The Lord our God is referred to by many names throughout the Bible. Today, we will talk about the name El Elyon, or God Most High.
What does El Elyon mean?
El Elyon is translated from Hebrew to “God Most High.” This term is made up from a combination of El (a general term for God) and Elyon, sometimes spelled Elyohn, or Elyown, (meaning Most High). As monotheism (the worship of one God) was rare throughout Biblical times, worshippers needed a term to specify the one true God. This is one of the earliest names for God that we observe in the Bible.
Where is El Elyon found in the Bible?
The name El Elyon (God Most High) appears many times throughout the Old Testament, first in Genesis 14, and frequently in similar forms in Psalms.
Abram, not yet Abraham, had just parted ways with his nephew Lot. Lot had chosen to pitch his tents near the wicked city of Sodom (Genesis 13:12-13) and Abram settled in Canaan, near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron (18). God greatly blessed Abram with wealth and livestock.
Soon, a war broke out in the region, four kings against five—with Sodom on the losing team. The victors captured Lot (with all his people and possessions) as loot as the king of Sodom fled. Later, a man escaped and told Abram that his nephew was in danger. So Abram rallied 318 men who had been born in his household (Genesis 14:14-16), defeated the previously-victorious kings, and recovered Lot, with his household and possessions in tow.
How awesome, that a man that was not a king, and men who were not soldiers, did what five kings and armies could not!
The king of Sodom, along with Melchizedek king of Salem (who was not in the war), later met with Abram in the King’s Valley.
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’” (Genesis 14:17-22).
So Abram refused payment from the wicked king of Sodom, but gave an offering to the priest-king of God Most High. Note that this is the first time that we observe the ten percent amount for a type of tithe in the Bible. This priest-king also brings bread and wine, a foreshadowing of the communion to come. The Bible later alludes to the comparison of the king-priest and the forever reign of the Messiah as High Priest, in “the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110, Hebrews 7).
The name El Elyon occurs in this exact form once again in Psalm 78, a Psalm that recounts the history of Israel and their complicated relationship with the Lord up until the time of David. “They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.” (Psalm 78:35).
What does El Elyon mean to us?
Variations the name El Elyon, Most High God, appear many more times throughout the Bible. Other forms include Elyon (the Highest), the LORD (Yahweh) Most High, and God (Elohim) Most High. This name elicits the characteristics of God’s sovereignty, power, and omniscience. What can take from this truth?
First, it humbles us. He is the Most High, not us. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God has the ultimate bird’s eye view, and we can trust in His infinite wisdom. His power is unfathomable; when He speaks, He creates, He wins wars, He sets prisoners free. “The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded” (2 Samuel 22:14, Psalm 18:13).
Isaiah speaks of one who thought he could be like God (many interpret this as Lucifer). He said, “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14). It didn’t work out for him. We later see him brought down to the realm of the dead (15).
God Most High, the Creator of heaven and earth, set the beautiful system of nature, time, and weather in place. “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” (Lamentations 3:38). He has reasons for why He does what He does: let’s trust Him today.
Second, it comforts us. He is Higher than every storm, every mountain, every enemy that we face. He has the high ground, and He will always win. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
This knowledge strengthened David’s faith from lions and bears as a shepherd boy, against the giant Goliath when he only had a handful of stones, and when he was being pursued by his new father-in-law King Saul. “For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.” (Psalm 21:7).
Lastly, it amazes us. “Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—that you alone are the Most High over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18). He alone is worthy of our worship and praise.
We are most fulfilled in our souls when we take a part of each and every day to worship God. “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 92:1).
God’s knowledge is unfathomable, and His ways are mysterious. For instance, there is a whole heavenly realm and new earth of which we only brief glimpses throughout the scriptures: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.” (Psalm 46:4). He is preparing this place for us to be with Him forever (John 14:3).
The name Most High God also appears in the New Testament. Interestingly, the man possessed by the legion of demons exclaims this term when he sees Jesus, prior to the demons being cast into a herd of pigs: “He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” (Mark 5:7). Even the demons know the power and sovereignty of the God Most High!
I once had a dream in which I was walking down a beautiful cobblestone street at sunset. I noticed a worship service occurring through the window of a second floor. When I entered and walked up the stairs, I saw participants bowing on the floor. I was worried because I wasn’t sure who they were bowing to. What denomination was this? Was it a cult? Should I be there? I remember the Man at the front, who I am guessing represented the Lord, looked at me with compassion. He said, “Oh (my name), if you only knew how truly high my throne is, you would understand that all people will bow to Me.”
I don’t know if this dream meant something or if it was just the result of my own thoughts, but I think about it sometimes. God is truly the Most High, and someday, every knee will bow (Isaiah 45:3, Romans 14:11).
I hope you enjoyed learning about El Elyon, God Most High. Keep reading this week as I continue the series researching the Names of God. Next up, I will be covering the name Jehovah Rohi, or the Lord is my Shepherd.
