Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Ray Clendenen" <rclende AT lifeway.com>]

'adon occurs 336 times, 118 in the plural. Almost all the plurals refer to
a single human master, and almost all of them have a pronominal suffix or
are in construct. See, for example, Gen 24:9,10,51; 39:2,3,7,8,16,19; 40:1.

It refers to God in construct relationships in Gen 39:20; 42:30,33, and
with a suffix in Isa 51:22; Zph 1:9; Ps 8:1,10; Ps 45:12; 135:5; 136:3;
147:5; Neh 8:10; 10:29.

Here are some other interesting stats: "my master" always uses the singular
of 'adon, but "his/your (both genders & numbers)/their master" always uses
the plural. "Our master" uses the plural 11 times but the singular once (1
Sa 16:16). An interesting passage in this regard is 2 Kg 18:27- "My master
(sg) sent me to your master (pl)..."

'adonim in the absolute state with no suffix (as in Mal 1:6) occurs only 7
times:
3 times it refers to plural 'lords': Isa 26:13; Ps 136:3; Deut 10:17, all
refering to the 'lords' among which our God is Lord.
4 times it refers to singular 'lord': 1 Kg 22:17//2 Chr 18:16; Isa 19:4;
Mal 1:6.

'adon in the singular occurs without a suffix only 5 times:
Isa 3:1--For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts
10:33--Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts
Zech 4:14--the two anointed who stand by the Lord of the whole earth
Ps 97:5--before the Lord of all the earth
114:7--Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord

I haven't analyzed this data yet, but I think more is going on in Mal 1:6
than a plural of respect.

Ray

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ian goldsmith [mailto:iangoldsmith1969 AT yahoo.co.uk]
> Sent: 11 September 2001 16:36
> To: Biblical Hebrew
> Subject: Malachi 1:6
>
>
> Malachi 1:6 has 'and if a Lord where is my
> fear/respect'.
> Probably an elementary question but why is the 'lord'
> in this line plural? Adoniym not adoni?
> I'd be greatful for a quick grammar lesson here folks.
> Thanks
> Ian.