Lexical Summary
Adonay: Lord, Master
Original Word:אֲדֹנָי
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:Adonay
Pronunciation:ah-doe-NIGH
Phonetic Spelling:(ad-o-noy')
KJV: (my) Lord
NASB:Lord, lords
Word Origin:[am emphatic form ofH113 (אָדוֹן אָדוֹן - lord)]
1. the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
my Lord
Am emphatic form of'adown; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) -- (my) Lord.
see HEBREW'adown
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originan emphatic form of
adonDefinitionLord
NASB TranslationLord (456), lord (1), lords (2).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe title אֲדֹנָי (Adonai, “Lord, Master”) appears about 448 times in the Hebrew Scriptures as a reverential address to the one true God. It underscores His absolute authority, covenant faithfulness, and relational nearness. While human rulers may be called אֲדוֹן (adon, “lord”), the plural form with its distinctive pointing is reserved in Scripture for the Sovereign of all.
Occurrences and Distribution
• Torah: Key first appearances in patriarchal narratives (for example,Genesis 15:2,Genesis 18:27).
• Historical Books: Appeals for guidance and deliverance (for example,Joshua 7:8,2 Samuel 7:18–20).
• Wisdom Literature: Expressions of worship and confidence (for example,Psalm 16:2,Psalm 109:21).
• Major Prophets: Heavy concentration in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, often paired with יהוה (“Lord GOD”) to stress majesty and covenant commitment. Ezekiel alone contains more than 200 occurrences.
• Minor Prophets: Titles conjoined with eschatological hope (for example,Amos 9:5,Micah 1:2).
Divine Sovereignty and Kingship
Adonai emphasizes God’s right to rule. David sings, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life” (Psalm 27:1). By following “LORD” with “my,” the psalmist marries the cosmic throne with personal refuge. In Isaiah’s inaugural vision the prophet confesses, “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). The cry “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts” springs from the revelation that the One on the throne is Adonai—the Master whom all creation must serve.
Covenantal Context
When the patriarchs addressed God as Adonai, they acknowledged His binding promises. Abraham’s plea, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?” (Genesis 15:8), rests on the covenant already initiated inGenesis 12. Moses intercedes, “O Lord, why does Your wrath burn against Your people?” (Exodus 32:11), urging covenant mercy after the golden calf. Adonai is therefore the covenant Lord whose authority guarantees His word and disciplines His people.
Interaction with Patriarchs
•Genesis 18:27: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am but dust and ashes…” — humility before sovereign mercy.
•Genesis 24:12: The servant prays, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” confessing Adonai as director of providence.
•Genesis 28:13–17: Jacob’s ladder vision confirms that the covenant Lord is also the omnipresent Master.
Liturgical and Devotional Usage
The Psalms employ Adonai for both lament and praise:
• Petition: “But You, O Lord, be not far off” (Psalm 22:19).
• Confession: “I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing’” (Psalm 16:2).
• Adoration: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1).
In synagogue and church alike, Adonai shapes prayer language, emphasizing reverence tempered by intimacy.
Prophetic Vision and Eschatological Hope
Prophets appeal to Adonai when announcing judgment and hope:
•Amos 9:5 calls Him “the Lord GOD of Hosts” who melts the earth.
•Micah 1:2 summons all peoples to hear “the Lord GOD” as witness against them.
• Ezekiel’s refrain “declares the Lord GOD” (for example,Ezekiel 34:15–16) seals both reproof and restoration with divine authority.
Thus Adonai guarantees judgment on sin and deliverance for the remnant.
Distinct from Human ‘Adon’
Scripture carefully distinguishes human lords from Adonai:
•Judges 6:13: Gideon addresses God as “O my Lord” while confessing Israel’s plight.
•Psalm 110:1: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand…’” Human kings may share the title in a lesser sense, but the psalm ultimately points to a superior Lord who reigns beside Yahweh.
Messianic Significance
Psalm 110:1, quoted by Jesus (Matthew 22:44) and the Apostles (Acts 2:34–36), presents Adonai as the enthroned Messiah. Isaiah’s servant songs imply the same lordship for the coming Redeemer. Zechariah foresees a day when “the LORD will be King over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9), uniting Adonai’s title with messianic kingship.
