4461. rhabbi
Lexical Summary
rhabbi: Rabbi

Original Word: ῥαββί
Part of Speech: Hebrew Form (Indeclinable)
Transliteration: rhabbi
Pronunciation: hrab-BEE
Phonetic Spelling: (hrab-bee')
KJV: Master, Rabbi
NASB: Rabbi
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H7227 (רַב - Many) with pronominal suffix)]

1. my master, i.e Rabbi, as an official title of honor

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Master, Rabbi.

Of Hebrew origin (rab with pronominal suffix); my master, i.e Rabbi, as an official title of honor -- Master, Rabbi.

see HEBREW rab

HELPS Word-studies

4461 rhabbí– a rabbi; a teacher-scholar recognized by the Jewish public for accumulating a great number of Bible-facts, i.e. respected for his accumulation of knowledge.

[4461 (rhabbí) literally means "great in number," probably referring to the great number of facts (Bible knowledge) acquired by a rabbi. See OT 7727a (rab).

"Rabbi" literally means, " 'My great one; my honorable sir.' Explained by Jesus himself as (1320 /didáskalos), 'teacher' (Mt 23:8), . . . Used by the Jews in addressing their teachers, and formed from a Hebrew root meaning 'great' " (WS, 403).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Hebrew origin rab
Definition
my master, my teacher
NASB Translation
Rabbi (15).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4461: ῤαββί

ῤαββί, T WH ῥαββει (cf. Buttmann, p. 6; WHs Appendix, p. 155; see εἰ, ) (Hebrew רַבִּי from רַב, much, great), properly, my great one, my honorable sir; (others incorrectly regard the ִ־י as the yodh paragogic); Rabbi, a title with which the Jews were accustomed to address their teachers (and also to honor them when not addressing them; cf. the Frenchmonsieur, monseigneur): Matthew 23:7; translated into Greek by διδάσκαλος, Matthew 23:8 G L T Tr WH; John the Baptist is addressed by this title, John 3:26; Jesus: both by his disciples, Matthew 26:25, 49; Mark 9:5; Mark 11:21; John 1:38 (39),49(50); ; and by others, John 3:2; John 6:25; repeated to indicate earnestness (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 65, 5 a.) ῤαββί, ῤαββί, R G in Matthew 23:7 and Mark 14:45; (so רבי רבי for אבי אבי in the Targ. on 2 Kings 2:12). Cf. Lightfoot Horae Hebrew et Talmud. on Matthew 23:7; Pressel in Herzog edition 1 xii, p. 471f; (Ginsburg in Alex.'s Kitto, under the word Rabbi; Hamburger, Real-Encyclopädie, under Rabban, vol. ii., p. 943f).

Topical Lexicon
Linguistic and Cultural Background

Greek 4461 (ῥαββί, rhabbí) transliterates the Aramaic honorific by which first-century Jews addressed a teacher of the Torah. Literally “my great one,” it carried a sense of veneration and personal attachment to the scholar who interpreted Scripture and halakhah for his disciples. In the late Second-Temple period the title was not yet a formal ordination but an informal acknowledgment of mastery in the Law and Prophets.

Occurrences in the New Testament Canon

Rhabbí appears fifteen times, all in the Gospels:

Matthew 23:7, 23:8; 26:25, 26:49
Mark 9:5; 11:21; 14:45
John 1:38, 1:49; 3:2, 3:26; 4:31; 6:25; 9:2; 11:8

The concentration in the Synoptics and John reflects the historical setting of Jesus’ earthly ministry among Jewish audiences conversant with rabbinic honorifics.

The Title Applied to Jesus

In every instance but one (Matthew 23:7-8) rhabbí is addressed to Jesus. The disciples, crowds, and even adversaries recognize Him as an authoritative expositor of Scripture. Nathanael’s confession unites the title with messianic faith: “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel” (John 1:49). Nicodemus likewise admits, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher” (John 3:2). These uses reveal that early witnesses perceived Jesus’ pedagogy as grounded in divine commission rather than mere human credentialing.

Jesus’ Restrictive Teaching on the Title

In Matthew 23:7-10 Jesus warns against seeking honorifics: “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers”. The admonition redirects glory from human status to the ultimate authority of God’s Messiah. Christ neither forbids teaching nor learning; He forbids pride that rivals the supremacy of the one Instructor, Himself (cf. Matthew 28:18-20).

Contrast with Contemporary Rabbinic Authority

First-century rabbis grounded their rulings in citation of earlier sages (“Hillel says… Shammai says…”). Jesus, by contrast, speaks on His own authority: “Truly, truly, I tell you…” (John 3:3; 5:24). When Peter exclaims, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree You cursed has withered” (Mark 11:21), the incident underscores that Jesus’ words carry immediate divine effect, surpassing traditional rabbinic debate.

Pedagogical Relationship with Disciples

Rhabbí implies a disciple-teacher bond marked by obedience and imitation. The disciples appeal, “Rabbi, eat” (John 4:31), showing daily intimacy. Yet Jesus elevates them from pupils to friends and future apostles (John 15:15), anticipating the Spirit’s instruction that will perfect their understanding (John 14:26).

Conflicted Use by Betrayers and Skeptics

Judas Iscariot addresses Jesus twice as rhabbí during the Passion (Matthew 26:25, 26:49; Mark 14:45). The irony is sharp: the betrayer acknowledges Jesus’ teacherly standing while denying His lordship. Likewise, the physically blind are healed while spiritual blindness remains in some who utter the respectful title (John 9:2).

