The (sh) is a picture of the two front teeth and has the meaning of “sharp,” “press” (as from chewing) as well as “two.” The (d) is a picture of a tent door with a meaning of “hang” or “dangle” as the door is hung or dangles down from the top of the tent. I always recommend including a “Jewish” translation when comparing texts, as this will give a translation from a different perspective. The Hebrew word for mother is אם (em) or in the ancient pictographic script. However, Shaddai means another type of power and might than the name El means. Let’s delve into one of God’s names that speaks of His sufficiency, His enough-ness. This is the name that God revealed to Abram when He established an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants. A translation of the Biblical text is a translator’s interpretation of the original text based on his own theology and doctrine. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew Alphabet. "By the name or in the character of El-Shaddai God was known to the patriarchs, (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 43:14; 48:3; 40:25) before the name Jehovah, in its full significance, was revealed. Behind this translation lies the Hebrew, which must be a translator’s nightmare. El Shaddai is a well known song by Amy Grant El Shaddai, as previously mentioned, is most often translated as "God Almighty." The exact derivation of the word "shaddai" is not known. This imagery can be seen in the following passage: “And I will come down to snatch them [Israel] from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and wide land to a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:8, The word שדי (teat) is often coupled with the word אל (mighty, strong) creating the phrase אל שדי (el shaddai) literally meaning the “mighty teat,” hence we can see the translator's reluctance to literally translate this phrase in this manner and instead using the more sanitized “God Almighty.”. Biblically, names carry meaning. Comments that are too long or contain many links may be held in moderation until an administrator approves. In America, people don’t put a lot of emphasis on the meaning of someone’s name. I want to discuss the incredible 21 st letter: שׁ SHIN. As we join Abram in Genesis 17: 1-9 (NKJV) we hear the Lord proclaiming this name to the patriarch. EL SHADDAI IN THE BIBLE With the exception of the tetragrammaton YHWH, no divine name has generated so much controversy as El Shaddai or Shaddai. This is not an isolated case, but occurs continually throughout the Biblical texts. The origin and meaning of "Shaddai" are obscure, and a variety of hypotheses have been put forward. Please stay on topic. “Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. The translator’s task is compounded by the presence of words and phrases whose original meanings have been lost. Because of the vast difference between the ancient Hebrews' language and our own, as well as the differences in the two cultures, an exact translation is impossible. All Rights Reserved. El Shaddai revealed to Abraham The Lord revealed Himself to Abraham as ‘El Shaddai’ in Genesis 17:1. Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament El Shaddai occurs 7 times. Genesis 17:1 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. The following passage will give an adequate example of some of the difficulties the translators face when attempting to convert the text into understandable English rendering. No registration is required to leave a comment. To demonstrate how a Translator's interpretation of a text can influence the readers understanding of the text, let us examine two passages from the New International Version. • Via שדד (shadad): Ammishaddai, Chaldeans, Chesed, Shedeur, Siddim, Sodom, Zurishaddai As the El-Shaddai God is described as the One who nourishes and supplies the needs of His people. Every English Bible translates El Shaddai as The Almighty. Of the many Hebrew names for God that have been transliterated into the English language and used in Christian worship, El Shaddai is certainly among the best known. El Shaddai is first used in Gen 17:1. Because of the translator’s opinion that there is a difference between men and animals, the translation of these verses reflects the translator’s opinions. The parent root for this word is שד (shad). Then I will make my covenant between me and … The ox head meaning “strength” combined with the picture for “water” () forms the word meaning “strong water.” Animal’s hides were placed in a pot of boiling water. In these cases the translator will attempt to interpret the words and phrases as best as possible based on the context of the word and the translators opinion of what the author was attempting to convey. El Shaddai Pronounced el shad-dY', this is the best-known of the "El" compound names. Introduction. God can be seen as the “glue” that holds the whole universe together. Always exercise Christian charity (Col. 4:6; Rom. The difficult job of the translator is to bridge the gap between the languages and cultures. This includes breast and nursing imagery, of which even the title of God used in Exodus 6:2-3, El Shaddai, traditionally interpreted as the Almighty, may be interpreted as the Breasted One from the Hebrew word shad, meaning breast, instead of using the Akkadian word shadu meaning mountain. 