word meaning · kjv
Adonai Meaning
What does Adonai mean? The Hebrew name for God (אֲדֹנָי) — 'my Lord' — appears 440+ times in Scripture. Its relationship to YHWH and Elohim.
What Does "Adonai" Mean?
Adonai (אֲדֹנָי, Strong's H136) is one of the primary Hebrew names for God in the Old Testament. It is the plural form of adon (אָדוֹן, H113), meaning "lord, master, owner." The plural (adonai) is a plural of majesty — used exclusively for God, it means roughly "my Lord" or "my sovereign Master."
In the KJV, Adonai is translated "Lord" (capitalized L, lowercase o-r-d). This distinguishes it from YHWH, which KJV translates "LORD" in small capitals.
Relationship to YHWH
By the Second Temple period, Jewish tradition held that the divine name YHWH (יהוה, the Tetragrammaton) should not be pronounced aloud. When reading Scripture, Jewish readers would substitute "Adonai" in its place. This practice is why the Masoretic Text places the vowel marks of Adonai under the consonants YHWH — producing the hybrid "Jehovah" in later Christian transliterations.
When the two appear together — Adonai YHWH — Jewish tradition reads it as "Adonai Elohim" (Lord God) to avoid repetition. KJV renders this pairing as "Lord GOD" (e.g., Genesis 15:2).
Where Adonai Appears
The word Adonai appears approximately 440 times in the Hebrew Bible. Notable first and key uses:
- Genesis 15:2 — "Abram said, Lord GOD (Adonai YHWH), what wilt thou give me"
- Genesis 18:3 — Abraham to his three visitors: "My Lord (Adonai)"
- Exodus 4:10 — Moses: "O my Lord (Adonai), I [am] not eloquent"
- Psalm 8:1 — "O LORD our Lord (YHWH Adoneinu), how excellent [is] thy name"
- Isaiah 6:1 — "I saw also the Lord (Adonai) sitting upon a throne"
- Daniel 9:3 — "I set my face unto the Lord God (Adonai Elohim)"
Other Hebrew Names for God
The Old Testament uses several primary names and titles for God, each with distinct emphasis:
- YHWH (יהוה) — the personal, covenant name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14–15. KJV: "LORD"
- Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) — general word for God, plural form, used ~2,600 times. KJV: "God"
- El (אֵל) — singular of Elohim
- Shaddai (שַׁדַּי) — "Almighty." Often in the combination El Shaddai (Genesis 17:1)
- El Elyon — "God Most High" (Genesis 14:18)
- El Olam — "Everlasting God" (Genesis 21:33)
- YHWH Tzva'ot — "LORD of hosts" (1 Samuel 1:3)
What does Adonai mean in the Bible?
The Bible addresses adonai with deep compassion and clarity. From the Psalms to the words of Jesus, Scripture meets you in this exact feeling and offers comfort, strength, and direction. Here are the most powerful verses — each chosen because they speak directly to what you're going through.
Most Powerful Verses
Genesis 15:2
“And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?”
— Bible
Genesis 18:3
“And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:”
— Bible
Exodus 4:10
“And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
— Bible
Exodus 3:14
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
— Bible
Psalms 8:1
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”
— Bible
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Psalms 110:1
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
Isaiah 6:1
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.”
Daniel 9:3
“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:”
Genesis 17:1
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
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