---
title: "Monotheism | Intro to Judaism"
description: "Monotheism in Intro to Judaism is the belief in one God, shaping Jewish prayer, covenant, ethics, and identity from the Torah to later philosophy."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/introduction-to-judaism/key-terms/monotheism"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Intro to Judaism"
unit: "Unit 7"
---

# Monotheism | Intro to Judaism

## Definition

Monotheism is the belief in one God, and in Intro to Judaism it is the core idea that shapes Jewish prayer, covenant, law, and identity.

## What It Is

Monotheism in Intro to Judaism means Judaism’s belief that there is one God, not many gods with separate powers or territories. That one God is understood as the creator, ruler, and sustainer of the world, and this belief sits at the center of Jewish theology.

This is more than a numbers issue. In Jewish thought, one God means one ultimate source of authority, which changes how people think about morality, worship, and history. Instead of explaining events through competing divine forces, Judaism reads the world through a relationship with a single, covenant-making God who expects loyalty, justice, and obedience.

A big part of the course is seeing how monotheism grows out of the biblical tradition. The stories of Abraham and the patriarchs mark a break from the surrounding ancient Near Eastern world, where many cultures worshiped multiple deities. Jewish tradition presents Abraham as the one who turns away from idols and commits to the God who calls him into covenant.

That covenant idea matters because monotheism is not just abstract belief. It shows up in promises, commandments, and community identity. If one God gives the Torah, then Jewish law is not just a local custom, it is a response to divine authority. That is why monotheism connects so tightly to mitzvot, Shabbat, prayer, and Jewish ethics.

You will also see that Jewish monotheism gets more precise over time. Texts and thinkers wrestle with questions like, How can one God be beyond human description? What does it mean to say God is unique? Medieval philosophers such as Maimonides push the idea further by arguing that God cannot be compared to anything in the created world. So in this course, monotheism is both a basic belief and a topic that gets interpreted, defended, and refined across Jewish history.

## Why It Matters

Monotheism is the thread that connects the Bible, Jewish practice, and Jewish philosophy. Once you know that Judaism centers on one God, a lot of other topics make more sense, from the Shema to covenant to why Jewish law is treated as sacred obligation rather than optional tradition.

It also helps you read biblical narratives with the right lens. Stories about Abraham, the Binding of Isaac, and the covenant are not just family history or ancient legend. They show how the Jewish people understand their relationship with the one God who chooses, commands, and remembers.

In later Jewish thought, monotheism becomes a test case for deeper questions. Thinkers such as Maimonides and Hasdai Crescas use it to talk about divine unity, human reason, and the limits of language about God. That means the term does double duty in the course: it is a core belief and a doorway into Jewish intellectual history.

It also separates Judaism from the many polytheistic cultures in the ancient world, which is useful when you are comparing religions or analyzing historical context. If a prompt asks why Jewish identity developed differently, monotheism is usually part of the answer.

## Connections

### [Shema](/introduction-to-judaism/key-terms/shema)

The Shema is the classic Jewish declaration of monotheism, especially in the line, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” In practice, it is one of the clearest places where belief becomes prayer. If you are asked how Jews express monotheism, the Shema is the best text to mention because it is short, familiar, and central.

### Covenant

Monotheism and covenant go together in Judaism. The one God is not just a creator, but the God who makes promises and asks for loyalty in return. That is why covenant helps explain why monotheism leads to law, identity, and ethical responsibility rather than only private belief.

### [Ethical Monotheism](/introduction-to-judaism/key-terms/ethical-monotheism)

Ethical monotheism is the idea that belief in one God is tied to moral behavior and justice. In Intro to Judaism, this helps explain why Jewish theology often connects worship with how you treat other people. It is a useful term when you want to show that Jewish monotheism is about more than theology, it also shapes ethics.

### [Guide for the Perplexed](/introduction-to-judaism/key-terms/guide-for-the-perplexed)

Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed gives a sophisticated philosophical account of monotheism. Instead of treating God as a humanlike being, it emphasizes divine unity and the limits of human language. This connection matters when the course moves from biblical belief to medieval Jewish philosophy.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz or short essay might ask you to identify monotheism in a passage from the Torah, explain how it differs from polytheism, or connect it to the Shema and covenant. The move you make is to show that Judaism’s belief in one God shapes both belief and practice, not just abstract theology.

In a discussion post or written response, you might use monotheism to explain why the covenant with Abraham matters, or why Jewish law carries divine authority. If a prompt asks about Jewish identity in the ancient world, you can point out that monotheism set Israel apart from neighboring cultures that worshiped many gods.

You may also be asked to trace the idea across history. In that case, mention how biblical narratives establish one God, then show how philosophers like Maimonides refine the concept by stressing God’s uniqueness and transcendence.

## Monotheism vs polytheism

Monotheism means belief in one God, while polytheism means belief in multiple gods. They are often contrasted in Intro to Judaism because Judaism defines itself partly through its rejection of worshiping more than one deity.

## Key Takeaways

- Monotheism in Judaism means belief in one God who creates, rules, and sustains the world.
- This belief is not separate from practice, because it shapes prayer, law, ethics, and community identity.
- The Shema is the clearest short expression of Jewish monotheism.
- Biblical covenant stories and medieval philosophy both build on the idea that God is one and unique.
- Monotheism helps explain how Judaism differed from many ancient religions and why that difference mattered.

## FAQs

### What is monotheism in Intro to Judaism?

Monotheism is the belief in one God, and in Judaism it is the foundation for everything else, including prayer, law, and ethics. The course treats it as a defining feature of Jewish identity, not just a general religious idea.

### How is monotheism different from polytheism?

Monotheism teaches that there is only one God, while polytheism teaches that there are many gods. In Intro to Judaism, this difference matters because Judaism’s core texts and rituals are built around loyalty to a single divine source.

### What text shows Jewish monotheism most clearly?

The Shema is the most famous Jewish statement of monotheism. It declares that God is one, and it appears in daily prayer, which makes it a strong example of how belief turns into ritual.

### Why does monotheism matter for Jewish law?

If one God is the source of the Torah, then Jewish law carries divine authority. That is why monotheism is connected to commandments, ethics, and the covenant, not just to abstract belief about God.

## Related Study Guides

- [7.2 Major Jewish Philosophers and Their Ideas](/introduction-to-judaism/unit-7/major-jewish-philosophers-ideas/study-guide/6zG1MwKo3cWtAkkN)
- [1.4 Major Beliefs and Principles of Judaism](/introduction-to-judaism/unit-1/major-beliefs-principles-judaism/study-guide/ImUzgMuad0FOjOLQ)
- [2.2 Historical Development and Authorship Theories](/introduction-to-judaism/unit-2/historical-development-authorship-theories/study-guide/l4xAnc6bMb5TibgQ)
- [5.1 Biblical Narratives of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs](/introduction-to-judaism/unit-5/biblical-narratives-patriarchs-matriarchs/study-guide/whbq69t4SSwn1YNC)

## About This Document

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