What does El Shaddai mean?
El Shaddai means the fruitfulness of God, the God of fruitfulness. It is a specific name of deity used in Scripture, found in Genesis chapter 17. This name is distinct from other Hebrew names of God such as Jehovah-Jireh and El Olam, and it emphasizes God's fruitfulness.
Les explains that Scripture uses various names of deity according to a particular situation or point to be made, though it is always the same God. In Genesis chapter 17, God is referred to as El Shaddai, which means the fruitfulness of God, the God of fruitfulness. This is distinct from Jehovah-Jireh, the name used when Abraham was going to offer Isaac and God provided a ram in the thicket, and from El Olam, the everlasting God, which Abraham called upon in Beersheba. Les notes that in the Hebrew, El Shaddai is a totally different word than the Jehovah God names used back in Genesis chapter 4.