The Hebrew word “El” may be a generic expression for god, however, when we add a second word, in this case, “Elyon” to that general Hebrew word, it gives the “El” an entirely different connotation. The word Elyon means The Most-High. Therefore, in this instance the combination of the two words “El” and “Elyon”, means The Most-High God.[1]
We see the mention of El Elyon in Genesis 14:18-20 (NKJV) where Moses writes, “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most-High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most-High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most-High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.”
Then we see the word Elyon used by itself in Psalms 9:1-2 (NKJV) where David writes, “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most-High.”
God is The Most-High God. There is no other name for God that is so all encompassing. El Elyon in one phrase describes God as no other can; He is the Most-High. No being or other thing, created or eternal, is above Him. God is high and lifted up completely separate and over all else.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke (Isaiah 6:1-4, NKJV)
What an incredible picture of God the one who is above everything. God is above all because He created all. Everything that exists was created by and for God, His plan, and for Him to express His love and grace. He defines separateness, sovereignty, supremacy, He never varies for He is straight, and He is the image of Splendor. These words are powerful and descriptive and everyone and everything pales in His significance.
Above all else, God is The Most-High God. The Godhead; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, is above all things, created all things, and is in all things.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Colossians 1:15-18, NKJV).
It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me (Daniel 4:2).
In Daniel 4:2 God Most High is translated from the Hebrew Yahweh Illay which means the highest Lord. The Hebrew word al or el is used alone to mean God Most High. In the New Testament, the Greek words Theou hypistou (Luke *:28, Hebrews 7:1) are translated Most High God. All of these words describe that the Lord is to be the highest possible object in the worship of the people of God. Human-made gods cannot compete with the Lord on any level and are not to be worshiped (Deuteronomy 27:13, Revelation 9:20)[2]
[1] from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, revised edition, Copyright © 1979 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
[2] David Jenkins, Where Do We See El Elyon in Scripture? biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/worship-god-as-el-elyon-the-lord-most-high, used by permission, Article 107 of the Fair Use Copywrite Law.
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