El Shaddai

 

 

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Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower: Summary Chart
Name of the LORD: Why Should You Study It?
Jehovah

Jehovah Ezer: The LORD our Helper
Jehovah Jireh: The LORD Will Provide
Jehovah Rapha: (Jehovah Rophe) The LORD our Healer 
Jehovah Roi (Raah, Rohi, Roeh): Pt 1: The Lord is My Shepherd
Jehovah Roi: Pt 2
Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts (of armies)

Jehovah Sabaoth: Pt 2
Jehovah Mekeddeshem (Mekadesh): LORD Who Sanctifies: (Jehovah M'Kaddesh)
Jehovah Nissi: The LORD Our Banner

Jehovah Nissi: Exposition of Exodus 17:8-16
Jehovah Shalom -Pt1: The LORD our Peace
Jehovah Shalom - Pt2
Elohim: My Creator   
El Elyon: Most High God - Sovereign Over All
El Roi: God Who Sees
El Shaddai - God Almighty
Our Stronghold: sermon by C H Spurgeon on Pr 18:10

     

RUN INTO & REST
IN THE STRONG TOWER OF
EL SHADDAI
GOD'S
PAST
REVELATION
(GENESIS 1-16)
GOD'S
NEXT
REVELATION
(GENESIS 17)
MAN'S
RESPONSE
IN LIGHT OF
THE REVELATION

Remember that God's Names always reveal an aspect or attribute of His character and witness to an awareness of God’s presence and help in various ways. Notice how this revelation occurs progressively in the Genesis...

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GENESIS 1
Elohim
My Creator
(see notes)

 

Isaiah 43:7
Why does God say we were created?

Everyone who is called by My name and whom I have created for My glory

 

Each person is created by God with and for a purpose.
 

We need to accept ourselves as creations of God, each of whom has the privileged purpose to bring Him glory

 

Ephesians 2:10

What does Paul say about us when we are "re-created" (regenerated, born again)?

 

Eph 2:10 (note) teaches that believers are now His workmanship (poiema - "masterpiece") created in Christ for good works

 

Matthew 5:16

What association do good works have with the glory of God?

 

Jesus exhorts His hearers to "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify (give a proper opinion) of your Father Who is in heaven" (See note Mt 5:16)

 

Have you accepted the fact that Elohim is your Creator? 

 

Do you believe that He has a purpose for your life?

 

Do you understand that the way to bring glory to let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and give Him glory?

 

Am I fulfilling the purpose for which Elohim created me? Does the way I live give a proper opinion of my Elohim?

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GENESIS 15

After Abram had rescued Lot, God spoke to Abram in a vision...

Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you. Your reward shall be very great"' (Ge 15:1)

Abram proceeds  to suggest that Eliezer would be the heir but immediately God confirms that the heir will be his own seed...

And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be"

(Ge 15:5)

 

Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

(Ge 15:6)

After God initiated and carried out the "walk of death" between the dead animals, Moses records...

On that day the LORD made (cut) a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land..." (N.B. This promise is not to the church but Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [Covenant Abrahamic vs Mosaic] - to national Israel - it will be consummated in the Millennium)...because He is El Shaddai - God Almighty, Pantokrator, Omnipotent and Sufficient). (Ge 15:18)

 

GENESIS 14

El Elyon
Most High God

Sovereign Over All
(see notes - El Elyon)

 

Sovereignty reminds us that God is in control regardless of appearances. Here God reveals Himself to Abram as God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth (see Ge 14:19)

 

Nothing happens without El Elyon's permission

 

Will I accept my circumstances as allowed by God, understanding that everything is orchestrated not by chance but by an omnipotent God Who seeks to bring about my highest good (see note Ro 8:28)?


If we come to know God as El Elyon, it should germinate an attitude of gratitude so that we are enabled by the Spirit to truly give thanks In everything (see note
1Thes 5:18)

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GENESIS 16:13-14
El Roi
God Who Sees
(see notes)

 

Abram takes a "faith detour" and agrees with Sarai that Hagar can bear his child but Ishmael is the child of the flesh not of promise. Then Sarai tells Abram to cast Hagar out, which is when God revealed Himself as El Roi.

 

The Living God saw Hagar's plight. The same God sees our plight today and is concerned with our circumstances.

