El Elyon / El 'Elyon
"Let them praise the name of the LORD:
for His Name alone is excellent;
His glory [is] above the earth and heaven."
Psalm 148:13 (KJV)
Editor's Note:
As there is considerable variance among Bible scholars as to former customs,
usage, and translations of the numerous names of God in the Bible, the neutrality
and factual accuracy of this article may be disputed. These articles are a
summation of those ideas and conclusions on which most scholars agree.
The name "Elyon" is sometimes translated as "'Elyon" (with an accent mark before the "E"). For the purpose of clarity only — and not to dispute which representation is correct — I have arbitrarily chosen to use "Elyon" (without the accent mark).
The word "Elyon" (pronounced 'El-y
n) is an adjective and derives from the Hebrew root 'lh, meaning to "go up" or "ascend". It is used to describe the height of objects (II Kings 15:35, 18:17; Ezekiel 41:7), the prominence of persons (Psalm 89:27), and the prominence of Israel as a nation (Deuteronomy 26:19, 28:1). In each case in which the adjective occurs, it denotes that which is highest or uppermost.When applied to God, the name "Elyon" stresses His strength, extreme sovereignty, and highest supremacy. When the two names "El" and "Elyon" are combined, the resultant name can be literally translated as "the extremely exalted, sovereign, high God", as in Psalm 57:2: "I cry out to God Most High [El Elyon], to God [Elohim] who accomplishes my requests for me."
The Name "Elyon" Standing Alone
The single name "Elyon" appears in the Scriptures 34 times — many in poetic passages, especially in the Psalms. It appears in Moses' final song in Deuteronomy 32:8: "When the Most High [Elyon] gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel."
Further passages in the Old Testament that use the single name "Elyon":
- Numbers 24:16 (as a separate name parallel to El) — "He says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High [Elyon], who sees the vision of the Almighty [El], falling down, and having his eyes open..."
- 2 Samuel 22:14 — Yahweh thundered from heaven, the Most High [Elyon] uttered His voice.
- Psalm 7:17 — I will give thanks to Yahweh according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High [Elyon].
- Psalm 83:18 — That they may know that You alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High [Elyon] over all the earth.
- Psalm 91:1 — He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High [Elyon] will rest in the shadow of the Almighty [El].
- Psalm 97:9 — For you, Yahweh, are most high [Elyon] above all the earth."
- See also Deuteronomy 32:8; 2 Samuel 22:14; Psalm 9:2, 18:13, 21:7, 46:4, 47:2, 50:14, 73:11, 77:10, 78:17, 82:6, 87:5, 91:9, 92:1, 97:9, 107:11; Isaiah 14:13–14; Lamentations 3:35,38; Daniel 4:17, 24-25, 32, 34, 7:18, 22, 25, 27; Hosea 7:16, 11:7.
The compound name "El Elyon" (translated "God Most High" or "Most High God") occurs 12 times in the Old Testament. It first occurs 4 times in Genesis 14:18–22: "Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High [El Elyon]. He blessed him, and said, 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High [El Elyon], possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High [El Elyon], who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' Abram gave him a tenth of all. Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High [El Elyon], possessor of heaven and earth,'."
Further passages in the Old Testament that use the compound name "El Elyon":
- Psalm 78:35 — They remembered that God [Elohim] was their rock, the Most High God [El Elyon] their redeemer.
- Psalms 78:56 — Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God [El Elyon], and didn't keep His testimonies;"
- Daniel 3:26 — Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spoke and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God [El Elyon], come forth, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire.
- See also Psalm 9:2; Daniel 3:26, 4:2, 5:18, 21