THE NAMES & TITLES OF GOD IN THE OT: WHAT DOES THE HEBREW TERM "ADONAI" REALLY MEAN? DR P.MANGTE

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THE NAMES & TITLES OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:
WHAT DOES THE HEBREW TERM "ADONAI" REALLY MEAN?

REV DR P.MANGTE ,PhD
Principal
Apostolic Biblical Theological Seminary (ABTS) New Delhi (Registered with Government of India, Govt of NCT of Delhi).

ABTS Special Class with our ABTS Bible College Residential & Fulltime regular Students on 14th August 2025.
#WhatDoes_ADONAI_really_Mean?
#Yeshua_Jesus_is_Adonai_GOD.

WHAT DOES THE HEBREW TERM "ADONAI" REALLY MEAN?

1. MEANING OF ADONAI:
👉🏻In Hebrew, Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) means "Lord" or "Master". It is a term of respect and reverence used as a substitute for the Hebrew name of God, YHWH, especially during prayer and when reading sacred texts. The word is a plural form of "Adon," which also means "lord" or "master," but Adonai is used to express a higher degree of authority and reverence.
👉🏻In the Old Testament, Adonai is used to emphasize God's Supreme authority and the reverence due to Him.

2.PLURAL FORM:
The "ai" ending on Adonai makes it a plural form, often interpreted as a plural of Majesty, indicating Supreme authority and honor.

3.USAGE:
While the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) is considered God's most sacred name, Adonai is used as a respectful substitute in Jewish tradition, particularly during prayer and when reading the Torah.

4.FROM BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE:
👉🏻The name Adonai is often used in the Hebrew Scriptures to refer to God as the Sovereign Lord over all creation.
👉🏻It underscores His rightful place as the ruler and master who is deserving of worship, obedience, and reverence.
👉🏻The name emphasizes a relationship where God is the Lord, and His people are His servants, recognizing His authority over their lives.

5.USAGE OF ADONAI IN THE BIBLE:
*️⃣Worship and Reverence:
👉🏻The name Adonai is used throughout the Psalms and prophetic books to convey awe and worship.
👉🏻For example, Psalm 8:1 says, “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Here, the use of Adonai signifies deep respect and the acknowledgment of God's unmatched majesty.

*️⃣Submission to Authority:
👉🏻 Adonai reflects the idea of submission to God's will. In Isaiah 6:8, when God calls Isaiah to be His prophet, Isaiah responds, “Here am I. Send me!” This response shows Isaiah's recognition of God's lordship and his willingness to serve Him faithfully.

6.HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
👉🏻The Hebrew name Adonai is often used in place of YHWH, the sacred and unpronounceable name of God.
👉🏻Ancient Jewish tradition held the name YHWH in such reverence that it was not spoken aloud.
👉🏻Instead, Adonai was spoken as a substitute during prayers and readings of Scripture. This practice highlights the deep respect the Israelites had for God and underscores the significance of recognizing Him as Lord.

7.THEOLOGICAL DEPTH AND INSIGHT:
*️⃣The term Adonai carries significant theological implications:

*️⃣God's Sovereignty:
👉🏻When the Bible uses Adonai, it is often in the context of God's Supreme rule over the earth and His people.
👉🏻Acknowledging God as Adonai means recognizing His sovereignty over all aspects of life. In 1 Chro 29:11, David's prayer reflects this understanding: “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty ...”

8.LORDSHIP OF CHRIST:
*️⃣The concept of God as Adonai extends to Jesus Christ in the NT Phil 2:9-11 states that God exalted Jesus and gave Him “the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.” This affirms that Jesus embodies the full Lordship and authority of Adonai.
*️⃣God's Protection and Provision:
👉🏻Recognizing God as Adonai assures believers that He, as their Lord, is also their protector and provider.
👉🏻In Psalm 16:2, David declares, “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’” This shows that reliance on God as Adonai brings comfort and security.

9.JESUS IS OUR GOD AND LORD ADONAI:
👉🏻Comparison of the OT and NT provides powerful testimony to Jesus's identity as our GOD ELOHIM AND LORD (ADONAI).
👉🏻The fact that YHWH alone “makes all things” (Isaiah 44:24)—and the accompanying fact that Christ is claimed to be the only Creator of “All things” (John 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2)—proves that Christ is truly our LORD ADONAI (Phil 2:10-11, Ephe 4:5-6., Jn 20:28-29. I Cor 2:8).

In the NT Jesus is referred to as Lord over 700 times. The Greek equivalent to Adonai is Kurios,which is equivalent to the Old Testament's use of "Adonai" for God.
Indeed, every tongue will continue to confess that Jesus is Adonai. The Lord of all, the Master of all, the Owner of all—the One to whom everything belongs (Col 1:16,2:9-10).
To put it simply, everything that YHWH IS JESUS IS.... JESUS IS LORD GOD ALMIGHTY (Is 44:6.,Rev 1:8) -Hence Apostle Paul says "For in Him (Jesus Christ )dwelleth all the fulness of the GODHEAD bodily" ( Col 2:9)
Hallelujah 🙏
Mrs Jenny Mangte