 

El Elyon allows people and circumstances into our lives but El Roi sees and is aware of what is transpiring, a truth which should strengthen us

Let us learn to live in the presence of the living God Who sees all. (See C H Spurgeon's comments)

As an aside, we might all be tempted to judge Abram for his "faith detour" in Genesis 16, but don't we all have similar struggles? Sure we have trusted in Christ alone for our eternal salvation but then we go out and live our day to day Christian life as though everything depended on us! We all need to learn the secret of daily yielding ourselves to Him, allowing His Spirit to live the supernatural Christ life that alone brings glory to His Name (cp notes Romans 12:1).

Paul addressed a similar "faith detour" in the Galatian church asking...

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Gal 3:2; 3:3)

In Genesis 17 Abraham learned the secret of surrender of his will to the will of his God, El Shaddai, Who is mighty and sufficient to bring about the fulfillment of His promises in His perfect timing. May we all learn from Abram's example, and choose to submit to our El Shaddai, in every area of our life, that He might bring forth His supernatural promises, including not just spiritual life, but life abundant in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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In summary we observe that thus far in Genesis, God has revealed Himself as

Elohim
El Elyon
El Roi

Now He will reveal Himself to Abraham as..

El
Shaddai

Principle to ponder - Remember that one way to get to know God better is to pay attention to His names. However, it is one thing to know God’s name and quite something else to trust that name and allow God to work in the difficult situations of life (Psalm 9:10)

El Shaddai is better known to most Christians from contemporary music (lyrics and melody) than from the Scriptures!

 

Abraham's Life
Provides Context for Genesis 17


Genesis 12
Abram - Age 75

God gave Abram a condition and a promise. God called him to leave his country and go to a land which He would show him. This took a "leap of faith" to obey, but faith is always based on truth and Abram responded affirmatively strengthened by the truth of God's promise...

 

Ge 12:3  I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families (Jew and Gentile) of the earth shall be blessed

 

Genesis 15

God promised Abram an heir.

 

Ge 15:5 (God) took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your (seed - masculine singular) descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
 

What did Abraham believe?

 

He believed in the promised Seed (masculine singular) of the Messiah. He believed in the Gospel.

 

Paul agrees writing...

 

Gal 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations shall be blessed in you."
 

Paul explains...

 

Gal 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed (masc, sing)," that is, Christ (Messiah).

 

Principle: OT saints were saved in the same way as NT saints - by grace through faith in the coming Messiah promised in the Gospel. They were NOT saved by good works!
 

Genesis 16

Abraham - Age 86

He temporarily failed the test of faith by taking a "Hagar detour"

 

Ge 16:2 Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai... 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived (Ishmael "a wild donkey of a man" - father of all Arabs who henceforth became the implacable enemy of Israel, which endures to our modern day)
 

Application: Fleshly attempts to accomplish the will of God are fundamentally sins of unbelief. How many times have we struggled with the promises of God and like Abraham attempted to help Him out – we trust Him fully for our salvation but so often live our day to day life as if everything else depended on us! (See Gal 3:3)

 

Remember...
Man's extremity is God's opportunity

Beware...
Man's security is Satan's opportunity

 

Genesis 17
Age 99

 

How does God reaffirm His promise?

 

Ge 17:1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty Walk before Me, and be blameless 2 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly."
 

God Almighty =
El Shaddai
(
Shadday - 07706)

 

When did God reveal Himself to Abraham? What was Abraham struggling to believe?

 

God revealed Himself as God Almighty when Abraham was struggling to believe that God could still carry out His promise to make him a father of many nations. God's Name in this context conveys His ability to fulfill His promises. The question for us today is...

 

Dearly beloved, offspring (seed) of Abraham (Gal 3:29) what promises of God are you struggling to believe? Recall to your mind the truth inherent in His Name, El Shaddai. Then run into the strong tower of His name and you will be safe.

 

As you come to truly know God as El Shaddai, God Almighty, you will be enabled to lay hold of the truth of His power and His sufficiency to carry out what He has promised. Remember that Paul teaches faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So to hear and understand the meaning of El Shaddai is to have one's faith bolstered and undergirded. Then, when fear or doubt creep in or are thrown at us like fiery missiles from the Evil One, we can take up this shield of faith (see note Eph 6:16) based on the truth about El Shaddai.


