Elohim - The Sovereign, Mighty Creator

Elohim is the first title that you encounter in the Bible: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)

The Hebrew word for the name of God is actually El, or Elohim. This name is one of God's more frequently occurring titles. It is important that we understand its meaning.

El is the root word of Elohim, and it describes God's greatness and glory; it displays God's power and sovereignty. Although this word is composed of only two letters, it offers a glimpse into the depth of the Hebrew language, which is a language of pictures. 

In the Bible the very first verse, God was shown as the Creator. In using the name Elohim, Genisis 1:1 makes the statement that tremendous, unimaginable power is involved in the force of God's creativity.

Elohim, in His mighty power and creativity, caused our vast universe to exist.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrew 11: 3)

El Shaddai

The All Sufficient One

When we first studied the name Elohim, we discovered that El displays God's qualities of power and might. El Shaddai is also a compound name, and it first appears in Genesis 17.

When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly. (Genesis 17:1-2)