Rabbi
Rabbi
The word translated Rabbi[1] in the New Testament appears some 17 times but not always translated master or Rabbi. It is from the Hebrew word Rabi[2] which appears over 450 times in the Old Testament.
The rabi of the Old Testament was a servant of the people who as a Levite "belonged to God". The term might be equated with the term master because of the changes wrought by Herod and the Pharisees, especially because of their institution of Corban. Through the tradition blessed by a new kind of Sanhedrin they together had instituted a system of entitlements through registration with the temples built by Herod and Rabbinical Baptism.
This system of legal charity was making the people subjects because they were the dainties of rulers warned about in Proverbs, that were a snare warned about by David. These systems had already begun in Rome through their system of temples by way of the benefactors like Caesar.
John the Baptist would offer a new way and alternative through his Baptism and the practice of charity. In the Old Testament the rabi was also dependent upon freewill offerings. The Way of Jesus was in accord with John the Baptist and even the real Moses who said we were to love our neighbor as ourselves and not covet our neighbors goods through men who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other.
Rabbi is said to be from the word rab ReishBeit which was contracted from rabab[3] ReishBeitBeit meaning "to become many".
The term rabbi developed in its basic form a little more than a 150 years before Christ. It meant a learned teacher who had been trained up in the written and oral laws. The title "rabbi" was first used in the first century CE meaning a master teacher and source of knowledge about the complex interpretations of their view of the law of Moses. According to Christ the Pharisees not only did not know Moses nor understand that law but got it so wrong they were making the word of God to none effect with their system of Corban which they set up with the help of Herod.
Occurrences
Matthew 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi <4461>, Rabbi <4461>.
Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi <4461>: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Matthew 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master <4461>, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
Matthew 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master <4461>; and kissed him.
Mark 9:5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master <4461>, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mark 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master <4461>, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mark 14:45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master <4461>, master <4461>; and kissed him.
John 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi <4461>, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi <4461>, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi <4461>, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi <4461>, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him.
John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master <4461>, eat.
John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi <4461>, when camest thou hither?
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master <4461>, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
John 11:8 [His] disciples say unto him, Master <4461>, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
- ↑ 4461 ῥαββί rhabbi [hrab-bee’] of Hebrew origin 07227 רַבִּי meaning many or great with pronominal suffix; n m; TDNT- 6:961,982; [{See TDNT 685 }] AV-Master (Christ) 9, Rabbi (Christ) 5, rabbi 3; 17
- 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)
- ↑ 07227 רַב rab [rab] ReishBeit contracted from 07231 rabab to become many, Greek 4461 ραββι; adj/adv/n m; [BDB-912b, BDB-913b] [{See TWOT on 2099 @@ "2099a" }] [{See TWOT on 2099 @@ "2099b" }] AV-many 190, great 118, much 36, captain 24, more 12, long 10, enough 9, multitude 7, mighty 5, greater 4, greatly 3, misc 40; 458
adj
- 1) much, many, great
- 1a) much
- 1b) many
- 1c) abounding in
- 1d) more numerous than
- 1e) abundant, enough
- 1f) great
- 1g) strong
- 1h) greater than
- adv
- 1i) much, exceedingly
- n m
- 2) captain, chief
- 1) much, many, great
- ↑ 07231 רָבַב rabab [raw-bab’] a primitive root; v; [BDB-912b, BDB-1127a] [{See TWOT on 2099 }] AV-are many 6, are multiplied 3, increased 3, are more 2, manifold 1, ten thousands 1, multiply 1; 17
- 1) to be or become many, be or become much, be or become great
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) to be or become many
- 1a2) to be or become great
- 1a3) to be long (of journey)
- 2) (Pual) ten thousands
- 1) to be or become many, be or become much, be or become great