Bible Devotion: Names of God – Adonai

As we continue to explore more about the names of God we will focus today on a significant title: Adonai – “Master” or “Lord” In Hebrew it looks like אֲדֹנָי and is the plural form of the root word “Adon” The first time this title appears on the lips of God’s people is in Genesis 15:2, when Abram addresses Him as Adonai. It conveys majesty and supreme authority. When Abram calls God Adonai, he is confessing that God has the right to direct his life, his future, and even the promise of his descendants. How do we, like Abram, struggle with doubt despite acknowledging God's sovereignty?

Translation Note: In most English Bibles, Adonai is translated as "Lord" (with a capital "L" and lowercase "ord"). When the word appears in all capital letters ("LORD"), it typically refers to God's personal covenant name, YHWH (Yahweh), which was often substituted with Adonai when read aloud out of reverence. Throughout Scripture, Adonai highlights God’s sovereign ownership. He is not only Creator but also Master, the One to whom every life is accountable. Israel’s prophets used Adonai to remind the people that their covenant Lord was also their rightful ruler.

In Isaiah 6:1-6 Isaiah sees Adonai siting on a high and exalted throne and responds with awe and humility “Woe is me! I am lost.” When Adonai asks, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah having recognized God’s supreme authority, readily responds, “Here I am. Send me.” How does a proper view of God’s majesty (Adonai) effect our willingness to serve Him?

This theme carries into the New Testament through the Greek word Kyrios seen as κύριος in Greek, which the Jewish translators of the Hebrew Bible (3rd-2nd century BC) consistently used for both YHWH and Adonai. So, by the time of Jesus and the apostles, Kyrios already carried the weight of Gods covenant name, not just a generic “lord.” The first time this title is applied to Jesus is at His birth: “For day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior,, who is Christ the Lord (Kyrios)” Luke 2:11. To call Jesus “Lord” was not a casual honorific, it was to recognize in Him the same divine authority ascribed to Adonai.

The apostle Paul makes this even clearer: If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (Kyrios) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9. Here Paul is echoing Joel 2:32, which declares that everyone who calls on the name of YHWH will be saved, applying that truth directly to Jesus. Confessing Christ as Lord is confessing Him as Adonai, the sovereign Master of heavens and earth.

In Philippians 2:9-11, it highlights Jesus’ ultimate Lordship, stating “the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Kyrios), to the glory of God the Father.” For us, the name cuts to the heart of discipleship. To call God Adonai means surrendering our lives to His rule, not our ambitions, not our possessions, not the powers of this world. The question is: do we live as if our lives truly belong to the Master who bought us with His blood?

Living as a Servant of Adonai

Acknowledging God as Adonai calls for a life of submission and trust, not as an oppressive form of slavery, but as a joyful response to a loving and good Master.

• Submission: Recognizing Adonai's ownership means laying down our own agendas and seeking His will.
• Trust and Provision: As our Master, He is also our provider and protector, managing all things for our good.
• Joyful Service: True joy and fulfillment come from living in alignment with His heart and serving Him willingly.

Let us Pray

You are Adonai, my Master and Lord. Forgive me for the times I resist Your authority, clinging to control and casing my own will. Too often I treat You with dishonor rather than the One who has rightful rule over every part of my life. Teach me to surrender with joy knowing that true freedom is found under Your Lordship. Shape my heart to obey quickly and trust fully, even when I do not see the whole path ahead. Thank you that in Christ I am not only saved but also led by a Shepherd King who rules in love. I ask these things and declare you as Adonai Lord over my life in the precious, Holy and Powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.