Echad is a Hebrew word meaning one or first.

Many people have heard both males and females blurt out, “He’s the one!” or “She’s the one!” This phrase is often used when thought they’ve found their future spouse.

When it comes to our Messiah Yahushua, he is the only one! There is no other name under heaven or on earth. The scripture says: “Every knee shall bow every tongue confess that he is Elohim.” Romans 14:11 Yahushua, the groom, will appear in the clouds and receive his chosen bride with spectacular glory.

Let’s discover a few things about number one (1). Hebrew has a numerical value when it coincides with the Hebrew alphabet. The first Hebrew letter is ‘Aleph,’ with a number one value.

When you divide one into one, you get to number one. When you multiply one time, the answer is one. This is the only number that can be multiplied or divided and remains unchanged! Like our Creator, he changes not. He remains one.

Yahweh is unique and mirrors the properties of this singular number. Jews say Echad/One. Yahweh is inseparable and reflects his own unity as a single spiritual entity.

Observant Jews proclaim daily the Shema, the eternal declaration that Yahweh is ONE.

From Messiah’s mouth, “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim is one Yahweh” (Mark 12:29 RSB).

Our God is not only one, but he is comprised of a multiplied complexity that equates to one.

Multiply two units of one, and you still end up with one (1 x1 = 1). Multiply three units of one, and you still produce one (1 x 1 x 1 = 1). The scriptures proclaim in the Tanakh and Brit Hadashah that our God is one.

Yahweh can multiply himself everywhere on earth and in Heavens above because he can. He is beyond our human scientific explanations.

No matter how many ways Elohim chooses to manifest himself, he is always one and has remained the same value of one during any decade of time and most certainly before there ever was b’resheet (in the beginning). 

In the beginning (Genesis) was Elohim’s creative work as he spoke the world into existence. This was Elohim’s gift for the beneficial use of mankind. This is where time began as a twenty-four-hour period for the sake of man’s wellbeing. Man is commanded to be fruitful and to apply the concept of rest. Most importantly, man was created to fellowship with his Creator.

The following scripture speaks of a union that existed before creation.

“The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah, the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (Yochanan/John 1:14 CJB).

Then the Son proclaimed, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30).

“The number one is an underlying feature of Jewish life: ‘The other nations have many rites, many clergies, and many houses of worship.  We, the Jewish people, have but 1 G-d, 1 Ark, 1 Altar, and 1 High Priest.’  That is why the whole Torah was given by 1 Shepherd (G-d) and taught by 1 leader (Moshe),” states author Osher Chaim Levene.  (Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers)

Being first/echad can be a paradox and a contradiction at times.

From Messiah’s lips, “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Mattityahu/Matthew 19:30).

The Old and New Covenants have the same narrative as Messiah stating, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” (Revelation 1:11 RSB).

“Listen to me, Ya’kov (Jacob); Israel, whom I have called: I am he who is first; I am also last.” (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 48:12 CJB).

In the picture above, the first letter, ‘א,’ indicates oneness, unity, uniqueness, and strength. One strand on a cord is weak, but a cord of three is strong. Our Elohim identifies himself as three yet one God. He has manifested himself in numerous methods. He is everywhere, but he is the same Spirit.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, the water, and the blood: these three agree in one (1 John 5:7-8 RSB).

Although the Hebrew word ‘echad’ means singularity, it also means first. This singularity is taught in the Bible from beginning to end.

“Messiah has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20; see also Revelation 1:5 and Acts 26:23).

Just as God is the beginning and is holy, Elohim being first relates to holiness.  What comes first sets the stage or the pattern for that which follows.

“And he is the head of the body, the assembly: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18 RSB).

Preeminence ties all of these concepts together. Yahushua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah is first in everything!

Yahushua, our Groom gives a stern warning to the Messianic Community in Smyrna.

“But I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first”  (Revelation 2:4 CJB).  

Messiah must be central in our walk. The obedience to first Commandment is born out of his love because he loved us first.

And thou shalt love Yahweh thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31 RSB).