“mighty ruler.” The Hebrew uses the word Elohim here like an adjective, which is a standard idiomatic use in Hebrew. Thus the literal Hebrew phrase, “ruler of God,” means ruler with God-like characteristics, or “mighty ruler.” It is not as if the Hittites recognized Abraham’s God as “the” God, or in this case even “a” god. “Ruler” (often translated “prince,”) likely refers to a tribal chief. Abraham was indeed a mighty tribal chief among them. His encampment likely numbered in the hundreds.