God Most High
El Elyon: The Lord Most High
The name El Elyon (יהוה עליון – אל עליון) reveals God as the Supreme Being, the Highest Authority above all creation. The title emphasizes His unmatched sovereignty, power, and supremacy over all realms—spiritual and earthly. It establishes God as the ultimate ruler, exalted above all else, the One who reigns over heaven and earth.
The Hebrew root of Elyon (עליון) means “most high, uppermost, exalted,” appearing 53 times in Scripture, with 31 occurrences explicitly referring to God. It conveys the idea of supreme authority and absolute sovereignty. When God is revealed as El Elyon, He is shown to be the One who is above every power, ruler, and dominion.
God Most High
Biblical References and Meaning
Psalms 91:9-14 – The Refuge in the Most High
“Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High (Elyon), your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” (Psalm 91:9-10, NKJV)
Psalm 91 speaks of God’s protection over those who dwell in Him. The passage uses El Elyon to affirm that the one who trusts in the Most High is made secure and untouchable. Verse 14 makes a profound promise:
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high (sagab – make him inaccessible), because he has known My name.” (Psalm 91:14)
This verse reveals that those who know (yada’) God’s name, particularly as El Elyon, are placed by Him in a high, untouchable, and exalted position. Just as God is supreme and inaccessible to evil, He makes those who trust in Him likewise secure and exalted.
The implication here is that as we recognize and declare God’s supreme authority as El Elyon, He aligns our position in Him—making us immovable, victorious, and spiritually untouchable.
The First Mention of El Elyon: Melchizedek
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High (El Elyon). And 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, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.” (Genesis 14:18-20)
The first mention of El Elyon in Scripture is in the story of Melchizedek, the mysterious priest-king of Salem. He blesses Abraham in the name of El Elyon, identifying Him as the “Possessor of heaven and earth.” This highlights God’s sovereign ownership and rulership over all creation. Abraham acknowledges this by giving a tithe, recognizing God’s supreme authority over all wealth and victory.
Balaam’s Prophecy – Numbers 24:16
“The utterance of him who hears the words of God, and has the knowledge of the Most High (El Elyon), who sees the vision of the Almighty…”
Even a non-Israelite prophet, Balaam, recognized the supremacy of El Elyon. This passage affirms that God’s sovereignty is acknowledged beyond Israel and among the nations.
David and the Warrior God – 2 Samuel 22:14
“The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High (Elyon) uttered His voice.”
David understood God as the exalted warrior, the One who delivered him from all his enemies. He had personally experienced God’s might in battles and deliverance, as seen in his victories over the lion, the bear, and ultimately, Goliath. Because David knew God in this way, God also made him a mighty warrior.
This principle echoes throughout Scripture—those who know (yada’) God in a certain way often experience that very attribute of God in their lives. Just as David knew El Elyon as his Deliverer and was made a deliverer for Israel, so too are those who trust in El Elyon placed in a high and victorious position.
Other Key Passages on El Elyon
Psalm 7:17 – “I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”
Psalm 47:2 – “For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.”
Psalm 97:9 – “For You, Lord, are Most High above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.”
Psalm 83:18 – “That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.”
Theological and Practical Significance of El Elyon
God’s Absolute Sovereignty – El Elyon is the ultimate authority. Nothing happens outside His control, and all things are under His dominion.
God as Protector and Refuge – Those who take refuge in El Elyon are made secure, lifted to a place of safety beyond the reach of harm.
God as the Exalter of His People – As we acknowledge Him as El Elyon, He exalts and positions us in places of victory, honor, and spiritual authority.
God as the Ruler of the Nations – El Elyon is not just the God of Israel but of all nations, as seen in the acknowledgment of Balaam and Melchizedek.
God as Warrior and Deliverer – As David knew El Elyon as his Warrior, he was empowered for battle and victory.
Hebrew Letter Interpretation of El Elyon (עליון)
In ancient Hebrew, each letter carried pictographic meanings, reflecting deeper symbolic insights into words. By analyzing Elyon (עליון) through its Hebrew letters, we can uncover significant themes embedded in God’s name as El Elyon—the Most High.
Hebrew Spelling of Elyon (עליון)
Ayin (ע) – Eye, to see, watch, or perceive.
Lamed (ל) – Staff, authority, guidance, or teaching.
Yod (י) – Hand, work, deed, or action.
Vav (ו) – Nail, hook, securing, connection.
Nun (ן) – Sprout, seed, life, or continuation.
Pictographic Interpretation
Each letter in Elyon (עליון) holds symbolic meaning, revealing God’s nature as the Most High:
Ayin (ע) – Eye → Represents vision and divine oversight. God sees all and rules with perfect judgment.
Lamed (ל) – Staff → Symbolizes authority and guidance. El Elyon is the Supreme Shepherd.
Yod (י) – Hand → Signifies action and power. God actively delivers and exalts His people.
Vav (ו) – Nail → Represents connection and stability. El Elyon secures His people in Him.
Nun (ן) – Sprout → Denotes life and continuation. God, as El Elyon, sustains and elevates.
Summarized Meaning from Pictographic Hebrew
Putting these insights together, Elyon (עליון) can symbolically convey:
“The All-Seeing God, who Shepherds with Authority, Acts with Power, Establishes with Stability, and Brings Life.”
Alternatively, it can be understood as:
“The Most High is the One who Sees, Leads, Works, Secures, and Sustains.”
This aligns with biblical themes that El Elyon is not only the Supreme Ruler but also the One who actively watches over, leads, and sustains His people, securing them in His presence.
Conclusion
Understanding El Elyon deepens our relationship with God, revealing Him as the Most High who sees, leads, acts, secures, and sustains His people. He is not just exalted in title but in function—sovereign over all, the refuge for His people, and the One who elevates those who trust in Him. His supremacy extends beyond human comprehension, governing the seen and unseen realms with perfect wisdom and power. Recognizing El Elyon means submitting to His divine authority and trusting in His absolute rule, knowing that nothing is beyond His control.
The Hebrew letters in Elyon further confirm this truth: He is the all-seeing God (Ayin), who leads with divine authority (Lamed), acts with power and purpose (Yod), secures and establishes His people (Vav), and brings forth life and continuity (Nun). This reveals a profound truth—when we know God by His name, we experience Him in that way. To acknowledge Him as the Most High is to dwell in His exalted place, lifted beyond the reach of fear, destruction, and enemy attacks.
As El Elyon, God not only reigns above all but also grants His people the privilege of dwelling in Him. Those who seek refuge in the Most High are made untouchable by the enemy, preserved in His divine fortress. Just as David experienced El Elyon as his warrior and deliverer, so too do those who call upon His name find protection, strength, and victory in Him. His sovereignty is not distant or detached; rather, He actively works on behalf of His people, leading them to triumph and security.
By aligning our lives with El Elyon, we come under His divine order and authority, finding peace in His rule. He exalts the humble, establishes the faithful, and fulfills His promises to those who seek Him. As we declare and trust in El Elyon, we step into a life of spiritual security, divine favor, and unshakable victory.