Adonai
Exodus 20:1-21, Exodus 34:1-6, Acts 2:36-38
In our first installment of this series, we learned about how God addresses himself: Yahweh, or “I am.” This name connotes His holiness - that God is so set apart, all we can say is “He is who he is.”
This way of referring to God is so special, that God commands Israel not to misuse it. This is the third instruction God gives to Israel as part of their covenant agreement. To dishonor the name of God, Yahweh, is to dishonor God himself. It was a sign of reverence to call Yahweh, “Adonai.”
Adonai is a Hebrew plural noun meaning “Lord.” To call God “Adonai” is to acknowledge that he is our one Lord, but that He is also triune - existing in communion with Himself. “Adonai'' was often used by the Israelites in writings and speech instead of the name “Yahweh” because they didn’t want to run the risk of misusing God’s holy name.
In most of our English Bible translations, you will notice that when the name of God, “Yahweh” is used, it will use the English word LORD in all capital letters. When the title “Adonai” is used, the lowercase “Lord” will be used in English. This can help us distinguish when each name is being used, and better understand how the speaker is relating to God in the text. If your Bible doesn’t use the uppercase & lowercase distinction, here is an example using one of our texts from today.
Okay, semantic rant over. Beyond protecting the holiness of the name Yahweh, what did the name Adonai communicate about God to the Hebrew people? How does understanding this affect how we, as followers of Jesus today, relate to God?
When Moses is called up to Mount Sinai to receive the second set of stone tablets from God, Yahweh introduces himself by using the divine name and describing what his character is like. What is Moses’ response?
“8 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9 “Lord,” [Adonai] he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord [Adonai] go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”
Moses worshiped Yahweh, calling him his Lord. To acknowledge one as Lord is to submit to their authority. To trust them. To follow where they lead. Moses was in the very presence of Yahweh as he proclaimed his character of grace, compassion, steadfast love, faithfulness, slowness to anger, forgiveness, and justice. What an amazing God to submit to and serve. The gods of the neighboring regions were quick to anger, but Yahweh, the God of Moses is just the opposite. No wonder Moses proclaimed, “Adonai” as he worshiped. His God is good, and worthy of his life.
In our English New Testaments, the Greek word translated as Lord is “kurios.” It can connote a variety of different English words, such as “sir” or “master,” but it can also refer to Jesus’ deity (depending on context), that Jesus is indeed the “Adonai” of the Israelites. When the people in Acts 2 hear that Jesus is this Lord, they were “cut to the heart.” Out of their awe of this Lord, they respond in repentance.
If you know Jesus - the perfect embodiment of the wonderful character of Yahweh, have you acknowledged him as Adonai, the Lord?
Moses’ reaction to the presence and character of Yahweh was to worship Him and submit to Him as Adonai. Take a moment to reflect on a moment where you clearly experienced God’s character. Have you worshiped Him for that? Does this experience affect how you relate to God as Adonai? Our God is not an angry ruler. He is kind, gracious, loving, and forgiving. This is an Adonai worthy of our submission.