Worship, Prayer, and Ministry Application
Acknowledging Adonai:
1. Grounds intercession in divine sovereignty (Daniel 9:4–19).
2. Inspires obedience; servants obey a Master (Psalm 123:2).
3. Cultivates humility, reminding leaders that authority is derivative (Deuteronomy 3:24).
4. Invites personal surrender; every believer confesses, “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9), echoing the Hebrew title in the Greek Κύριος.
Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes
The Septuagint renders Adonai primarily as Κύριος, carried into the New Testament. Gabriel announces, “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32). John appliesIsaiah 6’s vision of Adonai to Jesus (John 12:41), affirming divine identity.
Doctrinal Implications
• Theology Proper: God’s lordship is universal, righteous, and personal.
• Christology: The title predicates full deity to the Messiah.
• Pneumatology: The Spirit proceeds from and glorifies Adonai (Isaiah 61:1).
• Ecclesiology: The church lives under Christ’s lordship, proclaiming His mastery over every sphere.
• Eschatology: “Every knee will bow” (Philippians 2:10) fulfills Adonai’s dominion promise.
Conclusion
Adonai weaves together transcendence and covenant intimacy. To call upon Him is to submit to His rule, trust His promises, and anticipate the day when He openly reigns through the exalted Christ. In personal devotion, public worship, and gospel proclamation, the church continues to confess, “O LORD, You are our Lord.”
Forms and Transliterations
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י אֲ֝דֹנָי אֲ֭דֹנָי אֲֽדֹנָ֗י אֲֽדֹנָי אֲד֖וֹן אֲד֤וֹן אֲדֹנִ֖י אֲדֹנֵ֔ינוּ אֲדֹנַ֣יִךְ אֲדֹנָ֑י אֲדֹנָ֔י אֲדֹנָ֕י אֲדֹנָ֖י אֲדֹנָ֗י אֲדֹנָ֛י אֲדֹנָ֜י אֲדֹנָ֞י אֲדֹנָ֣י אֲדֹנָ֣י ׀ אֲדֹנָ֤י אֲדֹנָ֤י ׀ אֲדֹנָ֥י אֲדֹנָ֧י אֲדֹנָ֨י אֲדֹנָ֪י אֲדֹנָֽי׃ אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ אֲדֹנָי֒ אֲדֹנָי֙ אֲדֹנָי֩ אֲדֹנָי֮ אֲדוֹנָ֔י אדון אדוני אדני אדני׃ אדניו׃ אדניך אדנינו בַּאדֹנָ֣י באדני הָֽאָדֹ֥ן ׀ הָאָדֹ֥ן ׀ האדן וַ֝אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ וַֽאדֹנָ֣י וַֽאדֹנָ֤י וַאֲדֹנֵ֖י וַאדֹנָ֖י וַאדֹנָ֞י וַאדֹנָ֤י וַאדֹנָ֨י ואדני ואדנינו לַֽאדֹנָ֑י לַֽאדֹנָ֔י לַֽאדֹנָ֣י לַֽאדֹנָ֧י לַֽאדֹנָי֙ לַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ לַאדֹנָ֧י לַאדֹנָ֨י לאדני לאדנינו ’ă·ḏō·na·yiḵ ’ă·ḏō·nāw ’ă·ḏō·nāy ’ă·ḏō·nê·nū ’ă·ḏō·nî ’ă·ḏō·w·nāy ’ă·ḏō·wn ’ăḏō·nāy ’ăḏōnāw ’ăḏōnāy ’ăḏōnayiḵ ’ăḏōnênū ’ăḏōnî ’ăḏōwn ’ăḏōwnāy aDon adoNai adoNav adoNayich adoNeinu adoNi ba·ḏō·nāy badoNai baḏōnāy hā’āḏōn hā·’ā·ḏōn haaDon la’ăḏōnênū la·’ă·ḏō·nê·nū la·ḏō·nāy laadoNeinu ladoNai laḏōnāy vaadoNei vaadoNeinu vadoNai wa’ăḏōnê wa’ăḏōnênū wa·’ă·ḏō·nê wa·’ă·ḏō·nê·nū wa·ḏō·nāy waḏōnāy
Links
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