LORD, a Saxon word signifying ruler or gover nor. In its original form it is hlafard (hlacopb), which, by dropping the aspiration, became laford, and afterwards, by contraction, /o/il. In the autho rised translation of the Scriptures it is used, with out much discrimination, for all the names applied to God—which cannot be helped, as our language does not afford the same number of distinguishing titles as the Hebrew. When, however, the word represents the dread name of JEHOVAH it is printed in small capitals, LORD, and is by this contrivance made a distinguishing term. Having already ex plained the different names of GOD vvhich the term Lord is made to represent [Anoxia ; GOD ; JEHOVAH], no further statement on the subject is here necessary. It also, however, represents the Greek K6p:os, which, indeed, is used in much the same way and in the same sense as Lard. lt is from Kiipos, authority, and signifies master' or possessor.' In the Septuagint this, like Lord in our version, is invariably used for Jehovah' and Adonai ;' while 0E6S, like GOD in our transla tion, is generally reserved to represent the Hebrew Elohim.' Ktiptos in the Greek Testament, and Lord in the authorised version of it, are used much in the same manner as in the Septuagint ; and so also is the corresponding title, Dominus, in the Latin versions. As the IIebrew name JEHOVAH is one never uscd with reference to any but the Almighty, it is to be regretted that the Septuagint, imitated by our own and other versions, has represented it by a word which is also used for the Hebrew Adonai' when applied to angels (Gen. xix. 2 ;
Dan. x. 16, 17); for Adonim and Aa'on when used of men in authority (Gen. xlii. 30, 33 ; Is.
xix. 4), and of proprietors, owners, masters (Gen. xlv. 8). In the N. T. Kliptos, representing Adonai,' and both represented by Zara', the last, or human application of the term, is fre quent. In fact, the leading idea of the Hebrew, the Greek, and the English words, is that of an owner or proprietor, whether God or man ; and it occurs in the inferior application with great fre quency in the N. T. This application is either literal or complimentary : literal, when the party is really an owner or master, as in Matt. x. 2.4 ; xx. 8 ; xxi. 4o ; Acts xvi. 16, 19 ; Gal. iv. r, or as having absolute authority over another (Matt. ix. 38 ; Luke x. 2), or as being a supreme lord or sovereign (Acts xxv. 26); and complimentary, when used as a title of address to superiors, like the English Master, Sir, French Sign, German Herr, as in Matt. xiii. 27 ; xxi. 30 ; Mark vii. 28; Luke ix. 54.
It cannot but be deemed desirable that, instead of the extensive use of the word Lord which we have described, discriminating terms should be adopted in translations. Apart from the Jewish superstitions which influenced the Seventy in their translation, there can be no good reason why the name JEHOVAH should not be retained wherever it occurs in the Hebrew. Then LORD might re present Adanai; or Sir, or Master, might be used when applied to creatures ; and GOD would pro perly represent E/o/zim.—J. K.