Lexical Definition

‎אָדוֹן‎ ʼâdôwn (aw-done') lord ^H:N-M
or (shortened) אָדֹן ʼâdôn (aw-done'); from an unused root (meaning to rule)

lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.

• § 1b2a) Lord of lords (probably = "thy husband, Yahweh")
• sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)

1) firm, strong, lord, master
1a) lord, master
1a1) reference to men
1a1a) superintendent of household, of affairs
1a1b) master
1a1c) king
1a2) reference to God
1a2a) the Lord God
1a2b) Lord of the whole earth
1b) lords, kings
1b1) reference to men
1b1a) proprietor of hill of Samaria
1b1b) master
1b1c) husband
1b1d) prophet
1b1e) governor
1b1f) prince
1b1g) king
1b2) reference to God
1c) my lord, my master
1c1) reference to men
1c1a) master
1c1b) husband
1c1c) prophet
1c1d) prince
1c1e) king
1c1f) father
1c1g) Moses
1c1h) priest
1c1i) theophanic angel
1c1j) captain
1c1k) general recognition of superiority
1c2) reference to God
1c2a) my Lord, my Lord and my God
1c2b) Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)

See Greek: ἀνήρ · ἄρχων · δεσπότης · κύριος · χράομαι

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אָדוֺן‎ noun masculine^{Mal 3:1} lord (Phoenician ‎אדן‎) — ‎׳‎‎א‎ Ps 12:5* + construct ‎אֲדוֺן‎ Josh 3:11 +; plural ‎אֲדֹנִים‎ Isa 26:13 +; construct ‎אֲדֹנֵי‎ Deut 10:17 +; suffix ‎אֲדֹנֵינוּ‎ 1Sam 25:14 + etc.; (‎אֲדֹנִי‎, ‎אֲדֹנַי‎, ‎אֲדֹנָי‎ are variations of Masoretic pointing to distinguish divine reference from human. Plural, with few except an intensive plural of rank; word takes suffix as plural in all other person; so doubtless here. Orig. reading probably in all cases ‎אֲדֹנַי‎ (see Dalm^{Der Gottesname Adonaj}; Lag^{BN 188 makes} ‎אֲדֹנָי‎ an Aramaic formative); ‎אֲדֹנִי‎ now found in J 51 t.; in E Gen 31:35; Gen 32:19*; Gen 42:10; Exod 21:5 in P Gen 23:6; Gen 23:11; Gen 23:15; Num 36:2 (twice in verse); often Samuel & Kings; in Chronicles only in sources, 1Chr 21:3 (3 t. in verse); 1Chr 21:23 (= 2Sam 24:3; 2Sam 24:22) 2Chr 2:13*; 2Chr 2:14* Isaiah & Jeremiah only in historical parts Isa 36:8; Isa 36:9; Isa 36:12; Jer 37:20; Jer 38:9 elsewhere Dan 1:10; Dan 10:16; Dan 10:17; Dan 10:19; Dan 12:8; Zech 1:9; Zech 4:4; Zech 4:5; Zech 4:13; Zech 6:4; Ps 110:1; Judg 4:18; Judg 6:13; Ruth 2:13 ‎בִּי אֲדנָי‎ Exod 4:10; Exod 4:13; Josh 7:8 (J) Judg 6:15; Judg 13:8 is referred to God, but ‎בִּי אֲדנִי‎ Gen 43:20; Gen 44:18; Num 12:11 (J) 1Sam 1:26; 1Sam 25:24; 1Kgs 3:17; 1Kgs 3:26 reference to human superiors. There is uncertainty as to ‎אֲדֹנָ֯י‎ Gen 18:3; Gen 19:18 ‎אֲדֹ֯נַי‎ Gen 19:2) —

1. singular lord, master (1) reference to men:
(a) superintendent of household, or of affairs Gen 45:8; Gen 45:9 (E) = Ps 105:21
(b) master Ps 12:5*
(c) king Jer 22:18; Jer 34:5 (2) reference to God, ‎הָאָדוֺן יהוה‎ the Lord Yahweh (see ‎יהוה‎) Exod 23:17; Exod 34:23 (Cov't codes); ‎אֲרוֺן כָּלהָֿאָרֶץ‎ Lord of the whole earth Josh 3:11; Josh 3:13 (J) Ps 97:5; Zech 4:14; Zech 6:5; Mic 4:13 ‎צֻבָאוֺת‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎הָא‎, earlier Isa 1:24; Isa 3:1; Isa 10:33; Isa 19:4 (‎אֲדֹנָי‎ Isa 10:16 in common MT; not Massora, doubtless scribal error); ‎׳‎‎הָא‎ Mal 3:1 ‎אָדוֺן‎ Ps 114:7.

