Lexicon

H0136 - adonai

Strong's: H0136 · BLB lookup Pronunciation: ad-o-noy' Part of speech: masculine plural noun (intensive / majestic plural with first-person-singular suffix; used as singular) OT occurrences: ~439 (as the divine title); the cognate adon (H113, "lord / master") is broader Greek equivalent (LXX): kyrios (G2962), overwhelmingly

Semantic range

1. Lord, Master, the divine title proper (when capitalized)
2. My Lord, the suffix-form rendered as a divine address
3. Owner / sovereign, the master-servant relational sense

Theological force, divine title

Adonai is one of the principal OT names of God, alongside YHWH / Elohim / El:

• YHWH (H3068 - YHWH), the covenant-personal name (the Tetragrammaton)
• Elohim (H0430 - elohim), God / gods (intensive plural; creator)
• El (H0410 - el), God / Mighty One
• Adonai, Lord / Master (sovereign-relational)

Adonai as a substitution for YHWH

In post-exilic Jewish piety, the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) was considered too holy to pronounce. When reading aloud, the reader would substitute Adonai (Lord). The Masoretic vowel-pointing of the Tetragrammaton uses the vowels of Adonai (eventually producing the artificial English form "Jehovah" by combining YHWH consonants with Adonai vowels).

This pious substitution preserves divine reverence while ensuring liturgical readability. The LXX universally renders both YHWH and Adonai as kyrios, collapsing the distinction in Greek.

Adonai in compound use

• Adonai YHWH ("Lord GOD"), frequent in Ezekiel's prophetic formula
• YHWH Adonai, divine sovereignty + covenant name conjoined

Adonai and Christological transfer

The LXX kyrios (rendering both YHWH and Adonai) is the bridge for the NT's most decisive Christological transfer. NT applications of OT Adonai / YHWH titles to Christ (esp. via kyrios):

• Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32 (kalesetai en tō onomati Kyriou) applied to Christ, see Romans 10.13
• Philippians 2:11, Iēsous Christos Kyrios, Jesus is Lord; echoing Isaiah 45:23, see Isaiah 45.22-23
• Acts 2:36, God has made Jesus both Lord (kyrion) and Christ
• 1 Corinthians 8:6, "one Lord, Jesus Christ"
• Psalms 110.1, YHWH said to my Adoni: cited in Mt 22:43-45 / Mk 12:36 / Lk 20:42 / Acts 2:34-35 / Heb 1:13, Christ as the Adoni of David

Adoni (with first-person-suffix) in Psalm 110:1

The Hebrew l'adoni in Psalm 110:1, "my Lord", is technically the suffix-form of the broader adon family (not specifically Adonai-the-divine-title). However, the application of an honorific adoni to David's "Lord" who is enthroned at YHWH's right hand carries divine-title weight (Christ is positionally + relationally at the throne of YHWH).

The Christological force: David, the highest political authority in Israel, calls another figure "adoni", "my Lord." This figure is enthroned at YHWH's right hand. Jesus's argument in Mt 22:41-46 turns on this: David's "Lord" must be more than David's son. See Liar Lunatic or Lord / Argument from Prophecy Fulfillment.

Adon (H113), the cognate / non-divine use

The base adon (without suffix or specific divine pointing) is used:

• Of human masters / lords (Genesis 18:12, Sarah of Abraham)
• Of YHWH as Lord (frequent)
• Of angels in some contexts

Distinguishing Adonai-the-divine-title from adon-the-general-noun depends on context, vowel-pointing in the Masoretic text, and accompanying terms.

Notable verses

• Genesis 18:3, Abraham addresses the divine visitor: Adonai
• Exodus 4:10, 13, Moses: Adonai
• Exodus 23:17; 34:23, Ha-Adon YHWH, "the Lord, the LORD"
• Joshua 3:11, 13, Adon kol-ha-aretz, "Lord of all the earth"
• Psalm 110:1, YHWH said to my Adoni
• Isaiah 6:1, 8, 11, Adonai in Isaiah's temple-vision
• Daniel 9:3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 15-19, repeated Adonai in penitential prayer
• Ezekiel, extensive Adonai YHWH formulae
• Malachi 3:1, ha-Adon (with article), "the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple", see Malachi 3.1; Christological application

Patristic / scholarly note

Patristic engagement primarily through the LXX kyrios. Modern: Walter Eichrodt; Bruce Waltke; the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (TDOT) has extensive treatment.

See also

• H113 - adon, base form
• H3068 - YHWH, covenant-personal name
• H0430 - elohim, God (plural form)
• H0410 - el, God (singular base)
• G2962 - kyrios, Greek Lord (LXX-equivalent)
• Psalms 110, Adoni Christological argument
• Malachi 3.1, ha-Adon Christological argument
• Isaiah 45.22-23, universal worship → Christ
• Christology, divine identity Christology

Notes

Lexical workspace for Adonai.