A few years ago I discovered BibleHub which renewed my love for studying Scripture in the original languages. While the Greek roots enriched my understanding of the New Testament, the insights I received in my study of Hebrew were more enlightening.
When I first studied Hebrew during my second year of seminary I had an inspiring teacher who encouraged us to not be dependent on the observations of others but to dig into this language ourselves. In that vein, he began each Monday by showing us an insight that was not present in any commentary that we could figure out with our current understanding of the original language of the Old Testament.
I eagerly anticipated his teaching every Monday. In hindsight I recognize that he planted a seed in me that made me a kind of Berean. In Acts 17 Paul and Silas visited this fellowship after they left Thessalonica. “The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11)
To this day, when I encounter a new teaching in the Bible I check it myself and often consult the original language to see if this insight is legitimate.
As my appreciation for Hebrew grew from my forays into BibleHub, I felt the need or a refresher course and enrolled at our local Bible College where I took a class in Hebrew. The text for this course was the book of Ruth. We translated it verse by verse. During one class Naomi was speaking about God the Almighty. The way she referred to God in this context surprised me and led me to dig deeper.
God Almighty or El Shaddai in Hebrew is comprised of two words translated God the Almighty, or Almighty God. I had always thought of El Shaddai one dimensionally as a god Who is all powerful, similar to a Thor character possessing a mighty hammer.
However I am learning that Hebrew words are often a combination of several words which paint a picture of what the author is trying to communicate. “El” simply means God. However “Shaddai” is an aggregate of four words which reveal different facets of the word and contribute to a fuller understanding of the title Shaddai.
The first word is Shaddai or Shadday (שַׁדַּי) is used 48 times in Scripture and first appears in Genesis 17:1-2, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old Jehovah appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless, that I may make My covenant between Me and you, and may multiply you greatly.’”
This same promise is extended to Jacob in Genesis 35:10-12, “God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.’ So he called his name Israel. And God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.’”
Early in the relationship between God and Moses, God reveals His name as Yehoshua or Jehovah. “God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, ‘I am Jehovah: and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by My name Jehovah I was not known to them.’” (Exodus 6:2-3)
Of the 48 times Almighty is mentioned, over 30 of them appear in Job, which is one of the oldest books in the Bible. “I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.” (Job 13:3) “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He wounds, but He binds up; He shatters, but His hands heal.” (Job 5:17)
The second word, revealing another facet, is Shadad (שָׁדַד) which appears 57 times. It is rendered; to destroy, to deal violently with, to despoil, or to devastate. In Isaiah 33:1 a form of this word appears several times, “Woe to you, O destroyer, While you were not destroyed; and he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed.”
Destruction or devastation is consistent with the Day of Jehovah, “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of Jehovah your God, and cry out to Jehovah. Alas for the day! For the day of Jehovah is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.” (Joel 1:14-15)
“From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” (Revelation 19:15)
The third word which adds to our understanding is Sadeh שָׂדֶה which is derived from Shadad and means field or land. This appears 333 times in Scripture. Genesis 23:17-18, “Ephron’s field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over to Abraham.” In an agrarian society the field is not a destroyer (Shadad) but a source of sustenance. Fields produce food and provide for the people and their herds.
The fourth word, or cognate of Shaddai, is Shad שַׁד, which is used 24 times in the Bible and is rendered woman’s breast. This paints a beautiful picture of nurturing and blessing. “The God of your father Who helps you, 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.” (Genesis 49:25)
Combining these four words, our picture of God the Almighty has been expanded to include God the Nurturer, God the Sustainer, and God the Destroyer. Note how Ruth employs the word Shaddai, the Almighty, “She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and Jehovah has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when Jehovah has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?’” (Ruth 1:20-21)
It was this passage that had prompted me to dig deeper, for clearly Naomi is surprised that God the Sustainer and Nurturer would have brought her back empty and accompanied by calamity. These actions were not consistent with her understanding of Shaddai. It appears that Job perceived the Almighty similarly, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4)
With this more complete and revised understanding of El Shaddai, consider the following verses.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to Jehovah, ‘My Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.’ For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:1-4)
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who was, for you have taken Your great power and begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17)
And one of my favorites, “Cast your burden upon Jehovah, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)
Under the Shadow of the Almighty,
Steve
454 38 Years in the Wilderness
455 Confirming Your Calling and Election
456 They Steadfastly Devoted Themselves
457 They Received His Word with all Eagerness
458 I Give Myself to Prayer
459 Moses and Elijah on Mount Hermon
460 7,000 that Have Not Bowed the Knee
461 The Holiness and Aseity of God
462 King Jesus
463 God our Creator
Upcoming Event
For those in the Northeast, consider joining me in Danbury, CT on November 8 for a Men’s Event sponsored by Iron Sharpens Iron. I will be speaking twice that day.