Yahweh El Shaddai by Cutri

This is a series I'm starting on the names of God from the Old Testament which have been translated from Hebrew texts. In Judiasm, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title, it represents the Jewish conception of the divine aspects attributed to God. They represent God as he is known. Yaweh (YHWH) is the name of God, the other names are attributes or titles. Like a person is called by his or her name but also by "Dad/Mom", "Husband/Wife", "Boss", "Son/Daughter", etc.

At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form (YHWH), the name of God

Yaweh (YHWH)

YHWH is a "tetragrammation (tetr-"four"and gramma "letter") that appears 6,828 times in a Hebrew Masoretic text. It is traditionally translated into "The Lord". It also translates as the "I AM" in Exodus 3:14 when God said to Moses "I AM THAT I AM". It stems from the Hebrew conception of monthesis that God exists by himself for himself, and is the uncreated Creator who is independent of any concept, force, or entity. "Life" is also connected with name YHWH, presented as the living God as in Jeremiah 10:10.

El Shaddai

In her book "Praying the Names of God" Ann Spangler writes : When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said," I am God the Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm My covenant between me and you and greatly increase your numbers." (Genesis 17:1-2)

In the Septuagint and other early translations Shaddai was translated with words "Almighty". The root word "shadad" means "to overpower" or "to destroy". Other interpretations and derivations have alternative meanings, one theorist is W.F. Albright. He suggested the Semitic stem that appears in the Akkadian shadu meaning "mountain". An alternative view proposed by Albright is that the name is connected to shadayim which means "breasts" in Hebrew. It may then connected to the notion of God's fertility and blessings of the human race. In several instances it is connected with fruitfulness: "May God Almighty [El Shaddai] bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers..."(Gen. 28:3) "By the Almighty [El Shaddai] who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts [shadayim] and the womb [racham]" (Gen. 49:25)

My interpretation in painting

I liked all of the theorized derivations, particularly that One that is Almighty may also nourish as with breasts. In the above detail Jesus Christ the son of God is representing the Almighty Overpowering One,  while His Father is God the Nurturer as the cloud like breast form, sending down sacred nourishment to the figure in the center. This sort of hell-like situation she finds herself in is being lifted out by the "super hero" Jesus. I was told once that it is blasphemous to have a cross upside down and I'm sure some will take offense that he is naked, but he was when he was crucified, too. I assure you I painted this in the utmost reverence. The four paintings on the sides is the cycle we go through to eventually surrender to His help.

 God paintings