El Shaddai
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Throughout this site I may use
any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS), 2. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), 3. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC).
Here is the Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh: 1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The
Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all
other Writings).
*Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Some minor alterations have been made relating to Names and Attributes
having been corrected.
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In this special study we will be looking at Bereshit - Genesis 17:1 (MEC), and then look at the rest of this chapter.
אֲנִי-אֵל שַׁדַּי
Bereshit - Genesis 17:1 (MEC).
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
What is within that wonderful and Blessed Name?
El = Strong One - Shad = Breast - Dai = Sheds Forth.
The Strong Breasted One l The Almighty Elohim l Mighty to Nourish and Supply
וַיְהִי אַבְרָם, בֶּן-תִּשְׁעִים שָׁנָה וְתֵשַׁע שָׁנִים; וַיֵּרָא יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי-אֵל שַׁדַּי-הִתְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנַי, וֶהְיֵה תָמִים
Transliteration and English is located below:
“Vay’ehi Avram, Ben’tish’im Sha’nah Ve’tei’sha’ Sha’nim,’ Va’yeira YaHVaH
El-Avram, Va’yo’mer Elav: Ani El Shaddai Hit’ha’lech Le’fa’nai Veh’yei Ta’mim”.
“And when Avram was ninety years old and nine, יְהוָה
(the LORD) appeared to Avram, and said unto him: ‘I am אֱלֹהִים (God) Almighty; walk before Me, and be thou wholehearted’”. Bereshit -
Genesis 17:1 (MEC).
The term “El Shaddai” appears only in our beloved Tanakh, and it does so seven times. It is most frequently found in the Book of Bereshit - Genesis, with instances in chapters 17:1, 28:3, 35:11, 43:14, and 48:3, with there also being a single usage in Shemot - Exodus and one in Yechezkel - Ezekiel. The phrase is typically translated as “la (God) Almighty” and emphasizes אֱלֹהִים (God’s) supreme power, sufficiency, and nurturing ability. However, the Name “Shaddai” appears separately 41 additional times, for a total of 48 instances of the root “Shaddai” in the Tanakh!
Breakdown by phrase:
וַיְהִי אַבְרָם – Vayehi Avram - “And it was (when) Avram”.
בֶּן-תִּשְׁעִים
שָׁנָה
וְתֵשַׁע
שָׁנִים - Ben’tish’im Sha’nah Ve’tei’sha’ Sha’nim, - “ninety
years old and nine”.
וַיֵּרָא
יְהוָה
אֶל-אַבְרָם - Va’yeira YaHVaH
El-Avram - “יְהוָה (the
LORD) appeared to Avram”,
וַיֹּאמֶר
אֵלָיו - Va’yo’mer Elav - “and said to him”
אֲנִי-אֵל
שַׁדַּי - Ani El Shaddai - “I am אֵל (God)
Almighty”;
הִתְהַלֵּךְ
לְפָנַי - Hit’ha’lech Le’fa’nai - “walk before Me”
וֶהְיֵה
תָמםִי - Veh’yei Ta’mim - “and be
blameless”.
Let us now look at “El Shaddai” in Three Parts.
אֵל - El - “God,” the foundational divine
attribute (who He is).
Shadd - שׁד
– linked to שׁדד,
“to overpower,” or שׁד,
“breast,” conveying both overwhelming might and tender nourishment.
Ai - דַּי - “sufficient” or “enough,” underscoring אֱלֹהִים
(God’s) complete adequacy and the outpouring of blessing.
Let us now look at the rest of Bereshit - Genesis chapter 17.
Covenant Promises and Name Change (17:1–8):
אֱלֹהִים (God) appears to Avram aged ninety-nine, and He identifies Himself as “El Shaddai”, promises to establish an “everlasting covenant” making him the ancestor of many nations, and changes his name to Avraham.
Covenant Sign of Circumcision (17:9–14):
Every male in Avraham’s line, including household servants and foreigners must be circumcised at eight days old as the perpetual sign of אֱלֹהִים (God’s) covenant, with uncircumcised males “cut off” from the people.
Sarah’s New Name and Promise of Isaac (17:15–21):
Sarai becomes Sarah; אֱלֹהִים (God) pledges that she will bear a son named Yitzchak - Isaac, through whom the covenant will continue, while also blessing Ishmael separately.
Immediate Obedience (17:22–27):
That very day Avraham, Ishmael (aged thirteen), and all the males of his household undergo circumcision, demonstrating wholehearted faith in the covenantal sign.
Reviewing chapter 17:
Here is a breakdown of
the key events in Genesis chapter 17:
אֱלֹהִים (God) appears to Avram:
He
appears as “El Shaddi” (God Almighty), meets with a
99-year-old Avram - Abram to reaffirm and solidify
the covenant.
Name Changes:
Avram’s name is changed to Avraham, signifying a
greater role as the father of many nations, and his wife Sarai’s
name is changed to Sarah.
Promises of
Descendants and Land:
אֱלֹהִים (God) promises
Avraham that he will be the father of many nations,
that kings will come from him, and that he and his descendants will possess the
land of Canaan forever.
Institution of
Circumcision:
אֶל (God) commands that circumcision, a sign of the covenant, be
performed on all males in Avraham’s household,
including servants and slaves, on the eighth day of a male child’s life.
Promise of a Son, Yitzchak - Isaac:
אֱלֹהִים (God) assures Avraham that Sarah, despite her old age, will bear him a
son, Yitzchak
- Isaac,
through whom the covenant will be established for future generations.
Avraham's and Ishmael's Circumcision:
In
accordance with אֱלֹהִים (God’s) command, Avraham,
his son Yishmael - Ishmael, and all the other males in his household are
circumcised.
As we have read this rather amazing chapter, I am sure it must speak to all of us, for here we have read about our very beginning as Hebrews and how we then advanced, and then in due course we became the “Israelites”!
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In Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the
Conversation:
Which part of this Tanach guide or a line within it has touched
you the most? And how do you feel about spending more time on your Tanakh study
time? I pray that you are you doing well as a faithful Jew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are upholding as many of
our blessed Mitzvoth’s?
I am well aware that the modern world sadly contains far too many
deviations as well as problems that tends to
get in the way. More than that, sadly there are all sorts of enticements, which
is able to throw so many off track. Thus, if
there are various struggles that may be taking place in your life at this or
any time, I am well aware that it can have sad and cruel effects upon your
life? Remember this, pray for peace, and then work on keeping as calm
as possible and learn to improve your life in אֱלֹהִים. This site is also for those who need to return to our
wonderful faith, thus work on your faith and pray and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, blessed be He!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said ...
“Return unto Me, and I
will return unto you, saith יְהוָה
אֱלֹהִים - the LORD of
hosts”. Mal’a’chi 3:7. MEC).
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your God);
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם”. Yechezkel
- Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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