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Grafted Biblical Concept · Concept

Rabbi

רַבִּי · Rabbiῥαββί · G4461

Rabbi is a Hebrew title meaning "my teacher" or "my master," derived from a term associated with greatness or authority.

15 Scripture references3 lexical sources5 supporting resources

Primary Study

Grafted Bible Dictionary

Definition

Rabbi is a Hebrew title meaning "my teacher" or "my master," derived from a term associated with greatness or authority.
In the first-century setting, the title could be used for respected Jewish teachers.

New Testament Usage

Yeshua is repeatedly addressed as "Rabbi."
Examples include:
• John 1:38
• John 1:49
• John 3:2
• John 4:31
• John 6:25
John 1:38 explicitly explains the term for Greek-speaking readers:
"Rabbi (which means Teacher)."

Historical Context

The highly formalized rabbinic office known from later Judaism should not automatically be projected backward unchanged into the early first century.
The title and teaching role existed, but rabbinic institutions developed considerably after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.

Yeshua as Teacher

Yeshua functions within a recognizable Jewish teacher-disciple context while also making extraordinary claims to authority.
His teaching frequently uses:
• Scripture citation
• parables
• legal interpretation
• rhetorical questions
• debates
• discipleship sayings
Matthew 23
Yeshua warns against seeking honorific titles for status and self-exaltation.
The emphasis is humility and the recognition of God as ultimate authority.
Editorial source: Grafted Bible Dictionary · Entry 61

Hebrew and Greek Word Study

Greek Word Study

ῥαββί

rhabbí · G4461

Original Word
ῥαββί
Transliteration
rhabbí
Strong’s
G4461
Part of Speech
H:N

Greek Word Family

Primaryῥαββίrhabbí · G4461
Related FormῬαββιrhabbí · G4461

Hebrew Source

רַבִּי · Rabbi

Unified Lexical Definition

ῥαββεί (Rec. -βί, see WH, App., 155) (Heb. and Aram. רַב, my master; see Dalman, Words, 327, 331 ff.), a title of respectful address to Jewish teachers, Rabbi: Mat.23:7-8; of John, Jhn.3:26; of Christ, Mat.26:25, 49, Mrk.9:5 11:21 14:45, Jhn.1:30, 50 3:2 4:31 6:25 9:2 11:8; κύριε ῥ Mrk.10:51 (WH, mg., see: ῥαββουνεί).† ῥαββουνεί (Rec. -βονί, see: ῥαββεί) (Aram. רַבּוֺנִי, later, רִבּוֺנִי my master; on the Greek vocalization and the relation of the word to ῥαββεί, see Dalman, Words, 324, 340; Gr., 140; DB, iv, 190) Rabboni: Mrk.10:51 (WH, mg., κύριε ῥαββεί), Jhn.20:16.† (AS) Rabbi, my master, teacher, doctor, Mat. 23.7, 8; 26.25, 49, et al.

Lexical Sources

TBESGSTEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)

ῥαββεί (Rec. -βί, see WH, App., 155) (Heb. and Aram. רַב, my master; see Dalman, Words, 327, 331 ff.), a title of respectful address to Jewish teachers, Rabbi: Mat.23:7-8; of John, Jhn.3:26; of Christ, Mat.26:25, 49, Mrk.9:5 11:21 14:45, Jhn.1:30, 50 3:2 4:31 6:25 9:2 11:8; κύριε ῥ Mrk.10:51 (WH, mg., see: ῥαββουνεί).† ῥαββουνεί (Rec. -βονί, see: ῥαββεί) (Aram. רַבּוֺנִי, later, רִבּוֺנִי my master; on the Greek vocalization and the relation of the word to ῥαββεί, see Dalman, Words, 324, 340; Gr., 140; DB, iv, 190) Rabboni: Mrk.10:51 (WH, mg., κύριε ῥαββεί), Jhn.20:16.† (AS)

