Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Lord
Subjects in this Topic:
is the rendering in the A.V. of several Heb. and Greek words, which have a very different import from each other. "Lord" is a Saxon word signifying ruler or governor. In its original form it is hlaford, which, by dropping the aspiration, became laford, and afterwards, by contraction, lord.
1. éְäָֹåä , Yehovah', Jehovah, the proper name of the God of the Hebrews, which should always have been retained in that form, but has almost invariably been translated in the English Bible by LORD (and printed thus in small capitals), after the example of the Sept. ( Êù῏ / ñéïò ) and Vulg. (Dominus). SEE JEHOVAH.
2. àָãåֹï , adon', one of the early words (hence in the early Phoenico-Greek A donis) denoting the most absolute control, and therefore most fitly represented by the English word lord, as in the A.V. (Sept. êýñéïò , Vulg. domimus). It is not properly a divine title, although occasionally applied to God (Psa_114:7; properly with the art. in this sense, Exo_23:13), as the supreme proprietor (Jos_3:13); but appropriately denotes a master, as of slaves (Gen_24:4; Gen_24:27; Gen_39:2; Gen_39:7), or a king, as ruler of subjects (Gen_45:8; Isa_26:13), a husband, as lord of the wife (Gen_18:12). It is frequently a term of respect, like our Sir, but with a pronoun attached ("my lord"), and often occurs in the plural. SEE MASTER.
A modified form of this word is Adonay' ( àֲãåֹðָé ; Sept. Êýñéïò , lord, master), "the old plural form of the noun àָãåֹï , adon, similar to that with the suffix of the first person, used as the pluralis excellentiae, by way of dignity, for the name of JEHOVAH. The similar form with the suffix, is also used of men, as of Joseph's master (Gen_39:2-3 sq.), of Joseph himself (Gen_42:30; Gen_42:33; so also Isa_19:4). The Jews, out of superstitious reverence for the name JEHOVAH, always, in reading, pronounce Adonai where Jehovah is written, and hence the letters éäåä are usually written with the points belonging to Adonai, JEHOVAH. The view that the word exhibits a plural termination without the affix is that of Gesenius (Thesaur. s.v. ãåï ), and seems just, though rather disapproved by professor Lee (Lex. in àãåï ). The latter adds that “our English Bibles generally translate éäåä by LORD, in capitals; when preceded by äàãåï , they translate it GOD; when öáàåú , tzabaoth, follows, by LORD, as in Isa_3:1, ‘The Lord, the LORD of Hosts.' The copies now in use are not, however, consistent in this respect" (Kitto). "In some instances it is difficult, on account of the pause accent, to say whether Adonai is the title of the Deity, or merely one of respect addressed to men. These have been noticed by the Masorites, who distinguish the former in their notes as 'holy,' and the latter as 'profane.' (See Gen_18:3; Gen_19:2; Gen_19:18; and compare the Masoretic notes on Gen_20:13; Isa_19:4)." SEE ADONAI.
3. Êýñéïò , the general Greek term for supreme mastery, whether royal or private; and thus, in classical Greek, distinguished from èåüò , which is exclusively applied to God. The "Greek Êýñéïò , indeed, is used in much the same way and in the same sense as Lord. It is from êῦñïò , authority, and signifies 'master' or 'possessor.' In the Septuagint, this, like Lord in our version, is invariably used for 'Jehovah' and Adonai;' while èåüò , like GOD in our translation, is generally reserved to represent the Hebrew 'Elohim.' Êýñéïò in the original of the Greek Testament, and Lord in our version of it, are used in much the same manner as in the Septuagint; and so, also, is the corresponding title, Dominus, in the Latin versions. As the Hebrew name JEHOVAH is one never used with reference to any but the Almighty, it is to be regretted that the Septuagint, imitated by our own and other versions, has represented it by a word which is also used for the Hebrew 'Adonai,' which is applied not only to God, but, like our 'Lord,' to creatures also, as to angels (Gen_19:2; Dan_10:16-17), to men in authority (Gen_42:30; Gen_42:33), and to proprietors. owners, masters (Gen_45:8). In the New Testament, Êýñéïò , representing 'Adonai,' and both represented by Lords, the last, or human application of the term, is frequent. In fact, the leading idea of the Hebrew, the Greek, and the English words is that of an owner or proprietor, whether God or man; and it occurs in the inferior application with great frequency in the New Testament. This application is either literal or complimentary: literal when the party is really an owner or master. as in Mat_10:24; Mat_20:8; Mat_21:40; Act_16:16; Act_16:19; Gal_4:1, etc.; or when he is so as having absolute authority over another (Mat_9:38; Luk_10:2), or as being a supreme lord or sovereign (Act_25:26); and complimentary when used as a title of address, especially to superiors, like the English Master, Sir; the French Sieur, Monsieur; the German Herr, etc., as in Mat_13:27; Mat_21:20; Mar_7:8; Luk_9:54." See Winer, De voce Êýñéïò (Erlang. 1828).
4. áִּòִì , master in the sense of domination, applied to only heathen deities, or else to human relations, as husband, etc., and especially to a person skilled or chief in a trade or profession (like the vulgar boss). To this corresponds the Greek äåóðüôçò , whence our "despot." SEE BAAL. The remaining and less important words in the original, thus rendered in the common Bible (usually without a capital initial), are: âְּáַéø , gebir', prop. denoting physical strength or martial prowess; ùִׂø , sar, a title of nobility; ùָׁìַéùׁ , shalish', a military officer, SEE CAPTAIN; and ñֶøֶï , se'ren, a Philistine term; also the Chald. îָøֵà , mare', an official title (hence the Syriac mar, or bishop); and øִá , rab, a general name = praefect, with its reduplicate øִáְøְáָï , rabreban', and its Greek equivalent ῥáââïíß , "Rabboni."