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Rabboni
(Heb. rabbi, Gk. hrabbi, "my teacher").
A respectful term applied by the Jews to their teachers and spiritual
instructors (Mt. 23:7-8; Jn 1:38; 3:26; 6:25). The terms rabbi and rabboni both mean
simply "master" (Jn 1:38; 20:16).
The use of the title rabbi cannot be proved to have been used before the time
of
Christ. Later Jewish schools had three grades of honor: rab, "master," the lowest;
rabbi, "my master," the second; and rabboni, "my lord, my master," the most
elevated.
The word rabbi comes from a Semitic root word meaning "great" or "head." It is
only used in the gospels, usually of
Jesus. The disciples of
John the
Baptist also addressed him as rabbi (Jn 3:26).