Shaddai

Concept

Shaddai (El Shaddai, commonly translated "God Almighty") is one of the oldest divine names in Scripture, appearing 48 times in the OT, with 31 occurrences in Job. God revealed himself to the patriarchs primarily by this name: "I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me, and be blameless" (Gen. 17:1). Exodus 6:3 indicates that God appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai but was not known to them by the name Yahweh in the same way. The etymology of Shaddai is debated: proposed derivations include a root meaning "mountain" (the Almighty as the All-Sufficient One), a root related to "breast" (the All-Nourishing One), or a connection to Akkadian shadu ("mountain"). In Job, the name expresses God's sovereign power over creation and his authority to bring both affliction and restoration.