2. plural lords, kings Deut 10:17 = Ps 136:3; Isa 26:13 elsewhere intensive plural of rank, lord, master, (1) reference to men:
(a) proprietor of hill Samaria 1Kgs 16:24
(b) master Gen 40:7 (E) Exod 21:4 (twice in verse); Exod 21:6; Exod 21:8; Exod 21:32 (Cov't code) Gen 24:9 + (J, 11 t.) Deut 23:16*; Judg 19:11; Judg 19:12 + 13 t. Samuel & Kings; Job 3:19; Ps 123:2; Prov 25:13; Prov 27:18; Prov 30:10; Isa 24:2; Amos 4:1; Zeph 1:9; Mal 1:6 (twice in verse);
(c) husband Judg 19:26; Judg 19:27; Ps 45:12*
(d) prophet 2Kgs 2:3; 2Kgs 2:5; 2Kgs 2:16
(e) governor Neh 3:5
(f) prince Gen 42:10; Gen 42:30; Gen 42:33 (E) Gen 44:8 (J) 1Sam 29:10
(g) king Gen 40:1 (E) Judg 3:25 + 40 t. Samuel & Kings; Chronicles only in sources 1Chr 12:19* compare 1Sam 29:4; 2Chr 13:6; 2Chr 18:16 = 1Kgs 22:17; Isa 19:4; Isa 22:18; Isa 36:12; Isa 37:4; Isa 37:6; Jer 27:4 (2) reference to God Mal 1:6 ‎אֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים‎ Lord of lords Deut 10:17 = Ps 136:3 ‎אֲדֹנֵינוּ‎ Ps 135:5; Ps 147:5; Neh 8:10 ‎אֲדֹנֵינוּ‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Ps 8:2*; Ps 8:10*; Neh 10:30* ‎׳‎‎אֲדֹנַיִח י‎ Isa 51:22 (probably = thy husband, Yahweh); ‎אֲדֹנָיו‎ Hos 12:15* (possibly error for ‎אֲדֹנָי‎).

3. suffix 1 singular ‎(אֲדֹנַי) אֲדֹנִי‎ (1) reference to men: my lord, my master, (a) master Exod 21:5 (Cov't code) Gen 24:12 +, Gen 44:5 (J, 20 t.) 1Sam 30:13; 1Sam 30:15; 2Kgs 5:3; 2Kgs 5:20; 2Kgs 5:22; 2Kgs 6:15
(b) husband Gen 18:12 (J);
(c) prophet 1Kgs 18:7; 1Kgs 18:13; 2Kgs 2:19; 2Kgs 4:16; 2Kgs 4:28; 2Kgs 6:5; 2Kgs 8:5
(d) prince Gen 42:10 (E), Gen 23:6; Gen 23:11; Gen 23:15 (P), Gen 43:20; Gen 44:18 +, Gen 47:18, + (J, 12 t.); Judg 4:18
(e) king 1Sam 22:12 + (Samuel & Kings 75 t.);
(f) father Gen 31:35 (E);
(g) Moses Exod 32:22; Num 11:28; Num 12:11; Num 32:26; Num 32:27 (J); Num 36:2 (twice in verse) (P);
(h) priest 1Sam 1:15; 1Sam 1:26 (twice in verse);
(i) theophanic angel Josh 5:14; Judg 6:13
(j) captain 2Sam 11:11
(k) general recognition of superiority Gen 24:18; Gen 32:5* + Gen 33:8 +; Gen 44:7 + (J, 13 t.), Ruth 2:13; 1Sam 25:24 + (15 t.); (2) reference to God: ‎אֲדֹנָי‎
a. my Lord Gen 20:4 (? E) Exod 15:17 (Samaritan ‎יהוה‎) elsewhere in Hexateuch, J; Gen 18:3(?); Gen 18:27; Gen 18:30; Gen 18:31; Gen 18:32; Gen 19:2; Gen 19:18(?) Exod 4:10; Exod 4:13; Exod 5:22; Exod 34:9; Num 14:17; Josh 7:8 also Judg 6:15; Judg 13:8 not Samuel; 1Kgs 22:6; 2Kgs 19:23 not Chron. except memorials Ezra 10:3 (reference to Ezra) Neh 1:11; Neh 4:8* Wisdom Literature only Job 28:28 (doubtless scribal error for ‎יהוֺה‎ of many MSS.); not Hosea; Isa 37:24; Isa 38:14; Isa 38:16 (historical part); exile Isa 49:14 (compare Isa 51:22); Mic 1:2; Ps 16:2 + (47 t., chiefly this sense, except below
b.; compare ‎אֱלֹהַי וַאדֹנָי‎ my Lord and my God Ps 35:23 (writers that use ‎אֱלֹהִים‎ seldom use ‎אֲדֹנָי‎);
b. Adonay proper name of God, parallel with Yahweh, substitution for it often by scribal error, & eventually supplanting it. In earlier Isa 3:17 + (19 t. seeming to belong here), Amos 7:7; Amos 7:8; Amos 9:1; Ezek 18:25; Ezek 18:29; Ezek 33:17; Ezek 33:20; Ezek 21:14* (probably ‎׳‎‎אֲדֹנָי י‎ as in usual phrase); Zech 9:4; Mal 1:12; Mal 1:14; Lam 1:14 + (14 t.) Ps 2:4; Ps 37:13; Ps 78:65; Ps 90:17 (? ‎יהוה‎) Ps 110:5 (Dalman puts most of these below
(a); — many cases are doubtful); 1Kgs 3:10; 1Kgs 3:15 (Masoretic ‎אדני‎ for ‎יהוה‎ compare Dalm 2Kgs 7:6 Dalm rightly questions; he reads ‎יהוה‎). The phrases ‎אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהַי‎ Ps 38:16*; Ps 86:12, Adonay my God; ‎אֲדֹנָי הָאֱלֹהִים‎ Dan 9:3, ‎אֱלֹהֵינוּ‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Dan 9:9; Dan 9:15, ‎הָאֵל‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Dan 9:4 favour taking ‎׳‎‎א‎ Dan 1:2; Dan 9:7; Dan 9:8 (‎יהוה‎ ?) vDan 9:16 vDan 9:17 vDan 9:19 vDan 9:19 vDan 9:19 as the divine name.

