The majestic plural, also known as the royal “we” or the divine “we,” is a grammatical form where a singular subject refers to themselves using a plural pronoun. This form is often used to convey grandeur, authority, and power. In the Bible, the majestic plural is commonly used when God is speaking or being spoken about.
Definition and Origins of the Majestic Plural
The majestic plural emerged in ancient times when monarchs would use “we” or “us” to refer to themselves instead of “I” or “me” in order to amplify their status and authority. The plural would convey a sense that the ruler embodied or spoke for their entire kingdom or populace, not just themselves as an individual. This grammatical technique spread from royal courts to religious settings to add a tone of reverence when referring to deities or spiritual powers. The Bible contains one of the earliest and most prominent examples of the majestic plural being used for God.
Use of the Majestic Plural for God in the Bible
Throughout the Old Testament, God frequently refers to Himself using plural pronouns and verbs. This begins in Genesis 1:26 (ESV): “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'” The plurality expressed here is distinctive because God is unequivocally presented as the one supreme being and sole creator in the Bible. There are not multiple gods involved.
Scholars propose several potential reasons for God’s use of the majestic plural:
- It reflects the multiplicity within God’s own nature – Father, Son, and Spirit.
- It depicts God’s sovereignty over all creation.
- It draws on similar rhetoric used by earthly rulers.
- It intimates the participation of God’s heavenly court of angels.
The majestic plural is employed frequently throughout the first five books of the Bible when God speaks:
“And the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil'” (Genesis 3:22 ESV).
“Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech” (Genesis 11:7 ESV).
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'” (Isaiah 6:8 ESV).
Thus, the majestic plural in these instances conveys God’s supreme authority and power. He speaks on behalf of the entirety of the divine realm.
Use of the Plural Pronoun “We” by Jesus
The Gospels record Jesus occasionally using the majestic plural “we” in a distinctive manner that demands explanation. In John 3:11 (ESV), Jesus tells Nicodemus:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen.”
In this chapter, Jesus has been using singular pronouns to refer to Himself. The sudden shift to “we” indicates He is now speaking from the standpoint of the Triune Godhead – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit united together. Jesus’ unity with the Father is emphasized in the Gospel of John (John 10:30; 17:20-23). By using the majestic plural “we,” Jesus claims full divine authority.
Another example is John 8:17-18 (ESV) where Jesus states:
“In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
Although Jesus refers to Himself in the singular, He implies representation of the Father as well by mentioning “two people” giving testimony. This further points to Christ utilizing the majestic plural “we” to denote His unity with the Father.
Examples of Majestic Plural in the Epistles
A few intriguing cases of the divine plural show up in the New Testament letters as well:
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14 ESV).
The use of the plural “we” and “us” indicates the author, Paul, is writing on behalf of himself and other believers collectively. Because of their unity with Christ, Christians can speak of experiencing redemption and forgiveness from the perspective of the majestic plurality of the Trinity.
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20 ESV).
Again, John employs the majestic plural “we” as a believer incorporated into the Triune Godhead through faith in Jesus Christ. This amplifies the glory, authority, and unity of the one true God.
The Majestic Plural in Revelation
The Book of Revelation contains several striking examples of the majestic plural used for God:
“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21 ESV).
Jesus refers to Himself singularly conquering and being seated on His Father’s throne, indicating unity and co-regency with the Father. The majestic plural heightens the sense of Christ’s supreme authority as the glorified God-man.
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'” (Revelation 4:8 ESV).
The threefold repetition of God’s holiness is a likely allusion to the Trinity. Though referring to the one God, the divine plurality represents the fullness of His glory and perfection.
Thus, Revelation appropriately brings the majestic plural to a crescendo as it unveils the awe-inspiring glory of the Triune God reigning in heaven and over the earth.
Conclusion
In summary, the majestic plural is a rhetorical technique used to magnify the grandeur and authority of the one speaking. This grammatical form appears frequently in the Bible when God speaks, especially in the Old Testament. The divine “we” conveys God’s supremacy as He speaks and acts on behalf of the fullness of the Trinity and His entire heavenly kingdom. Jesus Himself intentionally employs the majestic plural at times to signify His divine nature and oneness with the Father. The plural pronouns amplify the reality that the one true God reigns supreme over all creation. Though mysterious in its full implications, the majestic plural in Scripture provides a glimpse into the glory, sovereignty, and plurality within the nature of the one true God.
