[Mesorah] R'tzon Konam vs. Koneihem

[Joseph I. Lauer]

    ArtScroll's siddur, which has “Koneihem” in its text, has a note on 
"Retzon Koneihem" reading as follows (Nusach Sefard, p. 91 [the Hebrew has 
been transliterated in brackets]):
    The will of their Maker. Although based on the ruling of Vilna Gaon and 
the Baal HaTanya most texts published in modern times read [konam], their 
Maker, virtually all of the old texts read [koneihem], and this form is 
preferred by most halachic authorities (see Ba’er Hetev and Shaarei Teshuvah 
59:1). The reason for the objection to the original text is that [koneihem], 
with a yud, would normally be translated in the plural, Makers, implying 
 [ch”v] that there is more than one G-d. The commentators deal with the 
translation in two ways. The ‘plural’ means to imply that each of the myriad 
angels individually serves its Maker, thus the plural refers to the angels, 
not G-d (Maharal); G-d is frequently described in the plural to indicate 
respect, as in [Elokim Chaim] (Shaarei Teshuvah).
    Joseph I. Lauer
    Brooklyn, New York