Adonai
American Heritage Dictionary:
Top
Ad·o·nai
(ä'dō-nī', -noi') 
n.
Lord. Used in Judaism as a spoken substitute for the ineffable name of God.
n.
Lord. Used in Judaism as a spoken substitute for the ineffable name of God.
[Hebrew 'ădônāy, my lord : 'ādôn, lord + -ay, my.]
Related Videos:
Top
Adonai
A Hebrew word signifying "the Lord" and used by Jews when speaking or writing of "YHWH," or Yahweh, the ineffable name of God. The Jews entertained the deepest awe for this incommunicable and mysterious name, and this feeling led them to avoid pronouncing it and to substitute the word Adonai for "Jehovah" in their sacred text. The ancients attributed great power to names; to know and pronounce someone's name was to have power over them. Obviously one could not, like the Pagans, suggest that mere creatures had power over God.
This custom in Jewish prayers still prevails, especially among Hasidic Jews, who follow the Kabala and believe that the Holy Name of God, associated with miraculous powers, should not be profaned. Yahweh is their invisible protector and king, and no image of him is made. He is worshiped according to his commandments, with an observance of the ritual instituted through Moses. The term "YHWH" means the revealed Absolute Deity, the Manifest, Only, Personal, Holy Creator and Redeemer.
Random House Word Menu:
Top
categories related to 'Adonai'
See crossword solutions for the clue 
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Read more
Gale Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology
Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. Copyright © 2001 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Read more
Random House Word Menu
© 2010 Write Brothers Inc. Word Menu is a registered trademark of the Estate of Stephen Glazier.
Write Brothers Inc.
All rights reserved.
Read more
Mentioned in
Jehovah
(God)
Adonai & I
(2001 Album by David Gould)
O Antiphons
(music)
Jerusalem Arise! Live Worship With Paul Wilbur From The Land Of Israel
(1999 Album by Hosanna! Music Mass Choir)
» More