The meaning of “אֲדֹנָי”
Understanding ʼĂdônây reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
an emphatic form of אָדוֹן (my) Lord. - the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) 1) my lord, lord 1a) of men 1b) of ...
אֲדֹנָי
an emphatic form of אָדוֹן (my) Lord. - the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) 1) my lord, lord 1a) of men 1b) of God 2) Lord-title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 18:30 | “And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” Word: אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây) | |
| Judges 13:8 | “Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.” Word: אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây) | |
| Nehemiah 4:14 | “And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” Word: אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây) | |
| Lamentations 2:18 | “Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.” Word: אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây) | |
| Micah 1:2 | “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.” Word: אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây) |
Usage Statistics
Related Words
Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.
Theological Word Study: Lord
Old Testament Usage
Meaning: The LORD / Lord
When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty.
New Testament Usage
Meaning: Lord, Master
The Greek Kurios (Κύριος) means 'lord' or 'master,' used both for human masters and divinely for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Its application to Jesus affirms His deity, as it translates YHWH in the Septuagint.