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rabbi
rabbi In 1st-cent. CE Palestine in the time of Jesus the word was a form of address, equivalent to ‘sir’ but by the end of the century and in rabbinic literature it is used for a teacher, and this development is reflected in the usage in the four gospels.
The word occurs in Mark (9: 5; 11: 21; 14: 45) as a polite, even reverential, form of address when spoken by Peter. In Mark 10: 51 the form Rabbouni (NRSV marg.) is used by the blind man who then follows Jesus ‘on the way’. There is a suggestion of the greatness of Jesus. In Matt. only Judas addresses Jesus with this greeting and the sense is plainly hostile (26: 25, 49). For in this gospel rabbis are among the adversaries of Jesus and they are painted in unfriendly colours: they like to receive deferential treatment and to be called ‘sir’ and they are assuming the role of teachers (23: 8) of the Law. Matt. keeps Jesus at a distance from them; he is not to be associated with them and the hateful Pharisees, and his disciples are forbidden to arrogate to themselves the title (23: 8). The word is not found in Luke, but it is quite frequent in John where Jesus is addressed by the word at 1: 36–8, 49 by two disciples and by Nathanael. The evangelist explains that the Hebrew word means ‘teacher’, and in 3: 2 Nicodemus calls Jesus a rabbi because he can perform ‘signs’. Members of the crowd call him rabbi after the feeding of the 5,000 (6: 25). When Mary Magdalen encounters the risen Jesus, she first mistakes him for a gardener and calls him ‘sir’ (Greek, kurie) but when she recognizes Jesus he is Rabbouni, ‘my Teacher’ (20: 16). The use of the word in Mark and John conveys a suggestion of Jesus' public ministry and puts him on the same level as the scribes, with whom he debated (Mark 12: 28). |
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "rabbi." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "rabbi." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-rabbi.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "rabbi." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-rabbi.html |
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Rabbi
Rabbi, Rabbinate (Heb., ‘my master’). Hence ‘Rabbinic Judaism’. Jewish learned man who has received ordination (see SEMIKHAH). The term rabbi was not used as a title until the time of Hillel. In Talmudic times, this was not granted outside Erez Israel, so that the Babylonian sages bore the title of ‘Rav’. During this period rabbis were interpreters and expounders of the scriptures and oral law. It was not until the Middle Ages that a rabbi became the spiritual leader of a particular Jewish community. Originally rabbis were not paid. By the 14th cent. there is evidence of payment, not for teaching the law, but as compensation for loss of time taken up with rabbinical duties. In order to serve, the Ashkenazim in particular insisted that rabbis should have a diploma of Semikhah; and his duties were laid down in a letter of appointment (ketav rabbanut). As community leader, he was asked to give responsa on legal problems and ambiguities, and to serve in Jewish courts; later, in E. Europe, the office was frequently combined with that of ‘rosh yeshivah’ (head of the yeshivah). Nowadays the role of the rabbi varies from community to community. Among Reform congregations, he (and since 1972 possibly she) performs a function analogous to that of a Christian minister. The Orthodox rabbi has also taken on these duties, but has retained his role as legal consultant and interpreter of the written and oral law.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Rabbi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Rabbi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Rabbi.html JOHN BOWKER. "Rabbi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Rabbi.html |
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rabbi
rabbi Person qualified through study of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud to be the chief religious leader of a Jewish congregation and the person responsible for education and spiritual guidance. In some countries, such as the UK, Jews are led on a national basis by a chief rabbi. Modern Israel has a rabbinic council with two chief rabbis, one representing the Sephardim tradition, the other representing the Ashkenazim.
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"rabbi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rabbi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-rabbi.html "rabbi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-rabbi.html |
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rabbi
rab·bi / ˈrabˌī/ • n. (pl. -bis ) a Jewish scholar or teacher, esp. one who studies or teaches Jewish law. ∎ a person appointed as a Jewish religious leader. DERIVATIVES: rab·bin·ate / ˈrabənət; -ˌnāt/ n. |
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"rabbi." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rabbi." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rabbi.html "rabbi." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rabbi.html |
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rabbi
rabbi (title of respect given to) a Jewish doctor of the law. XIV (raby). — OF. rab(b)i (mod. rabbin), ecclL. rabbi — Heb. rabbī my master, f. rabh master, with pronominal suffix.
So rabbin XVI. — F. rabbin or medL. rabbīnus. Hence rabbinic(al) XVII. |
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T. F. HOAD. "rabbi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "rabbi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rabbi.html T. F. HOAD. "rabbi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rabbi.html |
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rabbi
rabbi a Jewish scholar or teacher, especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law. Recorded from late Old English, the word comes via ecclesiastical Latin and Greek from Hebrew rabbī ‘my master’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "rabbi." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "rabbi." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-rabbi.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "rabbi." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-rabbi.html |
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rabbi
rabbi •rabbi • standby • lay-by • nimbi • alibi
•rhombi • go-by • incubi • succubi
•syllabi • lullaby • hushaby
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"rabbi." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rabbi." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rabbi.html "rabbi." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rabbi.html |
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