El Shaddai

 

From the etymology of Shaddai and the OT uses (see discussion below), two major ideas are associated with this Name -

 

(1)Omnipotence

(2)Sufficiency

 

Both these attributes of God's character have powerful applications to our lives.

 

The idea of the sufficiency of Shaddai is brought out especially in Naomi's lament in Ruth 1 (see notes)
 

As an aside, why did Abram have to wait almost 25 years for God to fulfill His promise?

 

Like many who are filled with self confidence, Abram had to be brought to the end of himself.
 

God often does not show us his OMNIPOTENCE until he shows us our IMPOTENCE.

 

Paul learned this same principle in 2 Corinthians

writing that...

 

because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me-- to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
 

Is El Shaddai enough? Is He sufficient to meet my needs? Can He be trusted to fulfill His promises?


As Abraham and Paul (and many other saints) learned, it is when we come to the end of ourselves and our resources, that we begin to "tap into" the sufficiency of the supply of El Shaddai, and find that it is more than adequate for all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

 
Remember 3 things about problems: we cannot run from them, we cannot prevent them from coming into our life and we can't always solve all of them – Yet El Shaddai can be our sufficiency for in the midst of every impossible circumstance.


Are you facing a difficult or even impossible circumstance? Have you considered calling out to El Shaddai?

 

What will it take to make you happy? Or asked another way "How much is enough"?

 

Most of us (even sadly many believers) would answer in monetary terms. But of course we know that the answer is never in money or things or even circumstances. It is only when we come to come to know that God is enough, El Shaddai is the Sufficient One. Abram faced a faith crisis event that God used to show him that He alone was El Shaddai, the only One sufficient to fulfill His promises.

 

Have you come to the point in your personal relationship with God that He is enough? Is He sufficient to meet all your needs? Can He be trusted to fulfill the promises of His Word?

Our Response Is Commanded


Walk before Me

The Hebrew verb is a reflexive command - You yourself walk. Note that walk here is not taking one step after another, but is used in a more figurative sense to picture one's behavior or daily conduct.

 

Before Me is more literally before My face (see paniym = face - See Spurgeon on "face"). The idea is that all of our steps are ever before the face of God. This same picture is conveyed by the well known Latin phrase Coram Deo = Before the face of God. (see Mackintosh's comments)

 

In the Septuagint (LXX), walk before is translated by the verb euaresteo (related adjective euarestos from eu = well + aresko = to please) which means to behave in a manner that  causes another to be pleased. Paul uses the adjective euarestos in his well known exhortation in Ro 12:1 (see verse note) where he calls for believers to present themselves "acceptable to God".  Euaresteo is also used in the Lxx translation of  Ge 5:22 (= Enoch walked with God; LXX = Enoch was well pleasing to God - see notes Heb 11:5; 6). (Cp same idea in Ge 6:9 "Noah was... blameless [tamiym-see below]. Noah walked with [Lxx = well pleasing to] God") (see Spurgeon's comments)

 

Be blameless

The Hebrew verb be is qal imperative which is also a command. ( In the Lxx be is also a command in the present tense = continually be blameless)

 

Principle to ponder: Abram does not have license to live as he pleases. His behavior is to reflect the character of the One Who called him. Did your thoughts, words and deeds reflect this day reflect the One Who called you, dear beloved of the Father?

 

Blameless (08549) (tamiym) means to be whole, complete, sound, perfect. The idea is one who has integrity and whose life is in accord with the truth of God's word and His righteous character (cp "Job... was blameless [tam]" - Job 1:1)

 

The Greek translation  (LXX) of the Hebrew adjective tamiym is translated with  amemptos (273)  (from a = negative + mémphomai = find fault) which means irreproachable, faultless, without defect or blemish and thus describes one in whom others are not able to find fault. Amemptos is used by Paul (see notes Phil 2:15; 1Th 3:13) in his giving a charge to NT believers similar to God's charge to Abraham in Genesis 17. (See Spurgeon's comment on "Be thou perfect")

 

The question arises as to how Abraham (OT believer) or believers in the NT can carry out this lofty command?

 

The answer is found in the context where Jehovah had just revealed Himself to Abraham (Abram) as El Shaddai, the God Who is omnipotent, able to do anything including able to make us walk in His sight in a manner which pleases Him and in a way which is blameless in the eyes of others.

