In the Old Testament, what does the small-letter word 'Lord' refer to?
In the Old Testament, the small-letter word 'Lord' refers to Adonai, meaning Master. It denotes one who has authority over servants, as when Moses addressed Jehovah as Adon and Isaiah saw the Lord. This usage appears throughout the Old Testament and highlights the master-servant relationship.
Les explains that when Moses speaks to Jehovah, he does not address Him as Jehovah but as Adon, Master. The relationship is that of a master over servants, and those under a master are servants. Les points out that this fits Moses' objection when he says he is not eloquent and calls himself a servant. He teaches that whenever you see the word 'Lord' in small letters in the Old Testament, it refers to Adonai as Master, and the master is over his servant. He also cites Isaiah chapter 6, where Isaiah says, 'I saw the Lord,' with only the L capitalized and the other letters small, as another example.