'Elohim refers to multiple beings': Bible expert claims scriptures actually describe alien rulers

 Italian Bible translator Mauro Biglino has claimed that ancient Hebrew scriptures describe multiple physical beings, rather than one God, and may preserve accounts of non-human rulers visiting Earth.

In comments reported this month, Biglino said his reading of biblical language, developed while translating Old Testament texts for Catholic publisher Edizioni San Paolo, also raises questions about what Vatican scholars may know of his work.

Biglino is a prominent advocate of the ancient alien theory, which argues that technologically advanced non-human visitors were misunderstood as gods, angels or demons by ancient societies. His latest claims rest on a literal interpretation of selected Hebrew terms and passages, an approach that mainstream biblical scholars do not accept.

Biglino said figures within the Vatican, including historians, archaeologists and scientists, were 'likely fully aware' that the Hebrew Bible could offer a more complicated account than conventional religious teaching allows.

He provided no evidence that Vatican officials were monitoring his research or preparing to respond to it.

'Given the reach of my publications... I believe it is highly probable that, sooner or later, the Vatican will intervene in some way,' he claimed. IBTimes UK cannot independently verify these claims, so readers should treat them with caution.

Elohim Sits at Heart of Alien Rulers Claim

Biglino's argument centres on the Hebrew word Elohim, which is plural in form and is often translated as 'God' in English-language Bibles. He argues that the word refers not to a singular, eternal deity but to a group of powerful beings who governed territories, held councils and fought wars.

He has also pointed to names including Yahweh, Elyon and Shaddai, which Jewish and Christian traditions generally understand as names or titles for one God. In Biglino's interpretation, they may instead indicate different rulers or authorities.

'My approach is different because I begin with the Hebrew words, their grammar and the concrete actions attributed to the biblical protagonists,' he said.

That is the crux of his argument. Biglino says the Elohim are depicted behaving like physical entities, travelling between places, forming alliances, and experiencing anger, jealousy and fear.

They also eat, drink and rest, he argued, traits that he believes sit awkwardly with the traditional description of an all-knowing and immortal God.

He cited Psalm 82, which describes God presiding ove an assembly of divine beings and warning that they will 'die like mortals.' He also referred to Deuteronomy 32, which discusses nations being divided among higher powers.

Neither passage, however, mentions extraterrestrials, spacecraft or alien contact. Mainstream scholars generally interpret the other figures in such passages as spiritual beings subordinate to the God of Israel, not rival physical rulers from another world.

There is another important grammatical point. Although Elohim is plural in form, it is frequently paired with singular verbs when referring to Israel's God.

Biblical scholars have long regarded that construction as evidence that the word can carry a singular meaning in context.