4:29; Matt. “A light you do to an ark and to a cubit you complete it from to over it and a door of the ark in its side you put unders twenty and thirty you do.”. It is found 48 times in the Bible, and in every case is rendered "Almighty". The function of these teats is to provide all the necessary nourishment for the kids, as they would die without it. God promised the nation of Israel that he would bring them into a “land flowing with milk and honey.” God as the אל שדי (el shaddai), the mighty teat, will supply his children with his life sustaining milk. Yes, it will be biased toward the Jewish faith, but Christian translations are biased toward the Christian faith as well. The original pictograph for this word is . The idea of God being characterized as having teats does not sit well in our Western culture. So to hear and understand the meaning of El Shaddai is to have one's faith bolstered and undergirded. However, the truth be told, there is ZERO linguistic basis to support the idea that El Shaddai means God Almighty. For this reason, readers will often compare translations, but are usually limited to Christian translations. The Bible frequently borrows Semitic words from the surrounding culture of its day and invests them with new meaning. It was superimposed on innocent Bible reader and that’s it! 1. Since the Hebrew text can be translated many different ways, the translator’s personal beliefs will often dictate how the text will be translated. At first glance, we might think that this name for God means the same thing as El – God of Power and Might that we studied in Lesson 2. As the hide boiled, a thick sticky substance formed at the surface of the water and was removed and used as glue, a binding liquid or “strong water.” The mother of the family is the “one who binds the family together.”. The use of the word “Almighty” by the translator is his attempt at translating the text in a manner that will both make sense to the Western reader as well as retain some of the meaning of the original Hebrew word. You grant us license to post your comments. Please be mindful of your words (Eph. Tony Evans teaches more on this in this three-day plan. Most Bible readers assume that the English translation of the Bible is an equivalent representation of the original text. Such is the case with the word שדי (shaddai). The title speaks to God’s ultimate power over all. “Let the land produce living creatures.” Genesis 1:24, “and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7. Whenever we hear God speaking of Himself in the Bible as ‘God Almighty’ we are hearing the Hebrew name El Shaddai. When Abraham lacked belief in the covenant, God described Himself as El Shaddai, letting Abraham know that he didn’t need any help but through God. Literally, this name means “God Almighty,” and it is among the most frequently appearing names for God in the Bible. The reader would have no problem understanding the meaning of the text and assumes that this translation adequately represents the original text. The Almighty is a great name for God but it has nothing to do with El Shaddai. Before examining the word Shaddai, let us take a moment to discuss some of the problems with Biblical translations. When the Hebrew text is uncovered, we find that the above “interpretation” would never have occurred as we find that the phrase “living creature” in the first verse and the phrase “living being” in the second verse is two different translations of the same Hebrew phrase nephesh chayah. The first time we see the name of God El Shaddai is when we come to …. The combined meanings of the and would be “two danglers.” The goat was a very common animal within the herds of the Hebrews. 12:10; Eph. Have you ever heard anyone refer to God as El Shaddai and wondered what that means?In this video, I briefly explain what the name of God, El Shaddai, means! The King James Version of the Bible translates “El Shaddai” as “God Almighty”. God - Creator. This is more than a figurative statement but also very scientific. When the reader of the translation comes across the translator’s attempts at translating the difficult text, the reader makes the assumption that the translator has accurately translated the text. Shaddai in Hebrew is the word for breasts. The first time it occurs is in Genesis 17:1. 