When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve Me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” Genesis 17:1-2.
El Shaddai is often translated as God Almighty. And so He is. But in almost every study of the Hebrew word I found, they suggest that it misses a more specific understanding. Mining the richness of who God is, especially when communicated by God Himself, is a meaningful and faith building exercise.
How might Abraham have understood God’s character through this Name?
Most Powerful, Sovereign – this comes closest to the Almighty translation. But the word hints not just at physical power, but authoritative power – like Kingship. Hidden in this word (shadad), is also the implication of Destroyer. God calls Himself El Shaddai for the first time as He makes a new covenant with Abram, and I sense the weight being conveyed. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, God is not safe, but He is good.
All-Sufficient One – this ties to the previous translation with another nuance. I read this two ways. He is completely sufficient within Himself. In other words, He has no need for us. All of our interactions are out of His love and mercy towards us. Some would also read this as He is sufficient towards us – He supplies everything we need by Himself. We need no other.
The Mountain One – stemming from the root word sadu in Akkadian (a language of Abraham). This seems less clear to me, but also draws on the picture of power, majesty and immovability that we’ve already discussed.
The Breast – shad is also the word for breast in Hebrew. God shows Himself as a nurturer. We are created in His image male and female and this draws on the attributes of God as a mother. God would birth a nation from Abram, now Abraham, and with His strong but nurturing hand, raise them up to be His people.
Abraham longed for a son. God gave him countless descendants, fulfilling the desire of his heart. But he is reminded that El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, is enough.
El Shaddai, the Powerful Nurturer, is everything I need. When I am weak, He nourishes. When scared or anxious, He quiets and comforts me like a nursing child. When proud or defiant, He can Destroy. When I experience loss, He is sufficient. He is the Rock, the strong Mountain to which I run and find safety. El Shaddai, Almighty God, is all I need.
Bless God for telling us His Names.
