Hebrew
אֵל שַׁדַּי
El Shaddai
God Almighty
One of the great names of God in the Bible — 'God Almighty' (Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3) — emphasizing God's sufficiency and overwhelming power.
El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי) is usually translated 'God Almighty.' 'El' is the general word for God; 'Shaddai' is more debated. The traditional translation 'Almighty' connects Shaddai to the Hebrew shadad (to overpower). Another suggestion connects it to shad (breast) — God as the all-sufficient nurturer. Some link it to Akkadian shadu (mountain) — God of the mountain. The Septuagint sometimes translates it 'Pantokrator' (the all-powerful one). The exact etymology remains uncertain, but the meaning conveyed is consistent: God is overwhelming, sufficient, mighty to do what he promises.
El Shaddai appears 48 times in the OT — most often in Job (31 times) and Genesis (6 times). Key uses. (1) Revealed to the patriarchs. Exodus 6:3 — 'I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty [El Shaddai], but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.' El Shaddai was the patriarchal covenant name; YHWH was the Mosaic covenant name. (2) The promise to Abraham. Genesis 17:1 — 'I am the Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee.' This precedes the covenant of circumcision. (3) Job's experience. Job uses Shaddai 31 times — wrestling with the question of how the Almighty governs suffering. (4) Blessing. Genesis 49:25 — Jacob blesses Joseph 'by the Almighty, who shall bless thee.' The name is associated with covenant blessing.
“I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
“I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty.”
“By the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under.”
“Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?”
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Trust El Shaddai's power for what is humanly impossible. Pray Genesis 17 over your seemingly impossible situations. Dwell in his shadow (Psalm 91:1). He is sufficient.
El Shaddai is usually translated 'God Almighty.' 'El' = God; 'Shaddai' = Almighty, all-sufficient, or possibly 'mountain.' The traditional meaning emphasizes God's overwhelming power and sufficiency. It is one of the great covenant names in the OT, especially associated with the patriarchs.
Exodus 6:3 — 'I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty [El Shaddai].' It was the covenant name God used with the patriarchs. Genesis 17:1 records its first use to Abraham, just before the covenant of circumcision and the promise of Isaac.
El Shaddai = God Almighty (emphasizing power and sufficiency). El Elyon = God Most High (emphasizing supremacy over all). Both are El (God) with different attributes. El Elyon first appears with Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18); El Shaddai with Abraham (Genesis 17:1). Both belong to the one true God.
Recognize that the God who appeared to Abraham as El Shaddai is the same God you trust today. Pray Genesis 17 over impossible situations — the God who made Sarah conceive at 90 is the same God now. Psalm 91:1 — dwell in his shadow. He is sufficient for what looks impossible.