What Does El Shaddai Mean — In Biblical Context
El Shaddai means 'God Almighty' — emphasizing God's all-sufficiency and unlimited power to fulfill His promises.
El Shaddai means 'God Almighty' — emphasizing God's all-sufficiency and unlimited power to fulfill His promises.
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." — Genesis 17:1 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי) is the name by which God revealed Himself most often to the patriarchs. It combines El ('God') with Shaddai, traditionally rendered 'Almighty.' Some scholars connect Shaddai with a root meaning 'mountain,' picturing God as the immovable fortress; others connect it with 'sufficient,' picturing God as the all-supplying source. The name appears at moments when God's people needed to trust His power to overcome impossible circumstances — Abraham's old age, Jacob's exile, Israel's bondage. When God speaks as El Shaddai, He is declaring that nothing is too hard for Him and that He is enough for every need.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Genesis 17:1, sits inside Genesis 17. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."
Supporting Passages
"And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee."
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
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