Adonai – the Lord
In Hebrew, (Hebrew: אֲדֹנָי) pronounced ad-o-noy, being the plural of excellence for Aden, meaning to rule, and signifying the Lord. The Jews, who reverently avoided the pronunciation of the sacred name JEHOVAH, were accustomed, whenever that name occurred, to substitute for it the word Adonai in reading. As to the use of the plural form instead of the singular, the Rabbis say, "Every word indicative of dominion, though singular in meaning, is made plural in form." This is called the pluralis excellentiae. The Talmudists also say, as in Joannes Buxtorfius, Lexicon Chaldaicum, Talmudicum et Rabbinicum, that the Tetragrammaton is called Shem hamphorash, the name that is separated or explained, because it is explained, uttered, and set forth by the word Adonai.
Adonai is used as a significant word in several of the advanced degrees of Freemasonry, and may almost always be considered as allusive to or symbolic of the True Word.
- Source: Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry
While this proper name is not found in our English Bible, it occurs in several passages in the Hebrew text, and appears to be a special title of the pre-incarnate Son of God. Adonai is used as a significant word in several of the high degrees of Masonry, alluding to, or symbolic of the True God, or Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "The Lord said unto my Lord" – Jehovah said unto my Adonai, or Jesus Christ his Son… Psalms 110:1
Biblical References:
Psalms 110:1
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
~~ooOoo~~
This page is adapted from the Glossary at Phoenixmasonry — Used with permission.