 

He is El Shaddai, the God Who is sufficient to meet all of our needs so that we might be pleasing and perfect.

 

We can accomplish neither of these lofty goals by self effort but only by "Shaddai dependence", continually leaning on the everlasting arms of the One we have come to know and trust as El Shaddai - Who Alone can empower us to walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called. We cannot live this supernatural life in our strength, but God can live it in and through us as we learn to rely on Him as our El Shaddai, for as the song (play) says...

 

Age to age You're still the same, by the power of Your the Name. El Shaddai. El Shaddai... We will praise and lift You high, El Shaddai.

 

Have you come to the point in your life as a believer where you recognize your inadequacy and impotence to live the "Christ life"?

If we choose to obey His command to walk before Him (well pleasing) and be blameless, we shall come to know intimately and experientially the omnipotence and sufficiency of His Name El Shaddai. The timeless principle that obedience leads to greater knowledge is seen in Jesus' words...

 

"If any man is willing to do His (God's) will (walk before Him and be blameless), he shall know (ginosko - knowing that goes beyond mere facts, and is even used to describe the intimate knowing of a husband and wife) of the teaching (the stabilizing truths inherent in His Name El Shaddai)...." (John 7:17)

 

Perhaps you don't intimately know God as your El Shaddai because you have hesitated to give Him your whole hearted obedience. Would you not be willing to say "not my will be done but Thine" and reap the wonderful reward of really knowing El Shaddai as your Omnipotent, Sufficient God even today?

 

Read the testimony of the psalmist who quotes God...

 

Because He has loved Me, therefore I will deliver (Lxx = rhuomai) him. I will set him securely on high (sagab = same word as "safe" [07682] in Pr 18:10), because he has known (not just the facts but intimately, experientially) My Name. (Ps 91:14)

 

And David wrote that...

 

And those who know (not just the facts but  intimately, experientially know) Thy Name will put their trust in Thee, for Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.  (Ps 9:10)
 

Spurgeon comments on the two preceding psalms...

 

(Ps 91:14) I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name. The man has known the attributes of God so as to trust in Him, and then by experience has arrived at a yet deeper knowledge, this shall be regarded by the Lord as a pledge of His grace, and He will set the owner of it above danger or fear, where he shall dwell in peace and joy. None abide in intimate fellowship with God unless they possess a warm affection towards God, and an intelligent trust in Him; these gifts of grace are precious in Jehovah's eyes, and wherever He sees them He smiles upon them. How elevated is the standing which the Lord gives to the believer. We ought to covet it right earnestly. If we climb on high it may be dangerous, but if God sets us there it is glorious.

(
Ps 9:10) Ignorance is worst when it amounts to ignorance of God, and knowledge is best when it exercises itself upon the name of God. This most excellent knowledge leads to the most excellent grace of faith. O, to learn more of the attributes and character of God. Unbelief, that hooting night bird, cannot live in the light of divine knowledge, it flies before the sun of God's great and gracious Name. If we read this verse literally, there is, no doubt, a glorious fulness of assurance in the Names of God. (See Summary Chart on Names of God)...By knowing His name is also meant an experimental (experiencing) acquaintance with the attributes of God (see Spurgeon's comments on the Attributes of God), which are every one of them anchors to hold the soul from drifting in seasons of peril. The Lord may hide His face for a season from His people, but He never has utterly, finally, really, or angrily forsaken them that seek Him. Let the poor seekers draw comfort from this fact, and let the finders rejoice yet more exceedingly, for what must be the Lord's faithfulness to those who find, if He is so gracious to those who seek.

 

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See also...

Shaddai - Psalm 91

Notes on
El Shaddai

Shaddai (07706) (Shadday) means Almighty, most powerful. As alluded to in the preceding table and elaborated on in more detail in the following notes, the Name Shaddai conveys the truth on the one hand that He is omnipotent and on the other that He is sufficient. El Shaddai = God Almighty the ever-present God who protects and provides, presents Himself as the One who makes a covenant with a human being named Abraham.

 

There are 48 OT uses of Shaddai (see below) and in every use the reference is to God.  Approximately one third of these uses of Shaddai are translated in the LXX by the Greek word pantokrator (see below).

