What Does “Adonai” Mean in the Bible?
Title
A Hebrew word that means “my Lord.” Jewish people say it in place of God’s holy name, out of respect.
It can mean
- In Greek: the word is “Kyrios.”
- For Jesus: Christians say “Jesus is Lord”: they give him the title that Israel gave to God.
- In the Bible: God told Moses his name: “I am who am.”
Where it appears in the Bible
Exodus 3:14; Exodus 3:15
What the Bible says
Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses: I AM WHO AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you.
Exodus 3:15
And God said again to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me to you: This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catechism 209