Understanding the Difference in Lord and LORD

 

Depending on the English translation you’re reading (although I think all of them do), you may have noticed that sometimes when you read a verse it says “Lord,” and other times it says “LORD.” If you’re like me, I always wondered why that was the case. I was curious whether they had different meanings or were maybe even different words. It wasn’t until I went to seminary that I learned the significance of the two terms and what it actually meant that they were different.

The first thing to realize (and remember) is that the Bible wasn’t originally written in English. It was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. If you’ve spent any time studying languages, you’ll understand that there is rarely a “one-to-one” translation. This is especially true with “dead” languages like those used by the original authors of the Bible. Terms can have a range and depth of meaning that English sometimes just can’t convey, and this is one of those instances.

The word “Lord” with just the L capitalized is the term most commonly used to refer to someone in authority. In Greek, it is the various parsings of the word kurios, which refers to superiority or authority. Think of it in the same way we use the word “sir” or “ma’am.” It was a term of respect for whoever it was used for, and often people in the New Testament would call Jesus “Lord” as a way of referring to Him with respect as a prophet and teacher. This isn’t a derogatory term compared to LORD, but just know that it doesn’t really carry the same weight linguistically.

The word “LORD” refers to the personal name of God, Yahweh, as it appears in the Hebrew Bible, YHWH. So the main reason for the distinction between Lord and LORD is simply the weight of the term. Because the Greek and English languages don’t have a stronger term for God’s personal name, YHWH, it is completely capitalized to distinguish it from the “lesser” term Lord.

As I said, this doesn’t diminish the importance of calling Jesus “Lord.” When we say that, we are calling Him master and ruler over our lives. Just know that LORD is the name of God, YHWH. So, the next time you are reading your Bible and you come across “LORD,” try replacing it by saying YHWH, and you’ll see the difference between Lord and LORD.