Abba
The Chaldaic-Hebrew form, as ab is the Hebrew form, for the Greek pater, "father." Instead of the definite article which the Hebrew uses before the word, the Chaldee or Aramaic adds a syllable to the end, producing thus the emphatic or definitive form. It is used to express a vocative case, and therefore is found in all the passages in which it occurs in the New Testament (being in all, an invocation): Mar 14:36; Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6.
The use of the Hebrew and of the Greek appellation addressed to the one Father beautifully suggests that the Spirit of adoption from Jesus, who first used the double invocation, inspires in both Jew and Gentile alike the experimental knowledge of God as our Father, because He is Father of Jesus with whom faith makes us one, and as our God because He is Jesus' God. Compare Joh 20:17, "ascend unto My Father and (therefore) your Father.
and to My God and (therefore) your God"; Gal 3:28, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, for ye are all one in Jesus Christ"; Eph 2:18, "through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the leather." (Especially (See ABADDON above.) "Abba" was a title not to be used by slaves to a master, nor Imma to a mistress, only by children: see Isa 8:4. "Before the child shall have knowledge to cry Abi, Immi."
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Abba
Abba ab'-a (abba, 'abba', Hebraic-Chaldaic, "Father"): In Jewish and old-Christian prayers, a name by which God was addressed, then in oriental churches a title of bishops and patriarchs. So Jesus addresses God in prayer (Mt 11:25-26; 26:39,42; Lu 10:21; 22:42; 23:34; Joh 11:41; 12:27; 17:24-25). In Mr 14:36; Ro 8:15, and Ga 4:6 ho pater, is appended even in direct address, in an emphatic sense. Servants were not permitted to use the appellation in addressing the head of the house. See Delitzsch on Ro 8:15; compare G. Dalman, Gram. des jud.-palast. Aramaisch, etc., section 40, c. 3. ⇒See a list of verses on ABBA in the Bible. J. E. Harry ⇒See the definition of abba in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Abba
The transliteration (ip^a.) of the Aram, word for 'father' ; see, for example, the Targ. of Onk. (perhaps of the 1st cent.) at Gn 19** (cr. G. Dalman, Gram. d. jiid.-paldst. Aramdisch, § 40, c. 3). It occurs three times in the NT, and always in direct address, viz. in our Lord's prayer in Gethsemane as given by St. Mark (14*"), and in the ' cry ' of the Spirit as referred to by St. Paul (Ro 8", Gal 4«). The phenomena connected with the form and use of the word have occasioned divers opinions, the merits of which our present knowledge does not always enable us to pronounce upon with Sositiveness. It has been held, for instance (see ohn Li"htfoot, HorcB Hebr. ad Mc. I.e.), that when spelt with the double 6 and final a, the word refers to physical fatherhood ; accordin ). This would greatly promote its use in Christian circles ; and though the second word was probably added primarily by Gr.-speaking Jews in exidana- tion of the first, usage doubtless soon gave the phrase the force of an intensilied repetition and the currency of a devotional formula. Merely impassioned repetition, indee…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia