Bar’chu
et YHVH ha-m’vorach, Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach l’O’lam va-ed! Baruch ata YHVH
Eloheinu
melech ha-olam asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim, v’na-tan lanu eht Torah-to.
Baruch
atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Bless
YHVH the blessed One; Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One for all eternity.
Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have selected us
from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you,
YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
Gen 17:1 And
it came to be when Aḇram was ninety-nine years old, that יהוה
appeared to Aḇram and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before Me and
be(become) perfect1. Footnote: 1Messiah gives the same
command in Mt. 5:48.
El Shaddai
is the title-name of YHVH that relates to nurturing. “Shad” in Hebrew is
“breast”. YHVH is referred to as the “Breasted One.”
The name El
Shaddai is used 7 times in the Tenach and this is the first time it is used.
According to the law of first appearance in the scripture, this is truly
significant as it relates to YHVH preserving and nurturing His covenant with
us. The use of the term ‘’El Shadai’’ in Genesis occurs where the birth of
children is the primary concern, especially when woman are barren – 28:3;
35:11; 43:14; 48:3 -
The Hebrew
word “shad” is also a masculine noun. Caring is what the patriarchs do.
The Hitpael
verb is used for “walk” – “hithalech” and means to walk back and forth –
continue to walk by faith especially regarding the promise of a son. Being
occupied with YHVH was the primary focus of the patriachs.
Gen
17:2 “And I give My covenant between Me
and you, and shall greatly increase you.”
ב וְאֶתְּנָה בְרִיתִי, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ;
וְאַרְבֶּה אוֹתְךָ, בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד.
Note – “ve
etna” means “I have given” The “hey” ending emphasizes the intensity of the
verb. The evidence of possessing His covenant is great increase or fruitfulness
in our lives. We may safely assume that this blessed life carries over into the
“olam ha ba” – the life to come.
Gen
17:3 And Aḇram fell on his face, and
Elohim spoke with him, saying,
Gen
17:4 “As for Me, look, My covenant is
with you, and you shall become a father of many nations.
Gen
17:5 “And no longer is your name called
Aḇram, but your name shall be Aḇraham, because I shall make you a father of
many nations. (Heb – ‘’hamon’’ means multitude)
Gen
17:6 “And I shall make you bear fruit
exceedingly, and make nations of you, and sovereigns shall come from you.
Gen
17:7 “And I shall establish My covenant
between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an
everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your seed after you.
Gen
17:8 “And I shall give to you and your
seed after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Kenaʽan, as an
everlasting possession. And I shall be their Elohim.”
Gen
17:9 And Elohim said to Aḇraham, “As
for you, guard My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their
generations.