Jesus Christ as LORD

~ The Title “LORD” ~

Jesus said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). 

Many English Bible translations use both the name “LORD” and “Lord” throughout the Old Testament.  This is a deliberate and important distinction.  Before beginning a series of posts on various titles of The Messiah—Jesus Christ as Jehovah, it is worth visiting this distinction.  There has been a conscious effort to simplify this post rather than getting into the many complexities and nuances involved. 

“LORD”  ~  With only one exception, LORD in all upper case letters capitals refers to Jehovah (Adonai).  GOD in all upper case letters refers to Jehovah (Adonay, Yahweh).   “Jehovah” is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews.  The most important thing to realize is that whether in Aramaic, Hebrew, or Greek, the word expresses a great sense of honor, dignity, and majesty. 

An excellent example is in the fifteenth chapter of Genesis.  “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’  But Abram said, ‘Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’  Then Abram said, ‘Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!’  And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.’  Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’  And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’  And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.  Then He said to him, ‘I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.’  And he said, ‘Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?’” (Genesis 15:1-8). 

“Lord”  ~  Lord is basically a Saxon word signifying a ruler or a governor.  The Lord should be our ruler and govern our affairs. 

Comments  ~  (1)  LORD is the most sacred Hebrew name for God, as their covenant God, ‎Yah‎, ‎Yahweh‎.  The more common designation of Deity, ‎Adhonay‎ and ‎Adhon‎, are terms which were adopted to avoid pronouncing the most holy designation. 

(2)  There are clearly differences in how translators deal with the names of God.  For example, when two of the words that are usually translated “Lord” (both referring to God) occur together, the King James Version translates them as “Lord God,” and the American Standard Revised Version as “Lord Yahweh.”

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW