Adonai

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

This is one of the names peculiarly applied to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. By way of distinguishing it from Jehovah it is rendered Lord in our English Bibles, in smaller letters, while JEHOVAH, which is also translated Lord, is in capitals. The reader will find a striking proof of it. ( Psalms 110:1) The Lord said unto my Lord. The words in the original are, JEHOVAH said unto my Adonai. It is a sweet and interesting name of the Lord Jesus. It carries with it the idea of a stay, or helper, security, confidence.

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

One of the names of the Supreme Being in the Scriptures. The proper meaning of the word is "my Lords, " in the plural number; as Adoni is my Lord, in the singular. The Jews, who either out of respect or superstition do not pronounce the name of Jehovah, read Adonai in the room of it, as often as they meet with Jehovah in the Hebrew text. But the ancient Jews were not so scrupulous; nor is there any law which forbids them to pronounce the name of God.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

one of the names of God. This word in the plural number signifies my Lords. The Jews, who either out of respect or superstition, do not pronounce the name of Jehovah, read Adonai in the room of it, as often as they meet with Jehovah in the Hebrew text. But the ancient Jews were not so scrupulous. Neither is there any law which forbids them to pronounce any name of God.

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) A Hebrew name for God, usually translated in the Old Testament by the word "Lord".

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See GOD.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Adonay ’ , אֲדֹנָי , prob. My Master, in the plural form for the sake of intensity; see Gesenius, Thes. Heb. p. 329; Sept. Κύριος , Vulg. Dominus, Auth. Vers. "Lord," not in small capitals; but "God," when that term has just preceded as a translation of Jehovah), a term employed in the Hebrews Scriptures by way of eminence to God, especially (in the Pentateuch always) where he is submissively or reverently addressed in his character of sovereign; frequently with other titles added. (See Jehovah). The simple form אָדוֹן , Adon ’ (either with or without suffixes), is spoken of an Owner or possessor in general, e.g. of property ( 1 Kings 16:21), of slaves ( Genesis 24:14;  Genesis 24:27;  Genesis 39:2;  Genesis 39:7); hence, of kings, as rulers over their subjects ( Isaiah 26:13), and of husbands, as lords of their wives ( Genesis 18:12); also of God, as proprietor of the world ( Joshua 3:13;  Exodus 23:17;  Psalms 114:7). It is also used of a ruler or governor ( Genesis 14:8); and hence as a title of respect in addressing, e.g. a father ( Genesis 31:35), a brother ( Numbers 12:11), a royal consort ( 1 Kings 1:17-18), and especially kings or nobles ( 2 Samuel 14:9;  1 Kings 3:17). The plural is employed in a similar manner. The distinctive form, Adonai, never has the article; it is twice applied by God to himself ( Job 28:28, where, however, many copies have "Jehovah;"

 Isaiah 8:7, where, however, the expression may be only the prophet ’ s); a circumstance that may have arisen from the superstition of the Jews, who always point the sacred name Jehovah with its vowels, and even substitute it for that name in reading, so that in some cases it appears to have supplanted it in the text ( Daniel 9:3;  Daniel 9:7-9;  Daniel 9:15-16;  Daniel 9:19). It seems to have been written peculiarly ( אֲדֹנָי ) to distinguish it from the regular form ( אֲדֹנִי ), which nevertheless occurs in its ordinary sense, once with a plural sense ( Genesis 19:2), but elsewhere as a singular ( Genesis 18:3;  Genesis 19:8). See LORD.