Loading...
Lord, my Lord (used of God)
Adonai is the special form of אָדוֹן (adon, "lord, master") used exclusively of God. It appears to be a first-person singular possessive form ("my lord/lords") with a special plural ending, though when applied to God it functions as a proper title rather than a possessive. BDB distinguishes: 1. אָדוֹן (adon) - lord, master (of humans, angels, or God) 2. אֲדֹנָי (Adonai) - Lord (exclusively of God, approximately 439 times) Adonai became the standard substitute pronunciation for YHWH due to reverence for the divine name. When reading the Hebrew Bible aloud, Jews say "Adonai" wherever YHWH appears. The term emphasizes God's sovereignty, lordship, and authority over all creation and especially over his covenant people.
Lord (divine title)
Addressing or referring to God as sovereign Lord
“O Lord YHWH, what will you give me?”
“Moses said to the Lord (Adonai)”
“I saw the Lord (Adonai) sitting upon a throne”
“O Lord (Adonai), the great and awesome God”
Adonai emphasizes God's: 1. **Sovereignty**: As Lord, God rules over all creation 2. **Authority**: The covenant relationship involves submission to divine authority 3. **Ownership**: The "lord/servant" relationship implies belonging to God 4. **Majesty**: The term conveys royal dignity and honor The use of Adonai as a substitute for YHWH in Jewish tradition (Qere/Ketiv) shows the profound reverence for the divine name while maintaining the ability to read Scripture aloud.
Adonai is apologetically significant: 1. **Psalm 110:1**: "YHWH said to my Lord (Adoni)..." - Jesus uses this passage (Matthew 22:41-46) to demonstrate the Messiah's divine identity. The distinction between YHWH and Adoni, yet David calling the Messiah "my Lord," supports Christ's deity. 2. **Substitute for YHWH**: Understanding Adonai as substitute for YHWH helps explain LXX Kyrios and NT "Lord" language applied to Jesus. 3. **Divine Lordship**: The NT application of Kyrios (Lord) to Jesus draws on the Hebrew Adonai tradition, implying divine status.
Modern scholarship has explored: 1. The grammatical oddity of the -ai ending (possibly an archaic case ending or intensified form) 2. The relationship between Adonai and Canaanite divine titles 3. The development of the Qere perpetuum (always reading Adonai for YHWH) The term's use in Psalm 110:1 has generated extensive discussion due to its importance in NT christology.
| Language | Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenician | ʾdn | ʾadon | lord |
| Ugaritic | adn | ʾadōn | lord, father |
אדן
ʾdn
lord, master