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The Helpful God: A Reevaluation of the Etymology and Character of (ˀēl) šadday

In: Vetus Testamentum
Author:
Aren M. Wilson-Wright Universität Zürich Switzerland

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Online Publication Date:
21 Jan 2019
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Abstract

Both the role of the deity (El) Shadday in the religions of ancient Israel and the etymology of the name šadday remain poorly understood. In this article, I will propose a new etymology for the name šadday and then leverage this etymology into a better understanding of (El) Shadday’s character. I argue that šadday is a nomen agentis from the root sdy ‘to help’ and originated as an epithet of the deity El, which highlighted his benevolent qualities. A comparison of El in the Ugaritic epics and El Shadday in the Priestly Source (P) suggests that El Shadday was thought to help his worshippers by providing them with children. El Shadday thus represents one way in which the deity El survived in the religions of ancient Israel.

Title:
The Helpful God: A Reevaluation of the Etymology and Character of (ˀēl) šadday
Article Type:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-12341343
Language:
English
Pages:
149–166
Keywords:
El Shadday; Israelite Religions; P
In:
Vetus Testamentum
In:
Volume 69: Issue 1
Publisher:
Brill
E-ISSN:
1568-5330
Print ISSN:
0042-4935
Subjects:
Hebrew Bible, Biblical Studies, General, Jewish Studies

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