Genesis 17: A New Name for God

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Eternal One appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am El Shaddai. Walk before Me and be blameless.’”Hebrew: _וַיְהִי אַבְרָם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִים וָתֵשַׁע שָׁנָה, וַיֵּרָא ה' אֶל־אַבְרָם; וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, אֲנִי־אֵל שַׁדַּי, הִתְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנַי וֶהְיֵה תָמִים׃ (בראשית יז:א)In this pivotal moment, the Divine Presence reveals Itself to Abram once again, but this time introduces a new name: El Shaddai. What does this name signify?Rashi interprets it to mean that the Almighty is sufficient unto Himself—complete, lacking nothing, and not dependent on any other being.Ibn Ezra sees the name as emphasizing divine power, suggesting that its use here is meant to instill awe in Abram and prepare him to accept the commandment of circumcision.Ramban, while explaining Rashi’s view, prefers Ibn Ezra’s interpretation and adds that El Shaddai is often associated with hidden miracles—those that defy nature quietly. In this context, the birth of Isaac would be such a miracle.Radak agrees with the miraculous interpretation but leans toward Rashi’s understanding. He explains that the Almighty’s sufficiency implies total control over nature, including the ability to enable two elderly people to conceive a child.It’s notable that the commentators divide their focus between two elements of this prophecy: the mitzvah of circumcision and the promise of Isaac’s birth. Both are introduced in the same divine encounter, yet none explicitly link both themes to the name El Shaddai.Perhaps the name itself is meant to unify them. As the all-powerful Creator, the Eternal One can command Abram to alter his physical body—reshaping the “image of the Divine” through circumcision. At the same time, the Divine affirms the power to transcend natural limitations, enabling Abram and Sarai to conceive despite their age. In this way, El Shaddai becomes a name that encompasses both divine authority and divine compassion—command and promise, transformation and creation.