a.don denotes a human ruler or master and, in the festival commands, the Lord before whom Israel appears.

The term most often identifies a human superior, especially a king addressed with deference or named as the one whose throne and commands govern others. It also occurs for masters in servant and ownership relationships, while the Exodus festival commands use it for the Lord before whom Israel's males appear.

1. Human ruler or honored superior · dominant

   In 1 Kings 1:20, the singular construct form occurs twice as Bathsheba appeals to the king about who will sit on his throne; the APB renders the address “My lord the king.” In 1 Samuel 24:9, David addresses Saul while answering the charge that he seeks Saul's harm, and 1 Kings 20:4 places the form in a king's submission to another king.

   1 Kings 1:201 Samuel 24:91 Kings 20:41 Kings 3:171 Samuel 1:151 Chronicles 21:23
2. Master in a servant or possession relationship · common

   In 1 Kings 18:8, a servant is told to report to his master, while 1 Samuel 25:10 speaks of servants breaking away from their master. In 1 Kings 11:23, Rezon is identified in relation to Hadadezer, and 1 Kings 16:24 names Shemer in connection with the mountain he owned.

   1 Kings 18:81 Kings 18:111 Samuel 25:101 Samuel 25:141 Kings 11:231 Kings 16:24
3. The Lord before whom Israel appears · rare

   In Exodus 23:17 and Exodus 34:23, the singular absolute form occurs in the command that every male appear before the Lord; the APB presents the setting as appearance before “the LORD.”

   Exodus 23:17Exodus 34:23

In the Anselm Paraphrase: The APB commonly presents the human uses as “my lord the king,” “my lord,” or “master,” depending on the verse's relationship and address. In Exodus 23:17 and Exodus 34:23 it presents the clause with “the Lord” or “the LORD”; these are verse-level paraphrase renderings rather than word-aligned equivalents.