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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Rabbi
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("great.") Simeon (identified by some with him who took the infant Jesus in his arms: ff) son of Hillel, shortly before Christ, was the first doctor of the law with the title Rabban (higher than Rabbi), Rabbi (higher than Rab). The disciples applied it to Christ (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). Christ's prohibition of the title to the disciples (-8) is against using it in the spirit of exercising dominion over the faith of others. The triune God is the only "Father," "Master" (katheegeetes, guide, ; contrast ), "Teacher" (didaskalos Vaticanus manuscript ) in the highest sense; on Him alone can implicit trust be placed. All are "brethren " before Him, none by office or precedence nearer to God than another. Rabboni () is simply "Master," the -i final in John's translated not meaning "my", as it often does.