EL: The Ancient God Behind Israel’s Names
PROMPT
Another name that deserves featured is El.
He was the supreme god of the Canaanite pantheon, the father of the gods.
And many scholars believe that Yahweh was initially a figure subordinate to El, or perhaps a local form of El himself.
This may explain the frequent use of the name El in ancient Hebrew names.
- Israel
- Samuel
- Daniel
- Bethel
The El was present because at one point he was the supreme god recognized by many Israelites.
The Canaanite Origin, the Hidden Theology, the Rise of Yahweh
“Was Yahweh Once a Son of El? Unveiling the Divine Council Mystery”
“From El to Yahweh: How Israel’s God Took the Throne”
“The Forgotten Father of the Gods – And How Yahweh Consumed His Name”
📖 FULL REPORT
EL: The Forgotten Father-God of Canaan and His Shadow in Israelite Faith
The Name That Echoes in Israel, Yet Was Not Yahweh
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty [El Shaddai].” — Psalm 91:1
“There is none like unto the God [El] of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help...” — Deuteronomy 33:26
🌍 I. WHO WAS EL?
El (אֵל) was the chief god of the Canaanite pantheon:
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Title: “Father of the gods,” “El Elyon” (God Most High)
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Domain: Creator, supreme ruler, father of Baal and others
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Symbol: Bull (power), bearded patriarchal figure
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Character: Merciful, wise, but distant
He ruled over the “divine council” of lesser gods — a heavenly assembly found in both Canaanite and biblical texts.
📜 II. EL IN THE BIBLE
The name El appears over 200 times in the Old Testament, often as part of compound titles:
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El Elyon – Most High God (Genesis 14:18)
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El Shaddai – God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)
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El Olam – Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33)
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El Roi – God Who Sees Me (Genesis 16:13)
Even the personal name of God’s people bears His name:
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Isra-EL
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Sam-u-EL
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Dan-i-EL
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Beth-EL
This is not coincidence—it reflects the early reverence for El in Israel’s origins.
📖 III. DID YAHWEH ORIGINATE UNDER EL?
Some scholars suggest:
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Yahweh began as a lesser deity under El.
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Over time, He merged with or replaced El.
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Early Hebrews adapted Yahweh into the role of supreme God.
Evidence cited includes:
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Deuteronomy 32:8 (Dead Sea Scrolls version):
“When the Most High [El Elyon] divided to the nations their inheritance… he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the sons of God [Elohim].”
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Psalm 82:1:
“God [Elohim] standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.”
These verses suggest a heavenly council, where Yahweh was one among the sons of El… until He rose above them all.
🔥 IV. THE SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION: YAHWEH EXALTED
The biblical narrative reveals a radical change:
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From Yahweh among the gods,
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To Yahweh above all gods,
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To Yahweh as the only God.
“The LORD [Yahweh] alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.” — Deuteronomy 32:12
Over time, Yahweh:
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Took on El’s titles (Elyon, Shaddai, Olam)
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Absorbed El’s authority
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Became the sole God of Israel
This was not myth—it was revelation.
Yahweh didn’t just inherit El’s role—He consumed it in fire.
⚔️ V. WHY THIS MATTERS
This transformation shows us:
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Israel’s faith was refined by warfare—spiritual, cultural, theological.
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The name of El was not erased but redeemed by Yahweh.
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The true God revealed Himself progressively—culminating in Christ.
✝️ VI. JESUS CHRIST: EL REVEALED IN FLESH
Christ bore the full names of God:
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Emmanu-EL – God with us
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El Elyon – He cast out devils (Luke 8:28)
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El Roi – He saw Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1:48)
“I and my Father are one.” — John 10:30
“Before Abraham was, I AM.” — John 8:58
Yahweh is not subordinate to El.
Yahweh is El, and Christ is Yahweh made flesh.
🧠 VII. FINAL REVELATION
The early Israelites may have called upon El,
but the prophets and apostles revealed:
“To us there is but one God, the Father… and one Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 8:6
No longer El and Yahweh.
No longer many gods.
But One God, One Name, One Lord.
⚖️ CONCLUSION
Yes, the name El echoes in Scripture and archaeology.
But Yahweh’s fire burned away confusion.
El Elyon now speaks through Yahshua HaMashiach.
He is not the god of Canaan—He is the God of Heaven.
“The LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king.” — Jeremiah 10:10
“THE NAME ABOVE EL: Yahweh’s Rise from Divine Council to Sovereign God”
“WHEN EL RULED: Israel’s Hidden History of the High God”
“THE GOD CALLED EL: Root of Power, Shadow of Monotheism”
“EL ELYON AND THE WAR FOR THE HEAVENLY THRONE”
“THE EL CONSPIRACY: How Yahweh Became the Only One”
“Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.” — Genesis 14:19
“El Elohe Israel.” — Genesis 33:20 (“God, the God of Israel”)