Treasures New and Old

Calling on the Name of the Lord: Adonai

God’s name is very important. His name is holy, pure, and represents His character and love towards us. Yet I often hear prayers end in “amen” without mentioning even the phrase “in His name I pray,” or “in name of Jesus I pray”, or something similar. The Scripture is full of examples of men calling on the name of God in their prayers. Here are a few examples:

Abraham called on the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:8; 13:4).
The Lord proclaimed His own name before Moses (Exodus 33:19; 34:5).
Israel was warned against profaning the name of the Lord (Leviticus 18:21; 22:2, 32).
The name of the Lord was not to be taken in vain (Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11).
The priests of Israel were to minister in the name of the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:5; 21:5).
The name of God is called “wonderful” in Isaiah 9:6.
To call on the name of the Lord was to worship Him as God (Genesis 21:33; 26:25).

So – what is His Name?

In this series of articles, I want to explore the various names of the Lord. When we pray and call upon His name, it is good to know on whom we are calling. Does that mean that there are many gods? NO! It does mean that He has many names, and that each has been given to us so that we can pray more specifically and use one of the many characteristics that is embodied in our God. Let’s examine our sixth name this month:

Adonai

Adonai is from the Hebrew word (an unused root) Adon, meaning “lord” or “master” and is used over 350 times in the Old Testament. Adonai means to rule; it means sovereign, that is controller (human or divine): – lord, master, owner (Strong’s H136, H113). It is often used like El (see last month’s article) by parents to name their children. For example, in Judges 1:5 we see the name Adonibezek which is a compound name of Adonai and Behzek which means lightning. Who names their kid “master of lightning”? Find and compare other names beginning with “Adoni.” Adonai, like Elohim, is a plural form and as the word suggests/denotes master and majesty. To call one “Lord – Adonai” meant that the caller was to submit and be obedient, bringing honor to the “Lord.” Adonai stresses man’s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider – here are some examples:

Genesis 18:1-5:

And the LORD appeared unto him [Abraham] in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And said, My Lord [Adonai], if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

Genesis 40:1: “And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord [Adonai] the king of Egypt.” (Here we see a human master being addressed as Adonai.)

Exodus 21:1-6:

Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master [Adonai] have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s [Adonai], and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master [Adonai], my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master [Adonai] shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.

Joshua 5:13-14: “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD [YHWH] am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord [Adonai] unto his servants?”

1 Samuel 1:15: “And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord [Adonai], I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD [YHWH].”

Psalm 8:1b: “O LORD [ YHWH], and Lord [Adonai], how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

Adonai is used most often in Psalm, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Amos. A trip through the following verses would be most beneficial:

Psalm 8:1; Psalm 8:9; Psalm 12:4; Psalm 45:11; Psalm 97:5; Psalm 105:21; Psalm 110:1; Psalm 114:7; Psalm 130:2; Psalm 135:5; Psalm 136:3; Psalm 147:5

Proverbs 25:13; Proverbs 27:18; Proverbs 30:10

Isaiah 1:24; Isaiah 3:1; Isaiah 10:16; Isaiah 10:33; Isaiah 19:4; Isaiah 21:8; Isaiah 22:18; Isaiah 24:2; Isaiah 26:13; Isaiah 36:8; Isaiah 36:9; Isaiah 36:12; Isaiah 37:4; Isaiah 37:6; Isaiah 51:22

Jeremiah 22:18; Jeremiah 27:4; Jeremiah 34:5; Jeremiah 37:20; Jeremiah 38:9

Daniel 1:10; Daniel 10:16; Daniel 10:17; Daniel 10:19; Daniel 12:8

Psalm 38:15 is an example of a passage where three of the Hebrew names for God studied thus far appear together: YHWH, Adonai, and Elohim. David used all three in speaking of the One he was petitioning: “For in thee, O LORD [YHWH], do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord [Adonai] my God [Elohim].” Let’s expand those three names: “For in thee, O Self-Existent One, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Master my Mighty God.”

What can we conclude from our understanding of the word and use of Adonai?

God is the Ruler to whom everyone is subject
God is the one who is sovereign
God is the Master and man is the servant
Man’s responsibility is to please the Master

Kurios is the Greek word translated “Lord”, and is found 748 times in 687 verses in the New Testament. It is from the root, kuros, which means “power” or “might” (Zodhiates, 1992, #2962, p. 900). For people, it tells of one who has control, authority, mastery; it carries the concept of legality and ownership. Kurios is the one who is the possessor and disposer of (property (Zodhiates, 1992, #2962, p. 900)), servants, contracts, etc., the master – the Lord (Thayer, G2962). In the New Testament kurios is used for God (Luke 1:32; 2:9; Acts 5:19) and for Jesus (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Philippians 2:11; Revelations 19:16). Because God (the Father) and Jesus are both referred to as kurios, we can conclude the deity of Christ is affirmed. It is also translated “master” as in Matthew 6:24, 15:27; and Mark 13:35. I like these verses:

Ephesians 6:9: “And, ye master [kurios], do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master [kurios] also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

Colossians 4:1: “Masters [kurios], give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master [kurios] in heaven.”

Romans 10:9: “That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord [kurios], Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Our Lord Jesus, our Master, is sovereign over all there is in the universe and in heaven which includes the angels, ourselves, and all else – He is in control. As we all learn to “call on the name of the Lord,” let us remember that we serve a Master. He is all powerful, in total control, and our Lord!

Until He returns:

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

References

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

Thayer, J. Thayer's Greek Definitions. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation.

Zhodiates, Dr. S. (Ed.). (1992). The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

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