God of earth in Hebrew:
Elohei ha’arets, translated God of earth in Genesis 24:3
’Elohei ha’arets
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 430, 776
Bible reference: Gen. 24:3
Before Abraham sent his servant back to Haran to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham wanted the servant to guarantee that he would not select a Canaanite woman. Abraham invoked two of the names for God that state His reign over both heaven and earth. No one could be greater:
I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites. (Genesis 24:3)
“God of earth” is just one of the names of the Lord (Yahweh or Jehovah) that speak of the extent of His dominion. Yahweh is the God of heaven and the God of earth. In other words, He is God in the world of man as well as in the realm of spiritual beings. It is a name of God’s supremacy.
The word ’arets means “earth” or “land.” The nation of Israel placed special value on their territory because God had promised the land to them and defended them against enemies who tried to take it from them. Elsewhere, the same Hebrew name for God (’Elohei ha’arets) is translated “God of the land.”1
He is also called “God of all the earth” and “LORD of all the earth.” There are similar names for God in the New Testament. The Greek word for earth (gē) is as broad in application as the Hebrew word ’arets; it can mean soil, territory, or world. The context helps to clarify the meaning.
Sometimes this group of names emphasizes God’s rule over the world, sometimes over heaven, and occasionally the names mention both realms in one name.
- 2 Kings 17:26-28. [↩]
