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R
RABBI
or
(
: &
, 4461), from a word rab, primarily denoting “master” in
contrast to a slave; this with the added pronominal suffix signified “my master” and was
a title of respect by which teachers were addressed. The suffix soon lost its specific force,
and in the NT the word is used as courteous title of address. It is applied to Christ in
Matt. 26:25, 49; Mark 9:5; 11:21; 14:45; John 1:38 (where it is interpreted as
,
“master,” marg., “teacher” (see also “Rabboni” in John 20:16); v. 49; 3:2; 4:31; 6:25; 9:2;
11:8; to John the Baptist in John 3:26. In Matt. 23:7, 8 Christ forbids his disciples to
covet or use it. In the latter verse it is again explained as
, “master” (some mss.
have
, “a guide”).¶
RABBONI
$
or
(
:
&
, 4462), formed in a similar way to the above, was an
Aramaic form of a title almost entirely applied to the president of the Sanhedrin, if such
was a descendant of Hillel. It was even more respectful than Rabbi, and signified “My
great master”; in its use in the NT the pronominal force of the suffix is apparently
retained (contrast Rabbi above); it is found in Mark 10:51 in the best texts,
RV
,
“Rabboni” (
KJV
, “Lord”), addressed to Christ by blind Bartimaeus, and in John 20:16 by
Mary Magdalene, where it is interpreted by
, “Master” (marg., “Teacher”).¶
For
RABBLE
see
COURT
, No. 1
RACA
(
:
1
, 4469) is an Aramaic word akin to the Heb.
%
, “empty,” the first being
due to a Galilean change. In the
KJV
of 1611 it was spelled
; in the edition of 1638,
. It was a word of utter contempt, signifying “empty,” intellectually rather than
morally, “empty-headed,” like Abimelech’s hirelings, Judg. 9:4, and the “vain” man of
Jas. 2:20. As condemned by Christ, Matt. 5:22, it was worse than being angry, inasmuch
as an outrageous utterance is worse than a feeling unexpressed or somewhat controlled in
expression; it does not indicate such a loss of self-control as the word rendered “fool,” a
godless, moral reprobate.¶
For
RACE (kindred)
see
KIND
RACE (contest)
1.
(
0
, 73) is translated “race” in Heb. 12:1, one of the modes of athletic
contest, this being the secondary meaning of the word. See
CONFLICT
.
2.
(
1
, 4712), “a stadium,” denotes a “racecourse,” 1 Cor. 9:24. The
stadium (about 600 Greek feet or 1/8 of a Roman mile) was the length of the Olympic
course. See
FURLONG
.
Note:
No. 1 signifies the “race” itself; No. 2 the “course.”
¶ Indicates that all the NT occurrences of the Greek word under consideration are
mentioned under the heading or sub-heading.