Allah = Al’lah = Al Ilah (Arabic) = El Eloh (Hebrew) = Alla (Maltese) = Ho Theos (Greek) = The God (English).
Arab, Aramaic and Maltese Christians have been using the word Allah and similar since at least the 5th century AD when we first have written records in their languages.
In the Bible, God is referred to by the tetragrammaton (YHWH/IEUE/Jehovah/Yahweh as suits you) and Eloh/Elohim.
Jehovah/etc. is God’s personal name, such as He has one. Elohim/Allah/etc. is simply the word for God in Semitic languages.
the islamists would beg to differ- ALLAH is God’s personal name... He told Mohammed so..... off with your head
the etymology of all’ah seems to be in dispute- some say the term “allah” is derived from elohim or someother term for Supreme deity- others suggest the name “allah” is derived from the name of a pagan moon god who became “the one God” by triumph over a pantheon of lesser deities
NO ONE knows. The interpretations seem to vary according to the agenda (pro or anti muslim). A someone said, the name “allah” has got hijacked by folks who are definitely not on the same road to the same God as Judeao-Christians- despite what George Bush 43 said
Pre Abrahamic pagans worshipped pantheistically too- but we are not now demanding name substitutions into the Bible
when “allah” is shown to be a deity who considers mankind worthy of sending a son incarnate to live in humility, and to let Him be sacrificed crudely by a species who would tear his flesh apart and cheer about it - then all’ah “might” be the same deity as recognized by Abraham
I think this whole Malaysia Christian Arab thing with the Catholic church is a smokescreen to get “alla” inserted into the Bible - where he has not existed by that name before... it is not just about a name for God
backing away now, and leaving up for further discussion
Yes, that's correct. I believe the word "Eloh" and similar words are cognate to "Illah" in Arabic. "Al Illah" (= "the god") is then elided to "Allah".