What Does Adonai Mean in the Bible?
What Does Adonai Mean in the Bible? Adonai is a Hebrew title for God meaning 'Lord' or 'Master' — emphasizing His sovereign authority over creation.
Key verse: Psalm 8:1 (KJV)
Adonai is a Hebrew title for God meaning 'Lord' or 'Master' — emphasizing His sovereign authority over creation.
Adonai is a Hebrew title for God meaning 'Lord' or 'Master' — emphasizing His sovereign authority over creation.
"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens." — Psalm 8:1 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
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The Biblical Answer
Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) is the plural form of Adon, meaning 'lord' or 'master.' When used of God, the plural is a plural of majesty, denoting His supreme authority. Jewish readers traditionally substitute Adonai when reading aloud the divine name YHWH out of reverence. The title appears more than 400 times in the Old Testament and is often paired with other names: Adonai Yahweh, Adonai Elohim. To confess God as Adonai is to acknowledge His right to command and our duty to obey. In the New Testament, the title 'Lord' (Kyrios) is applied to Jesus — affirming His full deity and sovereign rule.
Key Scripture References
"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens."
"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."
"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
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Jehovah is an English rendering of the Hebrew personal name of God (YHWH) — the self-existent 'I AM' revealed to Moses.
Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
The Bible presents the resurrection as historical fact, supported by eyewitness testimony, an empty tomb, and transformed lives.
Is Jesus God?
Yes — the Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity.
What Is the Trinity?
The Trinity is the doctrine that God exists as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in one divine being.
Deep Dive Commentary
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