Lemma
ῥαββί
Meaning
Rabbi
View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "abbott-smith",
    "slug": "g4461",
    "title": "ῥαββί",
    "source": "STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)",
    "strong": "G4461",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ῥαββί",
    "transliteration": "rhabbi",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "H:N",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "ῥαββεί (Rec. -βί, see WH, App., 155) (Heb. and Aram. רַב, my master; see Dalman, Words, 327, 331 ff.), a title of respectful address to Jewish teachers, Rabbi: Mat.23:7-8; of John, Jhn.3:26; of Christ, Mat.26:25, 49, Mrk.9:5 11:21 14:45, Jhn.1:30, 50 3:2 4:31 6:25 9:2 11:8; κύριε ῥ Mrk.10:51 (WH, mg., see: ῥαββουνεί).† ῥαββουνεί (Rec. -βονί, see: ῥαββεί) (Aram. רַבּוֺנִי, later, רִבּוֺנִי my master; on the Greek vocalization and the relation of the word to ῥαββεί, see Dalman, Words, 324, 340; Gr., 140; DB, iv, 190) Rabboni: Mrk.10:51 (WH, mg., κύριε ῥαββεί), Jhn.20:16.† (AS)",
    "glosses": [
        "Rabbi",
        "Master, Rabbi"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [
        {
            "osis": "Mat.23.7-8;",
            "display": "Mat.23:7-8;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.3.26",
            "display": "Jhn.3:26;"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mat.26.25, 49",
            "display": "Mat.26:25, 49"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mrk.9.5; 11.21; 14.45",
            "display": "Mrk.9:5 11:21 14:45"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.1.30, 50; 3.2; 4.31; 6.25; 9.2; 11.8",
            "display": "Jhn.1:30, 50 3:2 4:31 6:25 9:2 11:8"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mrk.10.51",
            "display": "Mrk.10:51"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Mrk.10.51",
            "display": "Mrk.10:51"
        },
        {
            "osis": "Jhn.20.16.",
            "display": "Jhn.20:16."
        }
    ],
    "occurrence_count": 15,
    "url": "bible/greek/g4461",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
A GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICOA Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament

Rabbi, my master, teacher, doctor, Mat. 23.7, 8; 26.25, 49, et al.

View original lexicon entry
{
    "type": "greenfield",
    "slug": "greenfield-4063de117589",
    "title": "Ῥαββι",
    "source": "A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament",
    "strong": "G4461",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "Ῥαββι",
    "transliteration": "rhabbí",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "meaning": "",
    "description": "",
    "definition": "Rabbi, my master, teacher, doctor, Mat. 23.7, 8; 26.25, 49, et al.",
    "glosses": [
        "Master, Rabbi"
    ],
    "lexical_summary": [],
    "exhaustive_concordance": [],
    "brown_driver_briggs": [],
    "topical_lexicon": [],
    "occurrences": [],
    "references": [],
    "occurrence_count": 15,
    "url": "bible/greenfield/greenfield-4063de117589",
    "source_url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
    "source_license": "CC BY-SA"
}
STRONG'SStrong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

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

View original lexicon entry
{
    "strongs": "G4461",
    "language": "greek",
    "lemma": "ῥαββί",
    "transliteration": "rhabbí",
    "pronunciation": "",
    "part_of_speech": "",
    "glosses": [
        "Master, Rabbi"
    ],
    "definitions": [
        "my master, i.e Rabbi, as an official title of honor"
    ],
    "administrator_commentary": "",
    "source": {
        "dataset": "Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon",
        "provider": "Open Scriptures",
        "url": "https://github.com/openscriptures/strongs",
        "license": "CC BY-SA"
    },
    "version": 1,
    "updated_at": "2026-08-05T10:41:54-05:00",
    "strong": "G4461"
}

New Testament Usage

15 occurrences

First listed reference: Mat.23.7-8;

View All Greek Occurrences

Sources: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith) · A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament · Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

Biblical Usage

Concordance and Scripture Usage

15Exact Lemma3Conceptual Relationship
Gospels · 15
Matthew 23:7Exact LemmaMatthew 23:8Exact LemmaMatthew 26:25Exact LemmaMatthew 26:49Exact LemmaMark 9:5Exact LemmaMark 11:21Exact LemmaMark 14:45Exact LemmaJohn 1:38Exact LemmaJohn 1:49Exact LemmaJohn 3:2Exact LemmaJohn 3:26Exact LemmaJohn 4:31Exact LemmaJohn 6:25Exact LemmaJohn 9:2Exact LemmaJohn 11:8Exact Lemma

Reference Works

Bible Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Names

Unified Dictionary Summary

Rabbi is a Hebrew title meaning "my teacher" or "my master," derived from a term associated with greatness or authority.

Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)
Rabboni, my master

Sources: Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)

A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
See RAB.

Sources: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary

Context

Historical and Jewish Context

Historical context

The highly formalized rabbinic office known from later Judaism should not automatically be projected backward unchanged into the early first century.
The title and teaching role existed, but rabbinic institutions developed considerably after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.
Related Content10 items

Disciple

A disciple is a learner, student, or follower who attaches himself or herself to a teacher.

Scribe

A scribe was a literate specialist associated with writing, preserving, interpreting, or teaching legal and sacred texts.

Pharisees

The Pharisees were a Jewish movement active during the late Second Temple period.

Synagogue

A synagogue was a Jewish gathering place for communal worship, Scripture reading, teaching, prayer, and community life.

Yeshua

Yeshua is the Hebrew/Aramaic form associated with the name rendered Jesus in English.

Torah

Torah means instruction, teaching, or direction.

Oral Tradition

Oral Tradition refers broadly to teachings, interpretations, customs, and legal explanations transmitted outside the written biblical text.

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Rabbi

Rabboni, my master

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