4461. rhabbi

Lexicon

rhabbi: Rabbi

Original Word: ῥαββί
Part of Speech: Hebrew Form (Indeclinable)
Transliteration: rhabbi
Pronunciation: hrab-BEE
Phonetic Spelling: (hrab-bee')
Definition: Rabbi
Meaning: Rabbi, my master, teacher; a title of respect often applied to Christ.

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, ἰ) (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

Word Origin: Derived from Hebrew רַבִּי (rabbi), which is a form of רַב (rav), meaning "great" or "master."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • רַב (H7227) • rav: meaning "great" or "chief."
• רַבִּי (H7228) • rabbi: meaning "my master" or "my teacher."

These Hebrew roots emphasize the honor and authority associated with the title, which was carried into the Greek usage in the New Testament context.

Usage: In the New Testament, ῥαββί is used primarily in the Gospels to address Jesus, acknowledging His authority and role as a teacher. It reflects the respect and recognition of His teaching authority by His disciples and others.

Context: The term ῥαββί appears in the New Testament as a respectful title used by the disciples and others when addressing Jesus. It signifies recognition of His authority as a teacher and leader. In the Jewish tradition, a rabbi was a learned individual who had authority to interpret the Law and teach it to others. This title was not only a mark of respect but also an acknowledgment of the individual's role in guiding and instructing the community in spiritual and legal matters.

In the Gospels, the use of ῥαββί highlights the relationship between Jesus and His followers, who often sought His wisdom and guidance. For example, in John 1:49, Nathanael addresses Jesus as "Rabbi," acknowledging Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Similarly, in John 3:2, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus by night and calls Him "Rabbi," recognizing that Jesus is a teacher who has come from God.

The title also underscores the authority of Jesus' teachings, which often challenged the established interpretations of the Law and offered new insights into the Kingdom of God. The use of ῥαββί in the New Testament reflects the deep respect and reverence that Jesus commanded as a spiritual leader and teacher.

Forms and Transliterations

Ραββει Ῥαββεί ραββί ῥαββί rabbi rhabbi rhabbí

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.