Aleppo Codex Hebrew text — Masoretic vocalisation preserves the substitution of Adonai for YHWH in reading
Adonai
'My Lord' in Hebrew. The reverent substitute Jewish readers used (and still use) in place of the divine name YHWH — which is why English Bibles render YHWH as 'the LORD'.
Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) is a plural-of-majesty form of the Hebrew word adon, 'lord' or 'master'. From the Second Temple period onward, Jewish readers regarded the divine name YHWH as too holy to speak aloud, and substituted Adonai whenever it appeared in the text. The Masoretes preserved this practice by pointing YHWH with the vowels of Adonai — a compound transliteration that medieval Christians misread as 'Jehovah'. Adonai is also used in its own right as a divine title, especially in prayer and direct address (the Psalms; Isaiah's vision of the Lord enthroned). It expresses the dual sense of authority and personal relationship — God is sovereign over all, and the worshipper's own Lord.
“Adonai.” Atlas. Accessed 2026. https://fcbh-atlas.vercel.app/en/concept/adonai
- placeEgypt
Ancient kingdom of the Nile. Refuge of Abraham and Joseph, then a house of slavery, then the place from which …
- placeUr
Ancient Sumerian city on the Euphrates in southern Mesopotamia. Abraham's birthplace, called 'Ur of the Chalde…
- placeMount Sinai
Mountain in the southern Sinai peninsula where Moses received the Ten Commandments and the Torah from God.
- figureAbraham
Father of the Hebrew people. Called from Ur to Canaan and given the covenant promise. Lived around 2000 BC.
- figureMoses
Hebrew prophet who led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law on Mount Sinai. Lived around 1300 BC.
- figureDavid
Shepherd of Bethlehem, killer of Goliath, second king of Israel, writer of psalms. Lived around 1000 BC.