el shaddai el shaddai el elyon na adonai

The word 'Shaddai' (by itself) was used later by the prophets (e.g., Num. 17:2).Įl Shaddai is used almost exclusively in reference to the three great patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and (according to Exodus 6:2-3) was the primary name by which God was known to the founders of Israel (the Name YHVH given to Moses suggests God's absolute self-sufficiency). Indeed, God first uses this Name when He refers to multiplying Abraham's offspring (Gen.

In this case, the Name might derive from the contraction of sha ('who') and dai ('enough') to indicate God's complete sufficiency to nurture the fledgling nation into fruitfulness. Jacob's blessing given in Genesis 49:25, however, indicates that Shaddai might be related to the word for breasts (shadaim), indicating sufficiency and nourishment (i.e., 'blessings of the breasts and of the womb' ( בִּרְכת שָׁדַיִם וָרָחַם)). He left creation 'unfinished' because He wanted us to complete the job by means of exercising chesed (love) in repair of the world (tikkun olam). God created the world but 'stopped' at a certain point. God is so overpowering that He is considered 'Almighty.'Īccording to some of the sages, Shaddai is a contraction of the phrase, 'I said to the world, dai (enough)' (as in the famous word used in the Passover Haggadah, Dayeinu - 'it would have been sufficient').

Most English translations render El Shaddai as 'God Almighty,' probably because the translators of the Septuagint (i.e., the Greek translation of the Old Testament) thought Shaddai came from a root verb (shadad) that means 'to overpower' or 'to destroy.' The Latin Vulgate likewise translated Shaddai as 'Omnipotens' (from which we get our English word omnipotent). Walk before me and be perfect.' So why did the LORD choose to reveal Himself using this distinctive Name to Abram? In Genesis 17:1, YHVH said to Abram: 'I am El Shaddai. 24:6 Ruth 1:20 Job (various references) Psa. Note that the pictogram for the word El appears as a 'strong Controller' or Sovereign:Įchad means one in Hebrew and hearkens to the Shema.Įmet means firmness, faithfulness, reliableness. The basic form El ( אֵל) appears over 250 times in the Tanakh.Īppears primarily in construct relation when describing the God of Israel.

The name for God meaning 'might, strength, or power.'

A definition for the name, references to the Tanakh, and frequency information.

The most common English transliteration (in italics).

These other names or titles for God are sometimes called 'construct forms.'įor each name in the list below, I provide the following information: When used of the true God of Israel, El is almost always qualified by additional words that further define the meaning that distinguish Him from false gods. In Scripture, the primary meanings of this root are 'god' (pagan or false gods), 'God' (the true God of Israel), and sometimes 'the mighty' (referring to men or angels). He word El ( אל) comes from a root word meaning 'might, strength, power' and probably derives from the Ugaritic term for god.

El shaddai el shaddai el elyon na adonai