ῥαββί :  RABBI

Illustrations of English words
derived from the Greek in the New Testament.

Gaylon West.



“rabbi.”
"Jewish doctor of religious law," late 15th century. (in Old English in Biblical context only; in Middle English also as a title prefixed to personal names), from Late Latin rabbi, from Greek rhabbi, from Mishnaic Hebrew rabbi "my master," from rabh "master, great one," title of respect for Jewish doctors of law + -i, first person singular pronominal suffix. From Semitic root r-b-b "to be great or numerous" (compare Aramaic rabh "great; chief, master, teacher;" Arabic rabba "was great," rabb"master").
- from "rabbi." - www.etymology.com.

Thayer Definition:
1) my great one, my honourable sir
2) Rabbi, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers (and also honour them when not addressing them)