The Bible’s Most Controversial Title Isn’t What You Think
How one Hebrew word changes everything you know about God
Divine power goes by many names. Have you ever wondered if the adjective “Almighty” in the biblical epithet ‘God Almighty’ accurately translates the original El Shaddai?
I believe it does not.
This might be an example of how translation can distort the original meaning to align with Christian dogma.
In Portuguese, we have a word to define a term that has changed considerably from its original meaning.
We call it a “corruptela.”
As a linguist and cultural studies researcher, I’ve long been fascinated by the biblical hermeneutics of the divine and the words we use to describe the intangible.
Translating the Bible poses many problems as we try to make the words fit our diverse human perspectives as the fog of time clouds the true semantics.
I’m not alone in this constant questioning, but we have to approach the task with an open mind and expel all the prejudice imposed by the prevalent dogma.
The translator’s task is compounded by the presence of words and phrases whose original meanings have been lost. — Jeff A. Benner
The etymology of “God Almighty.”
The Hebrew word El Shaddai (אל שדי) is one of my favorite names for God. It highlights the deity's generative power.
If you look at it from a semantic perspective, you’ll realize how far we are from the conventional image of God, which the patriarchy has been preaching about for centuries.
Elohim refers to the power of God as the Maker, but Shaddai has a meaning that runs deeper than the simple act of creating things from nothing.
Authors commonly translate it as “God Almighty,” but as you already know from previous stories where I tackle etymology and linguistics, we should never take semantics for granted, and we need to dig deeper to amplify the hidden meanings behind these words of power.
Shaddai is often associated with another word referring to a sacred mountain in Mesopotamia, which explains why some translate it as “Mountain God.”
El Shaddai is the third name by which God is revealed in the Bible. Ancient translators associated “El” with power, omnipotence, or divinity; El is also short for Elohim.
The second word “Shaddai” remains a mystery, as the exact origin of this term is unknown. Its most common translation, "Almighty,” is arguable, as it holds many meanings.
The epithet first appears in the Book of Genesis, and it is mainly used within these pages.
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (Genesis 17: 1).
God refers to himself as “El-Shaddai” when confirming a sacred covenant with Abraham.
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
When we examine these passages together, we understand how El Shaddai is primarily used when referring to God’s promise to Abraham about his offspring.
Genesis 28:3—Isaac blesses Jacob, mentioning “El Shaddai.”
Genesis 35:11 — God speaks to Jacob and identifies himself as “El Shaddai.”
Genesis 43:14 — Jacob refers to God as “El Shaddai” when speaking to his sons
Genesis 48:3—Jacob refers to “El Shaddai,” who appeared to him at Luz, in the land of Canaan.
There are a couple of other mentions outside of Genesis; for instance, in Exodus 6:3, God tells Moses that he appeared to the patriarchs as “El Shaddai” but was not known by the name Yahweh.
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. — NIV
If we look beyond the Holy Bible, in the Talmud, “El Shaddai” translates to “He who tells His world enough!”
Another interpretation based on the masoretic vocalization points to the meaning I’m more inclined to. In this case, El Shaddai translates as “the self-sufficient one.”
In his article, The Meaning of El Shaddai, Jeff A. Benner explores the various hidden connotations in the epithet and how it draws parallels to a maternal figure. The author explains how the Hebrew word שדי (shaddai) may refer to a “teat.”
The word שדי (teat) is often coupled with the word אל (mighty, strong) creating the phrase אל שדי (el shaddai) literally meaning the “mighty teat,” hence we can see the translator’s reluctance to literally translate this phrase in this manner and instead using the more sanitized “God Almighty.”