Study it in the app“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, YHWH appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai; walk before me and be blameless.”
God establishes his covenant with Abram and changes his nameFaithfulness
WhenוַיְהִיAbramאַבְרָםwasבֶּןninety-nineתִּשְׁעִים וְתֵשַׁעyears old,שָׁנָה שָׁנִיםYHWHיְהוָהappearedוַיֵּרָאto Abramאֶל אַבְרָםand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Iאֲנִיam El Shaddai;אֵל שַׁדַּיwalkהִתְהַלֵּךְbefore meלְפָנַיandוֶbeהְיֵהblameless.תָמִים
happen
For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.
Where else “yehi” appearsAbram
Abram, the name of Abraham before God changed it (Genesis 17:5). It means "exalted father".
Where else “avram” appearsyears old
To give someone's age, how long they have lived.
Where else “ben” appearsninety
Ninety.
Where else “tishim” appearsnine
Nine; also "ninth".
Where else “tesha” appearsage
The years of a person's life.
Where else “shana” appearsYHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appearsappear
To let oneself be seen: YHWH let Abram see him.
Where else “yera” appearssay
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appearsEl, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
Where else “el” appearsShaddai, Almighty
"Shaddai": an ancient name of God, above all in Genesis and Job. It is usually translated "Almighty"; the exact origin of the word is not certain.
Where else “shaday” appearswalk
Literally "to go": to live a certain way, as Enoch with Elohim.
Where else “hithalech” appearsbefore
Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.
Where else “fana” appearsblameless
Without reproach, whole, like Noah.
Where else “tamim” appearsIn “El Shaddai,” shaddai means “Almighty.” Here it is YHWH who presents himself by this name, and Exodus 6:3 recalls it.
1 · This verse (above)
2I will set my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”
1. What it says
What new names did Abram and Sarai receive, and what did Elohim promise Abraham (vv. 5, 15-16)?
2. What it means
What does it show about Elohim’s plan that Abram becomes Abraham, “father of a multitude of nations” (v. 5)?
3. How I live it
What helps you remember each day what Elohim has said about you and your life?
