El Shaddai –
'God Almighty' or ‘All-sufficient one’
some bible verses - Ex. 6:1; Ps. 91:1, 2;Isaiah 60:16, 66:10-13; Gen 17:1; Gen 28:3; Gen 35:11; Gen 43:14; Gen 48:3; Gen49:25; Exod. 6:3; Num. 24:6; Ruth 1:20; Job (various references); Psa. 22:10; 68:15; 91:1; Ezek. 1:24; 10:5
You might be asking why do I spend time on either God names or trying to find out the meaning behind them? “How does this practically help me?”
This does practically help. For then we know who our God is. What His attributes are. This doesn’t only just help in our worship to God but it helps us when we hear people make statements about God. There are so many false or not 100% true things said about God. Then we can take those statements and compare it to what we have learned and know about God. And even share with those people why it’s not true and how we know it.
“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). God is so overpowering that He is considered "Almighty." see Hebrew4christians
Everyone seems to agree that the exact derivation is uncertain or unknown.
Do read myredeemerlives on the background of this name, it’s really helpful, it also looks at ‘shad’ as well as ‘shadad.’ -
“The Hebrew word "shad" or "shadayim" (meaning "breast" or "breasts") occurs 24 times as "Shaddai" and signifies One who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies (Isaiah 60:16, 66:10-13). Combined with the word for God, "El", it then becomes the "One mighty to nourish, satisfy, and supply".
This illustration of El Shaddai keeping us to His breast reminds me of day 2 and how we looked at the verse Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” This takes it one step further. A mother feeds, nourishes her baby while keeping him or her close to her heart. The baby is 100% reliant on the mother for all their needs. God is giving us that picture to us. That El Shaddai will meet all our needs, He will completely satisfy us. Because El Shaddai is mighty, and He has the power and strength to do so, He will let nothing stand in the way of it.
For Hamish, Anthony and I are the ones who satisfy his needs. We love, exercise him, feed him, try and keep him from getting bored, we have rules and discipline him. He needs discipline like a child, to know the boundaries, what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.
When Hamish was in the dog park one day, a big dog came straight over to him – owner nowhere in sight. From feet away Hamish began to cower and I saw this dog wasn’t friendly (by its body language) and I stepped in before it turned nasty, while the dog was still feet away. And the unfriendly dog turned and ran away. Hamish can rely on me to be the ‘mighty’ one for him, not letting anyone get in the way of our time together, not letting anyone harm him. I will protect him. We have that with God Almighty. There may be a dog one day that will attack me and I can’t defend Hamish but there isn’t anyone who can do that with God. El Shaddai is ‘the almighty.’
If you think of a mother and her baby if anyone threatens her child, she will do anything to protect the baby, even dying for him or her if it means they have a chance to live. Maybe that is why the Hebrew ‘shad’ and ‘shadad’ are so similar?
I honestly don't know, but the picture of El Shaddai being so powerful to overcome anything or anyone compliments the picture of El Shaddai being our all sustaining – All Sufficient One; the one who supplies all our needs.
Do you let him satisfy and supply your needs?
So many people try and satisfy their God-shaped hole with work, addictions, even work for God.
If you don’t draw near to God often, like a baby to their mother’s breast to get nourished, taking time to feed, then nothing or no one will fill that hole/hunger.
El Shaddai - Amy Grant
El Shaddai, el shaddai
El-elyon na adonia
Age to age you're still the same
By the power of the name
El shaddai, el shaddai
Erkamka na adonai
I will praise and lift you high
El shaddai
Through your love and through the ram
You saved the son of Abraham
Through the power of your hand
You turned the sea into dry land
To the outcast on her knees
You were the God who really sees
And by your might
You set your children free
(chorus x 2)
Through the years you've made it clear
That the time of Christ was near
Though the people couldn't see
What Messiah ought to be
Your most awesome work was done
Through the frailty of your son
I will praise and lift you high
El shaddai
This is a lovely song to reflect on a couple of names of God.
What other songs can you think of?
(you didn't think I was going to let you away with El Shaddai?!)
You might be asking why do I spend time on either God names or trying to find out the meaning behind them? “How does this practically help me?”
This does practically help. For then we know who our God is. What His attributes are. This doesn’t only just help in our worship to God but it helps us when we hear people make statements about God. There are so many false or not 100% true things said about God. Then we can take those statements and compare it to what we have learned and know about God. And even share with those people why it’s not true and how we know it.
“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). God is so overpowering that He is considered "Almighty." see Hebrew4christians
Everyone seems to agree that the exact derivation is uncertain or unknown.
Do read myredeemerlives on the background of this name, it’s really helpful, it also looks at ‘shad’ as well as ‘shadad.’ -
“The Hebrew word "shad" or "shadayim" (meaning "breast" or "breasts") occurs 24 times as "Shaddai" and signifies One who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies (Isaiah 60:16, 66:10-13). Combined with the word for God, "El", it then becomes the "One mighty to nourish, satisfy, and supply".
This illustration of El Shaddai keeping us to His breast reminds me of day 2 and how we looked at the verse Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” This takes it one step further. A mother feeds, nourishes her baby while keeping him or her close to her heart. The baby is 100% reliant on the mother for all their needs. God is giving us that picture to us. That El Shaddai will meet all our needs, He will completely satisfy us. Because El Shaddai is mighty, and He has the power and strength to do so, He will let nothing stand in the way of it.
For Hamish, Anthony and I are the ones who satisfy his needs. We love, exercise him, feed him, try and keep him from getting bored, we have rules and discipline him. He needs discipline like a child, to know the boundaries, what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.
When Hamish was in the dog park one day, a big dog came straight over to him – owner nowhere in sight. From feet away Hamish began to cower and I saw this dog wasn’t friendly (by its body language) and I stepped in before it turned nasty, while the dog was still feet away. And the unfriendly dog turned and ran away. Hamish can rely on me to be the ‘mighty’ one for him, not letting anyone get in the way of our time together, not letting anyone harm him. I will protect him. We have that with God Almighty. There may be a dog one day that will attack me and I can’t defend Hamish but there isn’t anyone who can do that with God. El Shaddai is ‘the almighty.’
If you think of a mother and her baby if anyone threatens her child, she will do anything to protect the baby, even dying for him or her if it means they have a chance to live. Maybe that is why the Hebrew ‘shad’ and ‘shadad’ are so similar?
I honestly don't know, but the picture of El Shaddai being so powerful to overcome anything or anyone compliments the picture of El Shaddai being our all sustaining – All Sufficient One; the one who supplies all our needs.
Do you let him satisfy and supply your needs?
So many people try and satisfy their God-shaped hole with work, addictions, even work for God.
If you don’t draw near to God often, like a baby to their mother’s breast to get nourished, taking time to feed, then nothing or no one will fill that hole/hunger.
El Shaddai - Amy Grant
El Shaddai, el shaddai
El-elyon na adonia
Age to age you're still the same
By the power of the name
El shaddai, el shaddai
Erkamka na adonai
I will praise and lift you high
El shaddai
Through your love and through the ram
You saved the son of Abraham
Through the power of your hand
You turned the sea into dry land
To the outcast on her knees
You were the God who really sees
And by your might
You set your children free
(chorus x 2)
Through the years you've made it clear
That the time of Christ was near
Though the people couldn't see
What Messiah ought to be
Your most awesome work was done
Through the frailty of your son
I will praise and lift you high
El shaddai
This is a lovely song to reflect on a couple of names of God.
What other songs can you think of?
(you didn't think I was going to let you away with El Shaddai?!)
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