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אָדוֹן

𐤀𐤃𐤅𐤍

ʼâdôwn

H113 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אדן to be lord, to exercise authority, to rule, to be master

Definition

Principal meaning: lord, master; denotes one who holds authority, power, or ownership, either in social, domestic, or political spheres. Used for individuals exercising authority, including heads of households, landowners, high-ranking officials, or sovereigns. In extended religious usage, also refers to a deity, especially as a title for the God of Israel. The shortened form (אָדֹן) appears primarily in poetry or emphatic speech. In addition to human usage, ʼâdôwn serves as a respectful title to address someone of higher status, often rendering both secular and sacred connotations depending on the context.

Semantic Range

lord, master, sovereign, owner, ruler, superior, person of authority or high status, formal address for a person of rank; title for God (particularly in plural of majesty form), respectful address for humans

Root / Etymology

From the triliteral root אדן (ʾ-d-n), core meaning 'to be lord, rule, exercise authority.' Lexical form ʼâdôwn is a noun derived from this root, though the verbal form does not survive in Biblical Hebrew. The root is widely attested in Northwest Semitic languages, where related forms also denote authority or lordship. The unused root is reconstructed based on comparative Semitic evidence (see Ugaritic adn: 'lord').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the patriarchal and monarchy periods, אָדוֹן designates individuals of high status or social power—ranging from a tribal chief, landowner, to a king. For example, Abraham is addressed as 'lord' (Gen 23:6) in local Hittite negotiations, and kings are often called 'my lord' (2 Sam 19:27). Among Israelites, it serves as a term of respect or formal address rather than indicating divinity. With reference to deities, particularly the God of Israel, the plural form אֲדֹנָי ('Adonai') emerges as a reverential circumlocution during the later monarchic and post-exilic periods. This plural of majesty does not indicate actual plurality but is a form of honorific address. In English Bible translations, 'lord' often fails to distinguish between secular, religious, and divine connotations present in Hebrew usage; for example, 'lord' is used in both human and divine contexts, which may obscure the underlying distinctions. Related terms include בַּעַל (baʿal, 'owner' or 'lord'), which emphasizes possession or control (often with a more specific or limited domain), while אָדוֹן emphasizes authority and status, especially in interpersonal and vertical relationships. In later Jewish and Christian traditions, the use of 'Lord' as a substitute for YHWH further blurs the original boundaries of usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אדן (ʾ-d-n) — to be lord, to exercise authority, to rule, to be master

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H114 אַדּוֹן lord of
H134 אֶדֶן his support-bases
H135 אַדָּן Addan (Firm-Foundation)
H136 אֲדֹנָי lord
H137 אֲדֹנִי־בֶזֶק my lord

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H113-12 אֲדֹנִ֗/י adoni HNcmsc/Sp1cs my lord my lord 161
H113-04 אֲדֹנָ֑י/ו adonayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his master his lords 37
H113-25 לַֽ/אדֹנִ֔/י ladoni HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs to my lord to my lord 24
H113-09 אֲדֹנֶ֔י/ךָ adoneykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your master your lords 19
H113-10 אֲדֹנֵי/כֶ֖ם adoneykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your master your lords 11
H113-08 אֲדֹ֣נֵי/הֶ֔ם adoneyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their lord their masters 9
H113-01 אָד֖וֹן adon HNcmsa lord master of 8
H113-16 הָ/אָדֹ֥ן haadon HTd/Ncmsa YHWH the lord 8
H113-11 אֲדֹנֵ֖י/נוּ adoneynu HNcmpc/Sp1cp our Lord our lords 7
H113-31 וַֽ/אדֹנִ֖/י vadoni HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and my lord and my lord 6

Occurrences in Scripture

329 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H113-02 Genesis 18:3 אֲדֹנָ֗/י adonay HNcmpc/Sp1cs My lord my lords
H113-31 Genesis 18:12 וַֽ/אדֹנִ֖/י vadoni HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs my lord and my lord
H113-02 Genesis 19:2 אֲדֹנַ֗/י adonay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my lords my lords
H113-12 Genesis 23:6 אֲדֹנִ֗/י adoni HNcmsc/Sp1cs my lord my lord
H113-12 Genesis 23:11 אֲדֹנִ֣/י adoni HNcmsc/Sp1cs my lord my lord
H113-12 Genesis 23:15 אֲדֹנִ֣/י adoni HNcmsc/Sp1cs my lord my lord
H113-04 Genesis 24:9 אֲדֹנָ֑י/ו adonayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his master his lords
H113-04 Genesis 24:10 אֲדֹנָי/ו֙ adonayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his master his lords
H113-04 Genesis 24:10 אֲדֹנָ֖י/ו adonayv-2 HNcmpc/Sp3ms of his master his lords
H113-12 Genesis 24:12 אֲדֹנִ֣/י adoni HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my master my lord
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