What is the source of the Hebrew word "Rabbi" - which is commonly applied to a Rav, Rosh Yeshiva, etc.?
asked Oct 22 '10 at 18:47
-
1What 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
-
1It has been asked here: meta.judaism.stackexchange.com/q/1229/759 – Double AA♦ Jul 5 '12 at 19:10
-
1Closed pending an edit clarifying what is meant by "source" here. – Isaac Moses♦ Jul 5 '12 at 19:35
Add a comment
|
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.)
answered Oct 22 '10 at 19:11
Unkelus translates the word "Sar" ("officer") to mean "Rav" ("Rabbi"). Officer of God, I guess? (See Bereshit 26:26).
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.
answered Oct 22 '10 at 18:47
-
4That 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
-
-
1
-
1
-
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
