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ArchivesRe: El Shaddai
in reply to a message by L Cleffman
El Shaddai means 'God Almighty'...a nice name for a deity but a bit much to live up to for a mortal girl child ;o)
Shaddai is the plural of Shad from the word shaddad meaning 'to be strong or powerful'. In the Hebrew of the Bible Shaddai occurs no less than 48 times and in every single case refers to God himself and is rendered 'almighty' in translation. Assuming a bit of Christian faith on the part of anyone listening to Amy Grant, if it were me I'd probably neutralise the cheek of applying El Shaddai to a child by dropping the El bit (which means 'God') and working with Shaddad - Shadda maybe, 'to be strong'. But then I personally wouldn't name my child Jehovah, Elohim or Yahweh either. Or name them a foreign term the meaning of which I didn't know or understand because it was in a pretty song come to think of it ;o)
Devon
Shaddai is the plural of Shad from the word shaddad meaning 'to be strong or powerful'. In the Hebrew of the Bible Shaddai occurs no less than 48 times and in every single case refers to God himself and is rendered 'almighty' in translation. Assuming a bit of Christian faith on the part of anyone listening to Amy Grant, if it were me I'd probably neutralise the cheek of applying El Shaddai to a child by dropping the El bit (which means 'God') and working with Shaddad - Shadda maybe, 'to be strong'. But then I personally wouldn't name my child Jehovah, Elohim or Yahweh either. Or name them a foreign term the meaning of which I didn't know or understand because it was in a pretty song come to think of it ;o)
Devon
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Replies
Adonijh, Elihu, Alvah, and get this Yahweh means a lot of things. Please don't be rude about this name. After all it means God Almighty and who are you to Judge? I hope the mother of this young Lady knows that name is the most perfect name ever!
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1. There is no 'most perfect name ever'...perhaps a dip in theology classes would expose you to the inherent imperfection of the worldly realm.
2. Judge is only capitalised when it starts a sentence or is part of a title as in Judge John D. Caplan presiding, not when you're trying to be emphatic in print.
3. Who am I to judge? Well, the person who told her what her daughter's name actually means for a start. And anyway, I'm not judging her (although my gut instinct on this one is that brightness and intellectual curiousity aren't major factors) or her intentions in using the name, simply cluing her in to the controversial and loaded meanings and associations of the name and suggesting ways around that. You shouldn't ask questions if you can't handle honest answers and if you're going to judge someone as judgemental than you can't criticise them for judging someone's common sense to be slightly lacking - setting in judgement of someone for judging is called hypocrisy. They often cover that in religion also ;o)
cheers
Devon
2. Judge is only capitalised when it starts a sentence or is part of a title as in Judge John D. Caplan presiding, not when you're trying to be emphatic in print.
3. Who am I to judge? Well, the person who told her what her daughter's name actually means for a start. And anyway, I'm not judging her (although my gut instinct on this one is that brightness and intellectual curiousity aren't major factors) or her intentions in using the name, simply cluing her in to the controversial and loaded meanings and associations of the name and suggesting ways around that. You shouldn't ask questions if you can't handle honest answers and if you're going to judge someone as judgemental than you can't criticise them for judging someone's common sense to be slightly lacking - setting in judgement of someone for judging is called hypocrisy. They often cover that in religion also ;o)
cheers
Devon
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My name is El Shaddai, I couldn't understand why my mom was crying the other night on the computer. I've been reading the words you have written degrading my mother, insulting her integrity, plus insulting a name you have no idea about. You only know what is written. My Father at a Catholic church hasn't even been so rude at you people here. I'm devistated about how you think you know my mom! I have a letter from Amy Grant that sings the song what it meant. Mom wanted to find out other meanings. Like duh you may have been the one who needs more training on this matter before you put your two food stamps in! My mother has an excelent degree, and makes more money then you will ever make your whole life. I didn't know this was "Behind the name with insults"
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Right on, El Shaddai!! Keep it up!! Someone needs to tell them!
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