In the Jewish Scriptures, the Tanakh, many names of God are mentioned, each of which is given a meaning that, to one degree or another, reveals the quality, the side of the transcendent, unknowable by experience of the essence of God.
It should be noted that for a believer the name of God is a kind of symbol, an inner space in which a person finds safety and protection. In many religions, divine names have acquired a special meaning, in the sense that in the sacred representation they are fundamental, defining the external. Turning in prayer to God by name, a person manifests in his consciousness that essence of him that is associated with him. Therefore, the name for a sincere believer is a kind of bridge.
At the same time, the neglect and use of names, which are given a sacred meaning in a religious context, "pronouncing the name of the Lord in vain" entails the opposite change in a person's consciousness, closes the road to transcendent knowledge before him, and therefore has a negative assessment in understanding of religion and faith.
Elohim
Among the names that are of paramount importance in Judaism, it is customary to distinguish seven maindivine names. Among those widely found in the Holy Scriptures, in particular in the Pentateuch, are Adonai, Yahweh, Elohim. Their etymology is quite difficult to trace, there are many different points of view. A significant number of religious and mystical works of ancient and modern authors are devoted to the study and various interpretations of their origin and meaning.
Thus, the name "Elohim" in general has the meaning of "original source, creator of creators", is one of the most common in the text of the Tanakh. At the same time, according to grammatical and semantic norms, both "elohim" and "adonay" in Hebrew denote the plural. "Elohim" Jewish researchers interpret in the meaning of "higher forces of creation" and "creator of creators", which explains such a plurality. The name Elohim is one of the seven main, secret names of God recognized in Judaism.
Adonai is a name?
Many designations that are considered names in Russian are actually rather epithets. "Adonai" is a widely spread borrowing of the Hebrew word "adon", "adoni", which means "Lord", "ruler". This epithet is found in the text of the Tanakh quite often (about 450 times). In sacred texts, as well as during religious rites, the mention of "Adonai" is used to replace more intimate and secret names in order to avoid their excessive mention and thus preserve inner purity.
"Adonai" is morean abstract epithet, while "Elohim" is more specific. In Russian, the natural analogue of the epithet "Adonai" is the word "Lord", and therefore this word does not occur in the Slavic Bible.
Kabbalah
In the view of Kabbalah, the Jewish religious and mystical system, a certain name of God corresponds to each of the ten Sefirot - one of the emanations of the primordial light of Ein Sof - and is a certain direction of divine expansion. In the Kabbalistic concept, Adonai is the name corresponding to the Sefira Malchut.
In conclusion, it should be noted that, obviously, the inner religious experience of a person is not determined only by the names that he gives to the divine principle. No matter how thoughtful they may be, the first priority still lies on the surface - in the actions of a person.
