Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Tonight’s Study, Session 13: El Elyon – God Most High
Introduction: When applied to God, the term Elyon, meaning “Highest or “Exalted One,” emphasizes that God is the highest in every realm of life. In the New Testament, Jesus is known as the Son of the Most High. All who belong to Christ are revealed as sons and daughters of the Most High by imitating the Father in heaven. When you praise the Most High, you are worshiping the One whose power, mercy, and sovereignty cannot be matched.
The key Scripture verse where the name El Elyon is found is Daniel 4: 34.
Scriptural Context Where The Name El Elyon Is Found
“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my Lord the king: They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.
Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
(Daniel 4:23–34)
UNDERSTANDING THE NAME
Elyon, the title given to the highest of the Canaanite gods, was appropriated by the Hebrews as a title for Yahweh. Emphasizing God’s transcendence, the name El Elyon is first used in relation to Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who was also called “priest of God Most High” and who blessed Abraham in the name of “God Most High (Genesis 4:18-20).
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. (Genesis 14:18-20)
The passage in Daniel, the Aramaic Illah-ah is the equivalent of the Hebrew El Elyon and is translated as “God Most High.”
Connecting To The Name
The name El Elyon is used 34 times in the Old Testament, more than half of these are in the Psalms.
A Few of the El Elyon Psalm Verses:
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. (Psalm 46:4)
Application: The Most High God sends refreshing waters (peace and tranquility) to those who abide in His presence, ultimately alluding to the New Jerusalem in heaven (Revelation 22:1-2).
Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.
(Psalms 78:35)
Application: Though this verse primarily applies to rebellious Israel, it speaks to all believers in regards to the fact that the Most High God is the only sure rock (foundation) of salvation.
I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. (Psalm 82:6)
Application: Jesus quoted the phrase, “You are gods” in John 10:34 as a play on words, He claims that if human beings can be “gods,” certainly the Messiah can be called God. “children of the Most High” are people created by God for a purpose.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)
Application: The believer dwells in an intimate place of divine protection. The use of “Most High” for God emphasizes that no threat can ever overpower Him.
For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.
(Psalms 97:9)
Application: The Lord God is above all of His creation on planet earth and will be worshipped above all other gods men have devised.
Psalms instructs us to worship God because He alone is exalted, supreme, and sovereign. There is none higher than El Elyon.
The simple fact is that the title El Elyon emphasizes God’s supreme position in the universe, above all other gods and earthly rulers.
Jesus Is The El Elyon of The New Testament
Our ultimate allegiance as Christians isn’t to any earthly entity or person, but God alone. Jesus spoke of about not having anyone or anything above His heavenly Father in Matthew 6 in relation to having all of our needs met.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
The Most High God can obviously provide for His people because the Most High God is also Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide.
Take A look At These Verses:
- John 8:58 – Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
–This verse strengthens the understanding that Jesus is El Elyon, the God who is one with the Father.
- Colossians 1:16-17 – 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 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.
-These verses emphasize that Jesus is the creator of all things, both visible and invisible, and that all things were created through Him and for Him, aligning with the concept of El Elyon as the supreme creator.
- Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-This passage describes Jesus as being exalted by God the Father and given a name above every name, affirming His ultimate authority and supremacy, similar to EL Elyon.
- Hebrews 7:1-3 – For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continue.
-This passage draws a parallel between Melchizedek and Jesus, highlighting Melchizedek’s divine nature and lack of genealogy, suggesting that Jesus, as the ultimate high priest, is also El Elyon.
Conclusion: As believers, knowing El Elyon – God Most High, gives us a sense of security and stability. To know the Most High God is to know the God that is above every other god and is immovable. He is the One true God. Nothing in the universe is beyond His reach or control. In the life of the believer, Jesus is our El Elyon, the Most High God above every God and at His name every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord of all!
Next week, Session 14: Jehovah Shammah – The Lord Is There