The Greek transliteration rhabbi (ῥαββί) comes from the Aramaic/Hebrew rabbi, meaning 'my master' or 'my great one' — from rav (great) + the first-person possessive. It was an honorific title of respect given to Jewish teachers and interpreters of the Law. John's Gospel translates it for Gentile readers as didaskalos (teacher).
The title Rabbi reveals both honor and limitation in Jesus's ministry. His disciples and others called Him Rabbi with genuine respect, recognizing His teaching authority. Yet Jesus explicitly warned against seeking the title for oneself: 'You are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers' (Matthew 23:8). The title is appropriate for human teachers only in a derivative sense — all true teaching authority flows from Christ, the one Rabbi. The Mishnaic saying captures the relationship: 'Raise up many disciples, receive all people with a cheerful countenance' — the rabbi's role was formation, not just information.