Brief Overview of ῥαββουνί (Strong’s G4462: rabbouni)

Strong’s G4462: An intensified form of “rabbi,” meaning “my great master” or “my teacher.” Used only twice in the New Testament in moments of profound recognition of Jesus’s authority. The Aramaic form carries deeper personal reverence than the more common ῥαββί.

U- Unveiling the Word

ῥαββουνί represents an intensified and more personal form of address than the common ῥαββί. In New Testament usage, it appears in two significant encounters: blind Bartimaeus seeking healing and Mary Magdalene recognizing the risen Christ. This heightened form of address conveys deep personal reverence and recognition of divine authority. Early church fathers noted the special intimacy this term conveyed, seeing in its usage moments of profound spiritual insight and personal encounter with Christ. Today, this word continues to exemplify the personal nature of true discipleship and the intimate recognition of Christ’s lordship.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ῥαββουνί, rabbouni, /rabbuˈni/
• Pronunciation Guide: “rab-boo-NEE” (stress on final syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun/Title (indeclinable)

Etymology:

• Aramaic root: רַב (rav) meaning “great” or “master”
• Suffix: -ון (-un) intensifying element
• Suffix: -י (-i) possessive “my”
• Transliterated directly into Greek

D – Defining Meanings

• My great master
• My beloved teacher
• My supreme teacher
• My lord

Translation Options:

• Rabbouni – Direct transliteration, preserves special form
• My Master – Emphasizes personal relationship
• My Great Teacher – Captures heightened respect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ῥαββί (rabbi) /rabˈbi/ – less intensive form – See G4461
• διδάσκαλος (didaskalos) /diˈdaskalos/ – teacher – See G1320
• ἐπιστάτης (epistatēs) /epiˈstates/ – master, overseer – See G1988

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• As an indeclinable noun/title:
• Maintains same form in all cases
• No gender variation
• No number variation
• Functions primarily as vocative in direct address
• Preserved Aramaic form in Greek text

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its heightened reverence compared to rabbi. Thayer’s notes its Aramaic origin and intensified meaning. LSJ provides limited coverage as a specialized religious term. Vine’s highlights its use in moments of special recognition. Strong’s connects it to supreme authority. LEH traces its Aramaic background. Moulton and Milligan note its rarity in non-biblical texts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
“The blind man said to him, ‘[ῥαββουνί] Rabbouni, let me recover my sight.'” Mark 10:51

Additional References:
John 20:16

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Since ῥαββουνί is an Aramaic term, examples come from Jewish sources:

N – Noteworthy Summary

ῥαββουνί powerfully captures moments of profound personal recognition of Christ’s authority. Used by Bartimaeus in seeking healing and Mary Magdalene upon recognizing the risen Lord, it proclaims the good news by showing how intimate personal encounters with Jesus lead to transformative faith. This special form of address reminds us that true discipleship combines deep reverence with personal relationship.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term appears only twice in the New Testament, both in moments of extraordinary recognition.
2. It represents the most reverent form of address for a teacher in Aramaic.
3. Early Christian writings often used this term when describing mystical encounters with Christ.

Strong’s G4462: An intensified Aramaic form meaning “my great master,” used in moments of profound personal recognition of Christ’s authority. More intimate and reverent than rabbi, appearing in crucial encounters with Jesus in the Gospels.

Part of speech: Noun/Title (indeclinable)

Tags: rabbouni, master, teacher, personal relationship, divine recognition, Aramaic, authority, reverence, discipleship, spiritual insight, Mary Magdalene, Bartimaeus​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​