4. ‎אֲדֹנָי יהוה‎
(a) my Lord Yahweh (see ‎יהוה‎) Gen 15:2; Gen 15:8 (JE) Josh 7:7 (J, ᵐ5 omit ‎׳‎‎י‎) Deut 3:24; Deut 9:26; Judg 6:22; Judg 16:28; 2Sam 7:1 (6 t.) 1Kgs 2:26; 1Kgs 8:53 probably Amos 3:7; Amos 3:8; Amos 7:2; Amos 7:4; Amos 7:5; Amos 9:8; Jer 1:6; Jer 4:10; Jer 14:13; Jer 32:17; Jer 32:25; Ezek 4:14; Ezek 8:1; Ezek 9:6; Ezek 11:13; Ezek 20:49; Ezek 37:3 (‎׳‎‎יָדַע כִּי אֲני א‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎) Ezek 13:9; Ezek 23:49; Ezek 24:24; Ezek 28:24; Ezek 29:16 inappropriate in mouth of God; strike out ‎אֲדֹנָי‎ (Co) or read ‎אֱלֹהֵיכֶם‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ (Dalm); Mic 1:2; Zeph 1:7; Obad 1:1; Zech 9:14; Ps 71:5; Ps 71:16; Ps 73:28
(b) apparently proper name Adonay Yahweh Isa 25:8; Jer 44:26 exile Isa 40:10 + (10 t., but Isa 61:1; Isa 61:11 read ‎יהוה‎, ᵐ5);
(c) uncertain whether
(a) or
(b) in prophetic formula ‎אָמַר‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ Isa 7:7; Isa 28:16; Isa 30:15; Isa 49:22; Isa 51:4; Isa 65:13; Jer 7:20; Amos 1:8; Amos 3:11; Amos 5:3; Amos 7:6; Obad 1:1 Ezekiel (131 t.); ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎נְאֻם א‎ Isa 56:8; Jer 2:22; Amos 3:13; Amos 4:5; Amos 8:3; Amos 8:9; Amos 8:11 Ezekiel (80 t.); ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎דְּבַראֿ‎ Ezek 6:3; Ezek 25:3; Ezek 36:4 ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎נִשְׁבַּע א‎ Amos 4:2; Amos 6:8 ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎כֹּה הִרְאַנִי א‎ Amos 7:1; Amos 7:4; Amos 8:1.

5. ‎יהוה אֲדֹנָי‎ Yahweh my Lord Ps 68:21*; Ps 109:21; Ps 140:8*; Ps 141:8; Hab 3:9.

6. ‎אֲדֹנָי יהוה צְבָאוֺת‎
(a) my Lord Yahweh ‚. (see ‎צבאות‎) Ps 69:7*; Amos 9:5; Isa 10:23; Isa 22:5; Isa 22:12; Isa 28:22 compare ‎׳‎‎אֱלֹהֵי הַצְבָאוֺת א‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎, Yahweh, the God of Hosts my Lord Amos 5:16
(b) a divine name, Adonay, Yahweh ‚. Jer 46:10 (twice in verse); Jer 50:25
(c) uncertain are ‎׳‎‎צ‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎כֹּה אָמַר א‎ Isa 10:24; Isa 22:14; Isa 22:15 ‎׳‎‎נְאֻם א‎ ‎׳‎‎צ‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Isa 3:15; Jer 2:19; Jer 49:5; Jer 50:31.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References