rabbi

¹

[rab-ahy]

noun

plural

rabbis 

1. the chief religious official of a synagogue, trained usually in a theological seminary and duly ordained, who delivers the sermon at a religious service and performs ritualistic, pastoral, educational, and other functions in and related to the role of a spiritual leader of Judaism and the Jewish community.

2. a title of respect for a Jewish scholar or teacher.

3. a Jewish scholar qualified to rule on questions of Jewish law.

4. any of the Jewish scholars of the 1st to 6th centuries a.d. who contributed to the writing, editing, or compiling of the Talmud.

5. Slang.,  a personal patron or adviser, as in business.

rabbi

²

[rab-ee]

noun

Ecclesiastical.

1. rabat.

rabbi

/ ˈræbaɪ /

noun

1. (in Orthodox Judaism) a man qualified in accordance with traditional religious law to expound, teach, and rule in accordance with this law

2. the religious leader of a congregation; the minister of a synagogue

3. the early Jewish scholars whose teachings are recorded in the Talmud

rabbi

1. In Judaism, a teacher and leader of worship, usually associated with a synagogue.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rabbi¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English rabi (from Old French rab(b)i) from Late Latin rabbī, from Greek rhabbí, from Hebrew rabbī “my master” (rabh “master” + -ī “my”)

Origin of rabbi²

By alteration

Word History and Origins

Origin of rabbi¹

Hebrew, from rabh master + -ī my

Example Sentences

There is a reason more than 1,000 American rabbis have warned his victory would threaten the safety of Jews.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"We don't go to the army not because we are selfish, but because we try to preserve ourselves, what the Torah tells us and the rabbis tell us," he told AFP.

Read more on Barron's

Meanwhile, the Times of Israel reported that a small ceremony – led by a military rabbi – would be held in Gaza, and the remains would then be taken to Tel Aviv for identification.

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They were separated on their first day of captivity, Liran said in a separate video interview with a rabbi in July this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One rabbi told the BBC it was not a matter of whether a deadly attack was going to happen - it was a matter of where.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• priest 
• teacher