(Paββi), a title of honour given to the teachers of the law in the time of Christ, and for which there is no exact equivalent in our language, though perhaps in purport and usage it comes near to "doctor" or "master," a word combining both these significations would fairly represent it. The actual signification of רָב (rab), in Hebrew is "a great one"—i.e., a chief, a master; and would as a title be probably represented by the "Excellenza" of Southern Europe, which is perhaps as common as Rabbi was among the Jews. It was there employed as a title in the Jewish schools in a threefold form, indicating as many degrees, which might without much impropriety be compared, in the stricter sense, to the progressive academical degrees of Bachelor, Master, and Doctor. The lowest of these degrees of honour was רָבוֹן (rabon). This, with the relative suffix, became רָבוֹן (Rabon), "my master," which was of higher dignity; and beyond that was רָבוֹן (Raban), "great master;" or with the suffix רָבוֹן (Rabooni), "my great master," which was the highest of all. It is not certain, however, that this graduation of terms existed in the time of Christ. The teachers and professors of the law were distinguished by the title of Rabbi both by the people and by their own disciples.