Adonai

Adonai is a Hebrew title meaning "my lord" or "my lords," used as a form of address for God in Jewish tradition. The term derives from adon, meaning "lord" or "master," and is often treated as a majestic plural even though it functions grammatically as a singular form when referring to the deity. In biblical and liturgical contexts, Adonai appears as a common designation for God, frequently paired with other epithets such as Adonai Elohim (the Lord God) or Adonai Tzevaot (the Lord of Hosts).

In Judaism, the divine name YHWH (the Tetragrammaton) is considered sacred and not spoken aloud. When the text is read, readers substitute Adonai for YHWH. To prevent mispronunciation, Masoretic scribes added vowel patterns to the consonants of YHWH to indicate the reading Adonai. Because of this tradition, the original pronunciation of YHWH is not known with certainty; many readers also use HaShem, meaning "the Name," in casual speech.

In Christian usage, Kyrios (the Greek equivalent) is often translated as "Lord" and can correspond to Adonai in Hebrew. English Bible translations typically render YHWH-related passages with "the Lord," and the term Adonai is sometimes used in Jewish-Christian liturgical contexts or in discussions of biblical language. The concept of Adonai continues to appear in modern religious practice and Hebrew-language discourse as a formal title for God.

Overall, Adonai functions as a reverent substitute for the divine name in liturgy and scripture, reflecting both linguistic heritage and religious tradition.