Lexical Summary Adonay: Lord, Master Original Word: אֲדֹנָי 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 adon Definition Lord NASB Translation Lord (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). 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 in Genesis 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. Liturgical and Devotional Usage The Psalms employ Adonai for both lament and praise: 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: Thus Adonai guarantees judgment on sin and deliverance for the remnant. Distinct from Human ‘Adon’ Scripture carefully distinguishes human lords from Adonai: 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). 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 applies Isaiah 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. 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 waḏōnāyLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 15:2 HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָ֗ם אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהוִה֙ מַה־ NAS: Abram said, O Lord GOD, what KJV: said, Lord GOD, INT: said Abram Lord GOD what Genesis 15:8 Genesis 18:27 Genesis 18:30 Genesis 18:31 Genesis 18:32 Genesis 19:18 Genesis 20:4 Exodus 4:10 Exodus 4:13 Exodus 5:22 Exodus 15:17 Exodus 23:17 Exodus 34:9 Exodus 34:9 Exodus 34:23 Numbers 14:17 Deuteronomy 3:24 Deuteronomy 9:26 Deuteronomy 10:17 Joshua 3:11 Joshua 3:13 Joshua 5:14 Joshua 7:7 Joshua 7:8 448 Occurrences |
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