on words indicating a certain profession or specific skill. It also appears in instances indicating what we might think of as “race” or “nationality”, normally indicating where this group of people are from and by extension what culture they are part of.
Even in the case of animals, the plurality indicated by 'im' tends to be in reference to some behavioral characteristic of said animals. For example, deer are referred to as “panting for the water” and goats are referred to for their characteristic surefootedness on the mountain cliffs. These characteristics seem to indicate some level of well-suitedness or perhaps it could be argued, some specific type of applied intelligence.
Thus like most words with the suffix, 'im', the Elohim are most assuredly a group, and most likely a group of entities having a form of intelligence. The 'im' suffix brings with it an implication of a certain specific culture, skills, and origin.
Essentially, if “im” is added to the end of <X>, then the new word (“<X>im”) means “The <X> ones”, where X describes some characteristic of the people.
Later we will make a list of words using this suffix, but for now use the backlinks to this page for a dynamic list, each of which is discussed on their own page.