El Shaddai (God Almighty)

The word Shaddai, which often occurs with El, is used independently as a name for God. Twenty-four years have now passed since God’s promise to make Abram a great nation; 99 years old now (and Sarai 89), God appears to Abram, reveals Himself “I am El Shaddai,” promises to make him exceedingly fruitful from whom kings will also come, to forever be in a covenant relationship with his descendants, and He renames them Abraham and Sarah. Shaddai is often translated “Almighty,” but the Hebrew root "shadad" from which it is likely derived means “to overpower.” Another interesting suggestion is that it may be connected with the Assyrian mountain Shadu, meaning the Hebrews took a name representing a mountain to express their understanding about the strength of their God. He is the God of overpowering strength…for whom nothing is impossible (He is OP)! Shaddai occurs 31x in Job, and 17x in the rest of the First Testament. The Hebrew NT uses Shaddai 1x in reference to the God who will bring a Savior from Mary’s womb!