Page 8 - May 2026 - Truth & Tidings

mong the names our God has coupled with His tender care.
used to reveal Himself, El Shaddai
Astands out for being both power- Genesis: El Shaddai’s Strength
ful yet deeply personal. El Shaddai, usually and Supply
translated “God Almighty,” combines the Scripture’s first recorded self-revelation
common Semitic word for God, El, with of God as El Shaddai is to Abram: “I am
Shaddai, a term whose precise origin is the Almighty God; walk before me, and
uncertain. Shaddai is commonly traced be thou perfect” (Gen 17:1). The context
2
to the Hebrew root shādad, meaning to is most significant. Abram is ninety-nine
overpower, devastate, exercise irresistible years old, Sarai is barren, and the promise
force. From that root, Shaddai signifies of a son remains unfulfilled. Human at-
the One who has absolute power. This tempts have been exhausted. It is at this
meaning fits the way the name is used point that God declares Himself to be El
in contexts of authority, judgment and Shaddai.
uncontestable divine action, especially in Here, and then through the rest of Gen-
Job and the prophets. esis, this name is repeatedly tied to God’s
At the same time, some Bible students promise. In Genesis 17, He ratifies His
have noted a link between Shaddai and covenant with Abram, changes his name
the Hebrew word for breast, shad. If this to Abraham, institutes the covenant sign
1
connection is intended, the name conveys of circumcision, and gives a promise of
the idea of provision, nourishment and fruitfulness that flows from El Shaddai: “I
sufficiency. Rather than weakening the will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I
sense of power, this link deepens it. El will make nations of thee, and kings shall
Shaddai is not merely the God who exer- come out of thee” (v6). The message seems
cises irresistible force, but the God who unmistakable: what God promises does
supplies life, sustains His people and not depend on human strength, timing
makes them fruitful. or ingenuity, but on His own sufficiency
The richest meaning of El Shaddai, and and bountiful supply.
the most consistent with how it is used This pattern continues when Isaac
throughout Scripture, seems to be to hold blesses Jacob in the name of El Shaddai,
these truths together – appreciating our praying that God would make him fruit-
God as the One whose absolute might is ful and multiply him (Gen 28:3). God later
appears to Jacob at Bethel and again iden-
1 For possible connection between Shaddai and tifies Himself as El Shaddai, commanding
shad, see Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary fruitfulness and reaffirming covenant
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001), 291-293, and promises (35:11). Then, in the time of fear
Victor P. Hamilton, The Book of Genesis: Chapters and uncertainty, when Jacob is sending
1-17 (NICOT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990), his sons back to Egypt, he appeals to
473-475. Both note that while the etymology
is debated, the thematic association with
fruitfulness in Genesis is significant (Genesis 2 Bible quotations in this article are from the
17:1-2, 28:3, 35:11, 43:14, and especially 49:25). KJV.

136 TRUTH kTidings May 2026