How is Adonai different from Yahweh? That’s an interesting question. Technically, Yahweh is the personal name of God, while Adonai is a descriptive name of God.
The Four Letters: YHWH
The ancient Hebrews wrote their language using only consonants. The four consonants that make up the Holy Name, YHWH, are called the tetragrammaton, the four letters. The vowels in the name and, therefore, the pronunciation of it are scholars’ best guesses. The vowels could be different, and therefore, the pronunciation could be too.
Out of respect, the Jews have historically avoided speaking the Holy Name. When the name Yahweh could or should typically be spoken, they’ve substituted the name ‘Adonai.’
God’s Personal Name
When God called Moses to lead the ‘children of Israel (Jacob)’ out of captivity in Egypt, Moses anticipated that they would ask him for God’s Name:
“Moses said to God, “I am going to the children of Israel and will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ When they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM, and He said, “You will say this to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:13-14).
The Covenant Keeper
Yahweh is often used in connection with God keeping His covenants, especially the ones He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).
The ‘I am’
‘Yahweh’ comes from the Hebrew word ‘I am’ and means ‘the eternally self-existing One.’ No one created Yahweh. He is self-sustaining, having no beginning or end, and is an ever-present help. Jesus described Himself in Revelation as follows:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).
Adonai: The Supreme Ruler
Adonai is a divine name for God, but adon/adoni/adonai can also refer to humans or angels who are in some way a ruler, master, or owner:
Sarah applies it to her husband Abraham when she’s told she’ll give birth to a son, Isaac, at the age of ninety: “Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also“(Genesis 18:12)?
Abraham’s slave also used Adonai to refer to his master: “So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter (Genesis 24:9).”
It also refers to the Pharaoh of Egypt as their lord: “Sometime after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt” (Genesis 40:1).
When Adonai refers to God, it emphasizes that He is the supreme ruler over people and the universe. The significance of the ‘ai’ ending is disputed, but it likely has something to do with plurality or unrivaled supremacy.
Adonai is often translated to “Lord” (note the small case lettering) in English Bibles to differentiate it from Yahweh, which is written as “LORD” in English Bibles.
Jesus is Yahweh
Jesus identified Himself with the divine name “I am,” and those who heard understood that He claimed to be Yahweh:
“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him (for claiming to be Yahweh). But Jesus hid Himself and … Going through their midst, He passed by” (John 8:58-59).
Jesus said to them, “I am He.” … When He said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:6).
Understanding how Yahweh and Adonai are used to refer to God can help deepen one’s understanding of the Bible and its teachings.
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