Christological Implications

The Gospel witness marries rabbinic respect with claims that exceed any ordinary teacher. Jesus is both the Revealer and the content of revelation. Thus the early church could accept rabbinic pedagogy as a model for discipleship while confessing Jesus as the incarnate Logos, the ultimate exegete of the Father (John 1:18).

Ministry Applications Today

1. Authority of Scripture: Christian teachers submit to the Word, guarding against titles that eclipse Christ’s unique role as the definitive Teacher.
2. Discipleship: The rabbi-disciple paradigm invites holistic imitation of Christ, not merely intellectual assent.
3. Humility in Leadership: Matthew 23 warns modern ministers to avoid exalting human credentials above servanthood.
4. Evangelism: Addressing Jesus as “Teacher” opens doors to present Him also as Savior and Lord, as in Nicodemus’ journey from respectful inquiry to bold witness (John 7:50-51; 19:39).

Historical Continuity and Fulfillment

Rhabbí bridges the heritage of Jewish scriptural instruction and the inaugurated kingdom of God. The risen Lord commissions His followers to “make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The rabbinic model thus finds its fulfillment in global, Christ-centered mission empowered by the Spirit.

Related Terms and Concepts

Teacher (didaskalos, 1320)

Master (kurios, 2962)

Discipleship (mathetes, 3101)

Scribe (grammateus, 1122)

Summary

Greek 4461 encapsulates awe before a master interpreter of God’s Word. The Gospels employ it to reveal Jesus as the anticipated but surpassing Rabbi whose authority is rooted in His divine sonship. The term challenges contemporary believers to honor Christ alone as the ultimate Teacher while emulating His servant leadership in the ministry of the Word.

Forms and Transliterations
Ραββει Ῥαββεί ραββί ῥαββί rabbi rhabbi rhabbí
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 23:7 Heb
GRK: τῶν ἀνθρώπων ῥαββί
NAS: and being called Rabbi by men.
KJV: of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
INT: men Rabbi

Matthew 23:8 Heb
GRK: μὴ κληθῆτε ῥαββί εἷς γάρ
NAS: But do not be called Rabbi; for One
KJV: ye called Rabbi: for one
INT: not shall be called Rabbi one indeed

Matthew 26:25 Heb
GRK: ἐγώ εἰμι ῥαββί λέγει αὐτῷ
NAS: Surely it is not I, Rabbi? Jesus said to him, You have said
KJV: answered and said, Master, is it
INT: I is it Rabbi He says to him

Matthew 26:49 Heb
GRK: εἶπεν Χαῖρε ῥαββί καὶ κατεφίλησεν
NAS: Hail, Rabbi! and kissed
KJV: and said, Hail, master; and kissed
INT: he said Greetings Rabbi and kissed

Mark 9:5 Heb
GRK: τῷ Ἰησοῦ ῥαββί καλόν ἐστιν
NAS: to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good
KJV: and said to Jesus, Master, it is good
INT: to Jesus Rabbi good it is

Mark 11:21 Heb
GRK: λέγει αὐτῷ ῥαββί ἴδε ἡ
NAS: said to Him, Rabbi, look,
KJV: unto him, Master, behold,
INT: says to him Rabbi look the

Mark 14:45 Heb
GRK: αὐτῷ λέγει ῥαββί καὶ κατεφίλησεν
NAS: to Him, saying, Rabbi! and kissed
KJV: to him, and saith, Master, master; and
INT: to him he says Rabbi and kissed

John 1:38 Heb
GRK: εἶπαν αὐτῷ ῥαββί ὃ λέγεται
NAS: They said to Him, Rabbi (which
KJV: unto him, Rabbi, (which
INT: they said to him Rabbi which is to say

John 1:49 Heb
GRK: αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ ῥαββί σὺ εἶ
NAS: answered Him, Rabbi, You are the Son
KJV: saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art
INT: him Nathanael Rabbi you are

John 3:2 Heb
GRK: εἶπεν αὐτῷ ῥαββί οἴδαμεν ὅτι
NAS: and said to Him, Rabbi, we know
KJV: said unto him, Rabbi, we know that
INT: said to him Rabbi we know that

John 3:26 Heb
GRK: εἶπαν αὐτῷ ῥαββί ὃς ἦν
NAS: and said to him, Rabbi, He who
KJV: said unto him, Rabbi, he that was
INT: said to him Rabbi he who was

John 4:31 Heb
GRK: μαθηταὶ λέγοντες ῥαββί φάγε
NAS: were urging Him, saying, Rabbi, eat.
KJV: him, saying, Master, eat.
INT: disciples saying Rabbi eat

John 6:25 Heb
GRK: εἶπον αὐτῷ ῥαββί πότε ὧδε
NAS: they said to Him, Rabbi, when
KJV: unto him, Rabbi, when
INT: they said to him Rabbi when here

John 9:2 Heb
GRK: αὐτοῦ λέγοντες ῥαββί τίς ἥμαρτεν
NAS: asked Him, Rabbi, who
KJV: him, saying, Master, who did sin,
INT: of him saying Rabbi who sinned

John 11:8 Heb
GRK: οἱ μαθηταί ῥαββί νῦν ἐζήτουν
NAS: said to Him, Rabbi, the Jews
KJV: say unto him, Master, the Jews of late
INT: the disciples Rabbi now were seeking

Strong's Greek 4461
15 Occurrences


ῥαββί — 15 Occ.

4460
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