What is the difference between Adonai with kamatz on nun, vs patah on nun?

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ralph
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What is the difference between Adonai with kamatz on nun, vs patah on nun?

Post by ralph »

What is the difference between Adonai with kamatz on nun, vs patah on nun?

It seems that Adonai with a patach on the nun is is a plural noun masters.. Adoni with a hirik on nun is my master..

But i've heard that Adonai with a kamatz on the nun is a completely different thing, and is a name of God.

Is that right?

I'm a bit confused over Adonai with a Kamatz

Thanks

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Jason Hare
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Re: What is the difference between Adonai with kamatz on nun, vs patah on nun?

Post by Jason Hare »

אֲדֹנָי = God
אֲדֹנַי = my lords (or, lord, depending on context)

Notice that the Aleppo Codex represents it as אֲדנָי (without cholam) in about 97% of the time, according to my findings.

Similarly, the name יהוה is pointed without the cholam (as יְהוָה) in the vast majority of instances in the Aleppo Codex.
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יוֹדֵ֣עַ צַ֭דִּיק נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּהֶמְתּ֑וֹ וְֽרַחֲמֵ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים אַכְזָרִֽי׃
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ralph
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Re: What is the difference between Adonai with kamatz on nun, vs patah on nun?

Post by ralph »

Thanks. I am a bit clearer now. But you suggest that אֲדֹנַי can be singular. Where and Why would אֲדֹנַי be singular "my lord"? I'd have thought it'd always be my lords 'cos singular 'my lord' would be adonee.

I understand אֲדֹנָי is The Lord, but is it always YHWH?
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Jason Hare
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Re: What is the difference between Adonai with kamatz on nun, vs patah on nun?

Post by Jason Hare »

ralph wrote:Thanks. I am a bit clearer now. But you suggest that אֲדֹנַי can be singular. Where and Why would אֲדֹנַי be singular "my lord"? I'd have thought it'd always be my lords 'cos singular 'my lord' would be adonee.

I understand אֲדֹנָי is The Lord, but is it always YHWH?
Well, I was actually thinking specifically in terms of אֲדֹנָיו used of singular reference, as in the story of Joseph with his Egyptian master (cf. the six appearances of אדניו in Genesis 39:2, 3, 7, 8, 16 and 19). If it's possible to use it with the 3ms suffix, then it's possible with the 1cs suffix. I don't have the necessary software to locate and confirm its use, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.
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יוֹדֵ֣עַ צַ֭דִּיק נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּהֶמְתּ֑וֹ וְֽרַחֲמֵ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים אַכְזָרִֽי׃
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Jason Hare
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Re: What is the difference between Adonai with kamatz on nun, vs patah on nun?

Post by Jason Hare »

ralph wrote:I understand אֲדֹנָי is The Lord, but is it always YHWH?
I've never seen it used otherwise.
Jason Hare
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
יוֹדֵ֣עַ צַ֭דִּיק נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּהֶמְתּ֑וֹ וְֽרַחֲמֵ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים אַכְזָרִֽי׃
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