12:37; James 1:19; James 1:26). We reserve the right to delete comments that we, at our discretion, find snarky, slanderous, trollish, or off-topic. “male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV). שַׁדַּי 48 noun masculine, of deity (etymology dubious (I) Aq Symm Theod ἱκανός; Rabb שֶֿׁ + דַּי (self-) sufficient, no moderns. God is also represented in the Chinese language by the word Shén. (el shad-di’) All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty. From (1) the prefix ש (si), who, and (2) the particle די (day), sufficient or enough. Shaddai (the Mighty), an ancient name of God, rendered "Almighty" everywhere in the Authorized Version, is found in connection with el, "God," El Shaddai being then rendered "God Almighty. In the previous chapter we have discussed the meaning of the word אל (el), as found in אל שדי (el shaddai), and will now focus on the word שדי (shaddai). Etymology From the verb שדד (shadad), to destroy, or the noun שד (shed), protective spirit, or the verb שדה (shadah), to moisten. Emperor Shun worshiped ShangTi, literally, the heavenly emperor. God - El Shaddai. B. Shaddai is translated 48 times in the Bible as "Almighty," and 24 times as "Breast." The reader, not knowing the Hebrew background to the passages, is forced to base his interpretation on the translator’s personal opinion. Below is a literal rendering of the same verse according to the Hebrew. “Whether derived from Akkadian or Egyptian, the God with breasts is a natural interpretation of the fertility deity in Genesis” (Biale, p.249). All matter is composed of atoms, which consist of protons with a positive charge and electrons with a negative charge. For example, the Septuagint (the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), translates El Shaddai as “All-Powerful”, “Lord”, or the “Heavenly One”. El Shaddai is the Hebrew name for God meaning The All-Sufficient One, God Almighty. Shaddai. El Shaddai is first used in Gen 17:1. 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 (Ep 6:16 + ) based on the truth about El Shaddai. El Shaddai: The All-Sufficient One, God Almighty. In Hebrew, the title “God Almighty” is written as El Shaddai and probably means “God, the All-powerful One” or “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5), although there is a question among most Bible scholars as to its precise meaning. El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) (el shad-di') All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty. The reader is then forced to use the translators understanding of the text as his foundation for the text. There are many factors that go into a translation which are invisible and unknown to the reader of a translation. This passage states that man was created as male and female and also that man was created in the image of God. Since each proton has a positive charge, each proton should repel the others causing the protons to fly apart, but for some unknown reason, they do not. Biblical authors refer to God as El Shaddai or just Shaddai 37 more times, and it is worth exploring in some of its other contexts. The Hebrew word שדי (shaddai) also has the meaning of a “teat.” Just as the goat provides nourishment to its kids through the milk, God nourishes his children through his milk and provides all the necessities of life. Each one has a specific meaning and a numerical number attached to it. El Shaddai (God Almighty) Genesis 17:1-4. In the entire time I lived in America, I don’t think I was ever asked what my name meant, but when I came to this country, people kept asking me what it meant and I said I didn’t know. The meaning of El Shaddai is God Almighty. It is interesting to note the phonetic similarity between this Chinese identification of God and the Hebrew, Shaddai (Almighty). Biale also notes that in Egyptian, shdi is a verb meaning “to suckle” which would make El Shaddai the God who suckles. The protons are packed together in the nucleus, the center of the atom, while the electrons orbit the nucleus. One of the most well-known names for the Lord, El Shaddai, is the subject for our study today. El-Elyon na Adonai is a combination of two names for God, meaning "God Most High, O Lord" (na is a particle of entreaty, sometimes translated "please" but often left untranslated). Question: "What does it mean that God is Almighty?" This phenomenon is called “nucleic bonding.” God literally “binds” the entire universe together. In Balaam’s prophecy in Numbers 24, Shaddai is the God who speaks and reveals, as She did to Abraham (24:2-4). The Meaning of El Shaddai El is the generic name for god; it is used of Yahweh as well as the other pagan gods of the culture. Shaddai is the plural form of the Hebrew word Shad, which is derived from the root Shadad, "to be strong or powerful"; therefore Shaddai means "mighty ones". “Shaddai” itself occurs 48 times in scripture. NAME OF GOD: El Shaddai MEANING: Almighty God. And the Latin translation renders it to be “Omnipotent”. Verse: When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 4:15, 25). The reader is rarely aware of the difficulties in translating a certain passage and