Where does “rabbi” come from?
rabbi (Ecclesiastical Latin) comes from Ancient Greek ῥαββί, from Hebrew רבי, from Hebrew רַב, from Proto-Semitic rabb- — to expand, to extend; lord, owner, chief;...
Ancestry of “rabbi”, step by step
rabbi traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Ancient Greek ῥαββί
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | ῥαββί | O my Master |
| 2 | Hebrew | רבי | rabbi, spiritual teacher |
| 3 | Hebrew | רַב | master, teacher, rabbi; master; master, rabbi |
| 4 | Proto-Semitic | rabb- | to expand, to extend; lord, owner, chief;... |
via Koine Greek ῥαββί
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koine Greek | ῥαββί | O my Master |