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What Does El Shaddai Mean?
El Shaddai is God Almighty, the name God gives Abram in Genesis 17:1. Every King James verse with Shaddai, its Hebrew, its Strong’s number, and where the New Testament uses Almighty.
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El Shaddai (Hebrew אֵל שַׁדַּי) means God Almighty. It is the name God gives himself when he appears to Abram in Genesis 17:1Genesis 17:1 · King James VersionAnd 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 · King James VersionOpen source: “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Exodus 6:3Exodus 6:3 · King James VersionAnd I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Exodus 6:3 · King James VersionOpen source says God appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob “by the name of God Almighty.” Shaddai alone, “the Almighty,” is most frequent in Job.
Key Points
- El is Strong’s H410, God or mighty one. Shaddai is Strong’s H7706, which Strong’s defines as “the Almighty.” (1)
- The full name El Shaddai is in Genesis 17:1Genesis 17:1 · King James Version
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 · King James VersionOpen source, Genesis 28:3Genesis 28:3 · King James VersionAnd God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
Genesis 28:3 · King James VersionOpen source, Genesis 35:11Genesis 35:11 · King James VersionAnd God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
Genesis 35:11 · King James VersionOpen source, and Exodus 6:3Exodus 6:3 · King James VersionAnd I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Exodus 6:3 · King James VersionOpen source. - Naomi uses Shaddai in Ruth 1:20Ruth 1:20 · King James Version
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
Ruth 1:20 · King James VersionOpen source: “the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” - In the New Testament “the Almighty” translates the Greek pantokratōr, as in Revelation 1:8Revelation 1:8 · King James Version
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.
Revelation 1:8 · King James VersionOpen source and 2 Corinthians 6:182 Corinthians 6:18 · King James VersionAnd will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:18 · King James VersionOpen source. - The table below is every verse the site’s Hebrew text tags with H7706.
El Shaddai in the Hebrew Bible
| Hebrew | |
|---|---|
| Strong’s Number | H410, H7706 |
| Strong’s Definition | el: strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) shaday: the Almighty |
| Meaning | God Almighty. The name God gives Abram when he renews the covenant in Genesis 17:1, and the name Exodus 6:3 says the patriarchs knew. |
| King James Version | God Almighty, and the Almighty when Shaddai stands alone |
| Verses in the Hebrew Text | el (H410): 235 shaday (H7706): 48 |
| First Occurrence | el: Genesis 14:18 shaday: Genesis 17:1 |
| Reference | King James Version |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Genesis 28:3 | And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; |
| Genesis 35:11 | And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; |
| Exodus 6:3 | And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. |
| Ruth 1:20 | And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. |
| Psalm 91:1 | He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. |
| Ezekiel 10:5 | And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. |
| 2 Corinthians 6:18 | And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. |
| Revelation 1:8 | 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. |
| Reference | King James Version |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Genesis 28:3 | And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; |
| Genesis 35:11 | And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; |
| Genesis 43:14 | And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. |
| Genesis 48:3 | And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, |
| Genesis 49:25 | Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: |
| Exodus 6:3 | And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. |
| Numbers 24:4 | He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: |
| Numbers 24:16 | He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: |
| Ruth 1:20 | And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. |
| Ruth 1:21 | I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? |
| Job 5:17 | Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: |
| Job 6:4 | For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. |
| Job 6:14 | To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. |
| Job 8:3 | Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? |
| Job 8:5 | If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; |
| Job 11:7 | Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? |
| Job 13:3 | Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. |
| Job 15:25 | For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty. |
| Job 21:15 | What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? |
| Job 21:20 | His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. |
| Job 22:3 | Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? |
| Job 22:17 | Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? |
| Job 22:23 | If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. |
| Job 22:25 | Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. |
| Job 22:26 | For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. |
| Job 23:16 | For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: |
| Job 24:1 | Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? |
| Job 27:2 | As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; |
| Job 27:10 | Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God? |
| Job 27:11 | I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. |
| Job 27:13 | This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. |
| Job 29:5 | When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; |
| Job 31:2 | For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? |
| Job 31:35 | Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. |
| Job 32:8 | But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. |
| Job 33:4 | The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. |
| Job 34:10 | Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. |
| Job 34:12 | Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. |
| Job 35:13 | Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. |
| Job 37:23 | Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. |
| Job 40:2 | Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. |
| Psalm 68:14 | When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. |
| Psalm 91:1 | He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. |
| Isaiah 13:6 | Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. |
| Ezekiel 1:24 | And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. |
| Ezekiel 10:5 | And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. |
| Joel 1:15 | Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Does El Shaddai First Appear?
Genesis 17:1Genesis 17:1 · King James VersionAnd 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 · King James VersionOpen source, when God makes the covenant of circumcision with Abram and changes his name to Abraham.
Is Almighty Used of Jesus?
Revelation 1:8Revelation 1:8 · King James VersionI am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8 · King James VersionOpen source gives the title to the one who is “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” Who is speaking there is discussed in Who Is the Alpha and Omega?
Keep Reading
References
- James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary (1890. Public domain. The Strong’s numbers and definitions on this site’s Hebrew word pages.)
- Book of Genesis, 17:1; 28:3; 35:11Genesis 17:1 · King James Version
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 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Book of Exodus, 6:3Exodus 6:3 · King James Version
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Exodus 6:3 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Book of Job, 5:17Job 5:17 · King James Version
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Job 5:17 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Book of Revelation, 1:8Revelation 1:8 · King James Version
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.
Revelation 1:8 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
See Also
- The Jehovah Compound Names — Jehovah-jireh, Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah-shalom, Jehovah-tsidkenu, Jehovah-shammah, and the other names that join the divine name to a word, with the Hebrew, Strong’s numbers, and every King James verse.
- The Names of God in Hebrew — Elohim, El, Eloah, El Shaddai, El Elyon, El Olam, El Roi, Adonai, YHWH, Yah, the LORD of hosts, and the Jehovah compound names, with the Hebrew, Strong’s numbers, meanings, first occurrences, and King James verses.
- What Does Adonai Mean? — Adonai is the Hebrew title Lord, used of God alone. Every King James verse with Adonai, how Lord GOD is printed, and why Psalm 110:1 has a different word.
- What Does El Elyon Mean? — El Elyon is God Most High, first in Genesis 14:18 where Melchizedek is priest of the most high God. Every King James verse that calls God the most High, with the Hebrew and Strong’s numbers.
- What Does Elohim Mean? — Elohim is the ordinary Hebrew word for God, first in Genesis 1:1. It is plural in form, takes a singular verb for the God of Israel, and also means false gods, angels, or judges.
External Links
- Francis Brown, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament — The standard public-domain Hebrew lexicon (1906).