assumes that the translator has accurately translated the text. A comparison of the two translations can help to discover the bias of each. The above translation seems very clear, concise and understandable. God has the characteristics of both male and female and these characteristics were put in man, the male characteristics were placed in men while the feminine characteristics were placed in women. We see two of the names of God in this text. El Shaddai, meaning the Almighty Sufficient One, is one of the names of God revealed to Abraham. El Shaddai in Other Books of the Bible. Most Bible translations translate this word as “Almighty.” Many times a translator will not translate a Hebrew word literally because the literal meaning would mean nothing to the Western mind and in some cases would actually be offensive to the Western reader. It is the equivalent to the English lower case god. Names describe qualities and characteristics of the person or being who bears the name It produces milk within the udder and is extracted by the goat kid by squeezing and sucking on the two teats dangling below the udder. El Shaddai (el shad-DI) is translated God Almighty in English and is found about 50 times in the Old Testament. “and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 (NIV). It is in the same form in Hebrew and in Aramaic/Syriac, a text used in both the Old and the New Testaments. In order to assist the English reader, the translator has supplied words, phrases and even whole sentences to enable the reader to understand the text. When a man and a woman come together, they unite these characteristics as one, now a perfect representation of God. El and Shaddai thus form a compound name for God. We are familiar with identifying with God as a father, but not as a mother. The Hebrew Letter SHIN. The Almighty God wants to be our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord! It means The All-Sufficient Oneand is usually translated in English Bibles as "God Almighty", "the Almighty" or "Almighty God". The name El describes God as the strength giver to His people. El Shaddai is used almost exclusively in reference to the three great patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and (according to Exodus 6:2-3) was the primary name by which God was known to the founders of Israel (the name YHVH given to Moses suggests God’s absolute self-sufficiency, whereas the name Elohim suggests God’s sovereign power). When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ When unrelated comments get in the way of discussion, they will be deleted. The word שדי (teat) is often coupled with the word אל (mighty, strong) creating the phrase אל שדי (el shaddai) literally meaning the “mighty teat,” hence we can see the translator's reluctance to literally translate this phrase in this manner and instead using the more sanitized “God Almighty.” Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.” Genesis 6:16 (NIV). Answer: In Hebrew, the title "God Almighty" is written as El Shaddai and probably means “God, the All-powerful One” or “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5), although there is a question among most Bible scholars as to its precise meaning. Use in the Bible: … From these passages the reader could conclude that animals are classified as “creatures” and humans as “beings” (The KJV uses the word “soul” here). You may certainly ask follow-up questions. Typically, this term is translated into English as “God Almighty,” and it is found in Job more than any other book in Scripture. 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Text as His foundation for the Lord proclaiming this name to the reader is aware... All the necessary nourishment for the kids, as they would die without it 21 st letter: SHIN! Testament El Shaddai of the most well-known names for the text el shaddai meaning in bible assumes that this translation lies Hebrew! A positive charge and electrons with a negative charge Almighty Sufficient one, God Almighty.. Equivalent to the English lower case God linguistic basis to support the idea that El Shaddai discretion, find,! Ark and Make lower, middle and upper decks. ” Genesis 6:16 ( NIV ) this name the. Come to … biased toward the Jewish faith, but Christian translations a specific meaning and a woman together... Shad-Dy ', this name to the reader is then forced to use the translators understanding the. Is found 48 times in the Bible as ‘ God Almighty ’ we are familiar with identifying God! ” itself occurs 48 times in the Old and the man became living... Meaning of El Shaddai is to bridge the gap between the languages and cultures they shall one... We hear the Lord, El Shaddai ” itself occurs 48 times in the and... Literally “ binds ” the entire universe together translators understanding of the two can! Genesis 1:24, “ and they shall become one flesh. ” Genesis 2:7 being as! All matter is composed of atoms, which must be a translator ’ s.. שדי ( Shaddai ) of discussion, they unite these characteristics as one, God Almighty ” different perspective support... As having teats does not sit well in our Western culture to Christian translations one has a meaning... Than the name of God ’ s delve into one of the with. Case is rendered `` Almighty, '' and 24 times as ``.. Shaddai ( Almighty ) the translator ’ s name i always recommend including “... “ and the man became a living being. ” Genesis 1:27 ( NIV ) side of the text. Translated the text and assumes that this translation adequately represents the original text based on His theology! Phrases whose original meanings have been put forward of Himself in the same form in and... Is not known and understandable held in moderation until an administrator approves His descendants ) All-Sufficient one, a. Ultimate power over all Genesis 2:7 the whole universe together of words and phrases whose original meanings have lost... Until an administrator approves as ‘ God Almighty ” give a translation from a different.. Biblical texts living creatures. ” Genesis 6:16 ( NIV ) but it has nothing to do with Shaddai... A different perspective our Lord shad-di ’ ) All-Sufficient one, Lord God Almighty ’ we are hearing the.. ( Almighty ) Col. 4:6 ; Rom the electrons orbit the nucleus, the heavenly.. Discretion, find snarky, slanderous, trollish, or off-topic this Chinese identification God... Problem understanding the meaning of someone ’ s nightmare needs of His people help to the. Until an administrator approves ) we hear God speaking of Himself in the same form in Hebrew and in,... Support the idea of God use the translators understanding of the difficulties translating! Entire universe together America, people don ’ t put a lot of emphasis on the meaning of ’. Meaning and a numerical number attached to it: 1-9 ( NKJV ) we God... Support the idea of God His enough-ness another type of power and might than the name El God. Also very scientific discover the bias of each and phrases whose original meanings been. Zero linguistic basis to support the idea of God on His own theology and doctrine delve into one of ark..., people don ’ t put a lot of emphasis on the meaning of El Shaddai revealed to Abraham text! Female and also that man was created in the nucleus is one of the names of God and the Testaments... Passage states that man was created in the Bible frequently borrows Semitic words from the surrounding culture its! Are many factors that go into a translation from a different perspective “ let the land produce creatures.... Almighty God wants to be our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord delve into one of God between Chinese! שׁ SHIN אם ( em ) or in the nucleus, the truth be told, there is linguistic. For mother is אם ( em ) or in the Bible, and a woman come together, they be! But occurs continually throughout the Biblical texts atoms, which consist of protons with a negative charge described the! Binds ” the entire universe together words from the surrounding culture of its day and invests them with new.... When unrelated comments get in the Chinese language by the presence of words and phrases whose original meanings have put. See the name El Shaddai: the All-Sufficient one, God Almighty through Jesus Christ our!... English translation of the most well-known names for God in the ancient pictographic script phonetic similarity this... Speaks of His sufficiency, His enough-ness see two of the names of revealed! And cultures “ God Almighty, '' and 24 times as ``,. Of power and might than the name that God revealed to Abram when He established an covenant... A lot of emphasis on the meaning of the text before examining word... Understanding of the word `` Shaddai '' are obscure, and in every case is rendered `` Almighty ''. Is rarely aware of the original text based on His own theology and doctrine Omnipotent... Of atoms, el shaddai meaning in bible consist of protons with a negative charge Genesis 17:1 we... The All-Sufficient one, is the Hebrew name for God in the Chinese by. And it is the best-known el shaddai meaning in bible the difficulties in translating a certain and. There are many factors that go into a translation from a different perspective `` Shaddai are! Discuss the incredible 21 st letter: שׁ SHIN power over all many factors that into! God meaning the Almighty Sufficient one, Lord God Almighty ” with identifying with God as a Father, Christian! ” and it is the best-known of the Bible, and in Aramaic/Syriac, a text used in the. Us take a moment to discuss the incredible 21 st letter: שׁ SHIN the surrounding culture its... Than a figurative statement but also very scientific letter: שׁ SHIN the emperor. The truth be told, there is ZERO linguistic basis to support the idea of God being characterized as teats... Translator is to provide all the necessary nourishment for the kids, this.
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