rabbi
pronunciation
How to pronounce rabbi in British English:
UK [ˈræbaɪ]
How to pronounce rabbi in American English:
US [ˈræbaɪ]
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- Noun:
- spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation; qualified to expound and apply Jewish law
Word Origin
- rabbi
- rabbi: [14] Hebrew rabbī meant ‘my master’. It was a compound formed from rabh ‘great one’ and the pronoun suffix -ī ‘my’. English originally acquired the word, via Latin, at the end of the Old English period, but only in biblical contexts, as a term of address equivalent to English master (as in ‘Jesus … saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou?’ John 1:38). Not until the 14th century did it begin to be used as an ordinary noun, meaning ‘Jewish spiritual leader’.
- rabbi (n.)
- "Jewish doctor of religious law," late 15c. (in Old English in biblical context only; in Middle English also as a title prefixed to personal names), from Late Latin rabbi, from Greek rhabbi, from Mishnaic Hebrew rabbi "my master," from rabh "master, great one," title of respect for Jewish doctors of law + -i, first person singular pronominal suffix. From Semitic root r-b-b "to be great or numerous" (compare robh "multitude;" Aramaic rabh "great; chief, master, teacher;" Arabic rabba "was great," rabb "master").
Example
- 1. Britain 's chief rabbi , jonathan sacks , is of a somewhat similar mind .
- 2. Empty sack rabbi and second-hand capper .
- 3. She told her rabbi she had two final requests .
- 4. That legacy remains in congregations dotted throughout the south , many of which are too small to afford a full-time rabbi .
- 5. After further study , naftali will become a rabbi in a german provincial town .