Gods and Their Connotations

1037 Words3 Pages

According to www.dictionary.com Adonai is defined as: A Hebrew name for God, usually translated in the Old Testament by the word ``Lord''. Note: The later Jews used its vowel points to fill out the tetragrammaton (This is the description for the four (tetra) Hebrew letters (grammata) used in the Hebrew Bible for the name of the God of Israel, usually spelled YHWH, or JHVH.) "The indescribable name,'' and during reading it was substituted by the word "Adonai''.

Significant to the understanding of the word Adonai is the suffix `ay'. It was frequently suggested that the ending is a first person possessive suffix on a plural form of `adon' (my lord). This is logical for the form adonay, but the finely familiarized form adonay, which also comes into view in the Massoretic book, is much more difficult to explain" (Van Gemeren). There had been much consideration given to the Ugaritic (an extinct Semitic language of northern Syria) ending `ai'. It is used in that language as a strengthening of a basic word. On the other hand, it is doubtful that this explanation should be used in all situations. "The plural form of the name is apparent when the word occurs in the as it does in the term "Lord of lords" ('adone ha adonim) in Deut. 10:17. The rendition `my Lord' gives the impression that it is required when relating to the addresses as "my Lord Yahweh, what will you give me?" (Van Gemeren)

In Gen. 15:2 Abraham addresses God as his master by saying "O LORD (Adonai) GOD (Jehovah), what good will your gifts be..." (New American Bible 16) (Also see Deut. 9:26, 1KINGS2:26) Abraham calls Him Adonai after receiving great success against hardships and hefty odds. Abraham acknowledged God's lordship over all that he had and all that he was. In Ex. 4:10-14 Moses responds to God but God's personality seems much more testing and upset at Moses, for Moses is not fully trusting in Him, or referring to Him as Adonai. Of what purpose would it serve to lead your life in the opposite direction of that He has chosen? "If God is God, then He must be Adonai-He must be Master. If Jesus is God, then He, too, must be Jehova Adonai. LORD" (To Know Him 56).

Elohim

According to www.dictionary.com Elohim is defined as: A name for God in the Hebrew Scriptures. The "im" at the end of the name Elohim says that the word is masculine and in Hebrew it also means that it is plural.

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