Tell me more ×
Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

What is the source of the Hebrew word "Rabbi" - which is commonly applied to a Rav, Rosh Yeshiva, etc.?

share|improve this question
1  
What do you mean by "source"? Etymology? First use? Halachic source indicating it should be used? – Isaac Moses Jul 5 '12 at 18:50
@Community Is there a policy about changing the question almost 2 years after asking it and when there are already quality answers? – Double AA♦ Jul 5 '12 at 18:51
1  
@DoubleAA Ask Mi Yodeya Meta. – Isaac Moses Jul 5 '12 at 18:56
1  
It has been asked here: meta.judaism.stackexchange.com/q/1229/759 – Double AA♦ Jul 5 '12 at 19:10
1  
Closed pending an edit clarifying what is meant by "source" here. – Isaac Moses Jul 5 '12 at 19:35

closed as not a real question by Isaac Moses Jul 5 '12 at 19:34

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

3 Answers

up vote 6 down vote

In the Online Etymological Dictionary's entry on the corresponding English word, it says that the Hebrew word is Mishnaic Hebrew for "my master," combining "Rav" - meaning "master" or "great one" with the suffixx "-i" - meaning "my." "Rav," in turn, is associated with the Semitic root "R-B-B," which means "to be great or numerous."

(You can find much more on this root in the "Resh" chapter (PDF) of the Hebrew Etymology Project.)

share|improve this answer
up vote 4 down vote

Unkelus translates the word "Sar" ("officer") to mean "Rav" ("Rabbi"). Officer of God, I guess? (See Bereshit 26:26).

וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ אָתָא לְוָתֵיהּ מִגְּרָר וְסִיעַת רַחְמוֹהִי וּפִיכֹל רַב חֵילֵיהּ׃‏

share|improve this answer
up vote -1 down vote accepted

Rabbi is Roshei Teivos R'osh B'nei Y'isroel (Taamei HaMinhagim Likutim #85).

Most likely the current English term derives from the original word Rabbi.

share|improve this answer
4  
That is a reference to "רַבִּי" (which originally referred to one who has received real semicha) and not to the modern English term "Rabbi" which is used for any religious leader of Jews and not just for תלמידי חכמים. – Yahu Oct 24 '10 at 17:15
@Yahu - So what? – Adam Mosheh Apr 26 '12 at 18:49
1  
@AdamMosheh, so it doesn't answer the question asked. – msh210♦ Jul 5 '12 at 17:36
1  
Is your answer really "The word Rabbi derives from the word Rabbi"? – Double AA♦ Jul 5 '12 at 18:41
1  
@GershonGold, if the acronym developed after the Hebrew word, how could it the acronym be the Hebrew word's source? – Isaac Moses Jul 5 '12 at 19:14
show 6 more comments

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.