 

Lest we become too dogmatic in our interpretation of the etymological derivation of Shaddai, Davison makes a cogent point noting that...

 

The exact origin, history, and etymology of the name (Shaddai) are highly debated. Traditionally, it has been connected to Hebrew šādad, “deal mightily with,” but the verb actually has the connotation “deal violently.” Other scholars associate it with Assyrian šadu, “mountain” or “high,” thus rendering the Hebrew as “High God” or “God of the Mountains.” The usual English translation, “Almighty,” derives from the rendering of the Hebrew in the LXX (Ed note: See pantokrator below) and Vulgate (Ed note: E.g., Genesis 17:1 = "ego Deus omnipotens")., which was a free translation of what was by then an obscure term. (Eerdman's Dictionary of the Bible)

 

There are some authorities (most notably Nathan Stone - see note) (or see notes below) who feel that the Hebrew Shaddai is derived from the Hebrew word shad which means breast (an etymology also made popular by the Scofield Reference Bible). If this is valid, it in turn suggests that Shaddai might signify the one who nourishes or supplies. El Shaddai then would be the one who is able to pour out His promises of provision and power in abundance. Those who hold to this interpretation call attention to Genesis 49 where we read of Joseph (as Jacob is preparing to die)...

 

But his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), from the God ('El) of your father who helps you (cp notes Jehovah Ezer - LORD our Helper), and by the Almighty (Shaddai) who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts (Hebrew = shad) and of the womb. (Genesis 49:24, 25)

 

In this passage note that it is 'El Who gives strength to the arms, and  it is the Almighty or Shaddai Who brings the blessings of the breast and the womb, including the blessing of the promised seed from the line of Abraham. Nevertheless while the meaning of Shaddai as the God Who nourishes and Who blesses the breasts and the womb is certainly a possible derivation, many commentators do not favor this etymology.

 

John Davis in Grace Journal (Volume 4) writes that...

 

The basic understanding of the conservative view is that the name “El Shaddai” is of divine, not natural origin. The name, it is asserted, was revealed by God, and not conceived by man. While all conservative scholars agree on this basic principle, there is little agreement as to the etymology and significance of this name in relation to the patriarchs. There are four basic views in this regard. The first view is that Shaddai comes from the root šādad (shadad) “to be strong” or “powerful.” This view seems to be the more popular. The emphasis, therefore, in respect to the patriarchs, is that of God’s power and strength. Oehler favors this view in his Theology of the Old Testament.

The second view of the name Shaddai is that its root is šādad (shadad) “to destroy” or “to terrify.” This view is held by Mack.

The third view maintains that Shaddai comes from a compound word (from še (šer) and day which in Hebrew means “sufficiency.” For a statement of this view compare John Calvin.

The fourth, and not too well accepted view is that proposed by the Scofield Bible. This view contends that the name comes from šad which has primary reference to the female breast. The name, therefore, signified nourishment and strength to the Patriarchs.

 

Wayne House writes that El Shaddai means

 

"The God of Strength" Probably related to the word “Mountain” and suggests the power or strength of God. This name also emphasizes God’s covenant keeping nature (Ge 17:1)... Some feel Shaddai is derived from a root that refers to a mother’s breast, sustaining a newborn infant. If so, it conveys love, tenderness, mercy, all that a mother is to a dependent newborn, God is to his children... Job chastened by God. God often corrects His own to make them fruitful. Used this way in the book of Job 31 times. Job was a “perfect” man. God wanted to refine him still more, make him even more fruitful. And by the end of the book, God had given to Job more than he had to begin with. (H. Wayne House: Charts of Christian Theology and Doctrine, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992)

 

Louis Berkhof (Systematic Theology) points out that whereas God as El Shaddai is indeed presented as the all-powerful One who overpowers nature, the name, where it occurs in the Bible, does not present God as an object of fear or terror, but rather as a source of blessing and comfort.

 

The NET Bible has a good summary of Shaddai noting that...

