El Shaddai (Part 3): Breasts and Covenant (Genesis 17:1; 14:18-24)

Genesis 17:1 says, "...I am El Shaddai...walk before me and be perfect..."

SHADDAI

In its pictographic origins, (Shaddai) is made up of three Hebrew letters: (shin); (dal); and (yad). [Hebrew is read from right to left, and in Western culture, the word is reversed, to be read, and pronounced, from left to right].

SHIN

(Shin): The first letter is the picture of two front teeth, which is best described as the upper case "E", pushed over to the left, on its side, to resemble the drawing of two front teeth. It is also the modern Hebrew word "shin", which means "tooth". The sound of this ancient pictograph was "sh", [the "i" and "n" being silent]. However, the English word "shine" is derived from this letter, from the "whiteness" of teeth. Over time, the "E" on it's back, evolved into the modern letter "S".

This letter, as with all the Hebrew pictographs, can have various meanings depending on its use with other letters in the Hebrew alphabet. In combination with the other pictographic letters in "Shaddai", the English version of the word, this letter means "two; double; duplication; repeat". The idea conveyed, is that of "more" of whatever is referred to.

DAL

(Dal): This early pictograph is the drawing of a tent door, hung vertically from a horizontal pole. If a person could visualize a top hat, turned upside down, or a horizontal line, with a rectangle attached to the bottom of it, horizontally, directly in the middle of the line, then they would have a good idea of the visual representation of this letter. Modern Hebrew has the word "dalet", which means door, while Arabic retains the original "dal", meaning door.

There was a common shift in ancient Hebrew from the "L" sound to the "R" sound, changing "dal", to "dar". This Hebrew letter is where the English word "door" is derived from. It is also, from the middle Semitic use of the letter, the origin of the number "4". The English letter "d" was also derived from this Hebrew letter. Visually, if the letter "d" was pushed over, to the left, on it's "face", and the horizontal line extended to the right, the original letter "dal" could be seen. Over time, this letter became the upper case "D", which is basically the tent flap [door], pushed up, to the left, to stand upright, without the horizontal pole extended. The sound of this letter is the "d" sound.

The letter means "door", but it also means "to dangle", as the tent flap did, from the horizontal pole that supported it. It also means "to come and go", or "movement", as a person would enter and exit through the tent door, in their comings and goings.

YAD

(Yad): This third Hebrew letter, in the Hebrew word translated "Shaddai", is perhaps, visually, best described as an upper case "L", pushed over, to the left, on its back, with a lower case "v", pushed on its side, to the left, attached to the left of the "L", the point of the "v" being where they join. The pictograph is the ancient drawing of a hand and arm.

The Hebrews called this measurement the cubit, being the distance from the tip of the hand, or fingers, to the elbow, which whole distance, they considered the "hand". [The modern Hebrew word "Yad" or "Yud", means hand]. In English, the measurement was extended to the shoulder, and this letter is where we derive the English measurement, and the word "yard" from. Over time, the Hebrew pictograph was inverted 90 degrees, on it's end, and became the letter "I". The Hebrew letter was pronounced with both the "y" sound, and the "i" sound, reflecting both its use as a consonant and a vowel.

The meaning of the letter is an expression of the actions of the hand, which include "work; throw; make; to give the hand"; and even, "to worship".

SH-DA-I

The combination of these 3 Hebrew letters, gives us the translation "Shaddai", more directly expressed by each individual letter, and pronounced as "Sh - Da - i".

SHIN

The combined meaning of the pictographs is divided into two parts. The first two letters form the root word "Shad", meaning "breast(s)". This is derived from the letter (shin), representing the visual of two front teeth, and the letter (dal), representing the dangling tent door. The meaning is "two danglers". The goat had two teats that dangled from the udder, and was a sustainer of life to the Semitic people. This visual imagery of the "breasts", created the meaning of abundance; overflow; or, continuous supply, especially since the word is plural in form [conveying the meaning "unending" or "ongoing"].

DAL

Also, the first letter, (shin), drawn as two teeth, also meant 'double', or 'repetition'; 'repeat', and the letter (dal) expressed 'movement', or 'comings and goings' in one's life [the symbol of the tent, where the family dwelt, representing one's "life"]. The idea, in conjunction with the imagery of breasts, is "more" than what is required; constant repetition of what a person already has, in their comings and goings [i.e., their life]. Again, this is simply a further extension of the same thought of on going supply, or abundance, unending.

YAD

The second part of the word, added to the root (Shad), is the letter (Yad). This is the picture of the hand, representing the actions of the hand, or more specifically, the "giving of the hand". This is the action of the hand expressed in covenant, like Abraham, who had lifted up his hand in covenant, giving tithes of all, in victory from the battle (Gen.14:18-24). We still carry over the symbolism of this ancient act, when we raise, or lift our hands in public worship, expressing our allegiance and joining of covenant, with the Most High God.

The full meaning of the word, then, is this super abundance of provision, manifested to all those whom God (El) has extended His hand to in covenant, and to those who have reciprocated in lifting their hand, joining in covenant, with the Most High God. To reemphasize, [from El Shaddai: Part 1 and El Shaddai: Part 2], (El) is the God of covenant, but (Shaddai), is the God of the physical; tangible manifestation; and fulfillment, of that covenant. Believe for the best, and expect nothing less!

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours