The Etymology of El Shaddai

(Talk delivered by Most Rev. Jose S. Sorra, DD, MA, Bishop of Legazpi on the occasion of the El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI Mass and Healing Rally held in Ligao, Albay, on July 30, 1993.)

It was sometime in 1990 that I became quite curious about El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI and its increasing popularity among the young and the elderly, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. So I made a little study on the origin of the word “El Shaddai.” I found out that “El” is a Semitic term for “God” and “Shaddai” is traditionally translated as “Almighty.” “El Shadday” is the original Hebrew spelling of “El Shaddai.” The Latin text uses “i” for “y.”

“Shaddai” seems to be an abbreviated form of “Asher Day,” meaning the “One Who is Enough.” However, there are other possible word origins. In Arabic, for instance, we have “Shadid” meaning “strong” and “Sayyid” meaning “Lord.” On the other hand, in Hebrew, 

we have “Shadah” and “Shad,” which means “maternal breast,” redolent of the Akkadian “Shadu,” the “God of Abundance.” Besides this, “Shadu” can also mean “mountain,” which is a symbol of power and stability.

At the same time, it is reminiscent of the maternal breast because of its form, which is mainly a place of refuge, spiritual retreat and worship, not to mention that it is where one can get food supplies.

What is common in all these terms or possible etymologies are the idea of “Lord” Who has “extraordinary power” that always gives “protection;” the “Lord” Whose infinite “goodness” shares “life” and “fruitfulness” in abundance. Therefore, this infinitely “Good” and “Almighty Lord,” Who guarantees fruitful life and protection, challenges man to believe and trust in Him.

The Covenant between God and Abram and between God and Jacob

In Genesis 17:2 (Jerusalem Bible Version), God introduced Himself to Abram thus: “...I am El Shaddai. Bear yourself blameless in My presence, and I will make a Covenant between Myself and you, and increase your numbers greatly.” God also introduced Himself to Jacob (Genesis 35:11-13, Jerusalem Bible Version) in the same manner: “...I am El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed a group of nations shall descend from you. Even kings shall be numbered among your descendants. I give you this land, the land I gave to Abraham and to Isaac; and I will give this land to your descendants after you...”

El Shaddai, had promised to both Abram and Jacob countless children. He gave them an assembly of nations for their posterity as well as vast properties of land, on one important condition: that they walk in His presence and be blameless. It is worth noting that, on the same occasion, the Lord changed the name of Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. Why? Because, from that time on, Abram and Jacob became special possessions of El Shaddai.

If we are truly followers of El Shaddai and firmly believe that He became Man and lived among us to die for us in order to give us life, then we should all commit ourselves and be faithful to our Covenant with Him, the Powerful and Abundant One, Who has everything for our life and security. Therefore, in Him we trust, for Him we live, and with Him, we have the power to confront, persuade and change this materialistic and hedonistic world to the righteous ways and values of El Shaddai.

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