 

Heb “Shaddai”; traditionally “the Almighty.” The etymology and meaning of this divine name is uncertain but its significance is clear. It may be derived from:

 

(1) Shadad, “to be strong”, cognate to Arabic sdd, meaning “The Strong One” or “Almighty”;

 

(2) Shadah, “mountain”, cognate to Akkadian shadu, meaning “The Mountain Dweller” or “God of the Mountains”;

 

(3) Shadad, “to devastate” and shad, “destroyer”, Akkadian Shedum, meaning “The Destroyer” or “The Malevolent One”; or

 

(4) She “who” plus diy, “sufficient”, meaning “The One Who is Sufficient” or “All-Sufficient One” (HALOT 1420-22‎).

 

In terms of use, Shaddai (or El Shaddai) is presented as the sovereign king/judge of the world Who grants life/blesses and kills/judges. In Genesis He blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants.

 

Outside Genesis He blesses/protects and also takes away life/happiness. In (Ruth 1:20) in light of Naomi's emphasis on God's sovereign, malevolent deprivation of her family, one can understand her use of this name for God. For discussion of this divine name, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 69-72.

 

Wiersbe writes that...

 

Hebrew scholars traditionally have interpreted El-Shaddai to mean “God Almighty” or “God All-Sufficient,” relating it to the Hebrew word for “breast.” Thus He is the God who nourishes and provides, who sustains and enables. Recent studies have suggested “the God of the mountain” (strength, stability) or “God my destroyer” (power against the enemy). (Wiersbe, W. W. Be Authentic. An Old Testament Study. Victor Pub)

 

Below are all 48 uses of Shaddai in Scripture. Observe that 31 uses occur in Job where 16 of these uses are translated in the Septuagint with the Greek word pantokrator and 3 uses are translated with the Greek adjective hikanos which means sufficient, adequate, enough, able, competent, qualified. In summary, when one compares the way Shaddai is translated in the Septuagint , two main ideas emerge...

 

SHADDAI

All powerful
All sufficient

 

Genesis 17:1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.

 

Genesis 28:3 (Isaac called Jacob and blessed him saying) "And may God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.

 

Comment: Note that El Shaddai is found in passages such as this one that report God’s promises of fertility, land, and abundance to those in covenant with Him, indicating that He, the Almighty Omnipotent One, could fulfill those promises.


Genesis 35:9 Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him.10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name." Thus He called him Israel.
Genesis 35:11 God also said to him, "I am
God Almighty (El Shaddai); Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you. (Here again as with Abram's name change to Abraham when El Shaddai reaffirmed the covenant, He changes Jacob's name to Israel and reaffirms the promises made to Abraham and Isaac). 12 "And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, And I will give the land to your descendants after you."

 

Comment: Note that the land is not given to the church but to Jacob. The church is never called Jacob in Scripture. The promises are for a literal land, and El Shaddai has all power and sufficiency to fulfill these covenant promises, which He will bring to consummation in the book of the Revelation, where the God is repeatedly referred to as  "The Almighty" (ho pantokrator), the very name that the LXX uses repeatedly to translate Shaddai in the book of Job. El Shaddai affirms the promises of the Land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and fulfills the promise some 4000+ years later following the  after the Great Tribulation or time of Jacob's trouble . when Messiah returns as the King of kings to establish His Millennial Kingdom (click for schematic picture of this kingdom) in which He rules for 1000 years.


13 Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a libation on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.

 

Comment: Establishing a memorial (stone and name of place) was a common component of covenant in the OT, in this case memorializing the affirmation of the covenant originally cut with his grandfather Abraham

 

Genesis 43:14 (Jacob to his sons preparing to return to Joseph in Egypt) and may God Almighty (the One Who is powerful and sufficient to) grant you compassion in the sight of the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." 15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

 

Comment: What is the context? There is a famine in the land of promise, but Jacob knows that there is no famine in the name El Shaddai. Jacob realizing that they must have grain, commits his sons to the covenant care of God Almighty, the One Who is sufficient for every emergency! In Him there is never any lack. Do you know Him as Shaddai, not just in your head but in your heart? Have you found Him sufficient for every need? Or perhaps we need to ask have you been willing to trust Him to meet your every need?


Genesis 48:3 Then Jacob said to Joseph, "
God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and He (El Shaddai reaffirmed the covenant with Abraham and Isaac) said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.'

 

Comment: The Land belongs to Israel. They are back in the Land in unbelief but in the Millennium all Israel will be saved and occupy the Land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

Genesis 49:25 From the God of your father Who helps you (see related name Jehovah Ezer: The LORD our Helper), and by the Almighty Who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.