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'Ab' means "father" in most Semitic languages (in Arabic, 'Abū'), sometimes extended to 'Abba' or 'Aba'.

Contents

Aramaic

Ethiopian

Hebrew

Arabic

References

See also

Aramaic

The Syriac or Chaldee version of the word is found three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6), and in each case is followed by its Greek equivalent, which is translated "father", see Abba in the New Testament. If the word "Father" is found in an authentic saying of Jesus, it can be safely assumed that it has been translated from an original Aramaic ''Abba''.
The Aramaic term ''abba'' has passed via Greek and Latin into European languages as an ecclesiastical term, ''abbot.
''Abba'' or ''Aba'' is the name of an important Rabbi in the Talmud. See the disambiguation page for other notable people whose name is Abba.
It is a common misconception and popular anecdote that ''abba'' meant "Daddy" in Aramaic, but there are no historical sources that testify to this.

Ethiopian

From the use in the New Testament, ''Abba'' is also an Ethiopian (Ethiosemitic) title derived from ''ab'' ("father") used for some clergy men (sometimes, though rarely, substituted for ''Abuna'', "our father.") ''Abbaa'' is an Oromo (Ethiopian Cushitic) title of respect meaning "father."

Hebrew

The exact meaning of the element ''ab'' or ''abi'' in Hebrew personal names (such as Ab-ram, Ab-i-ram, Ah-ab, Jo-ab) is under dispute. The identity of the ''-i-'' with the first person pronominal suffix (as in Adona-i), changing "father" to "my father", is uncertain, it might also be simply a connecting vowel. The compound may either express a nominal phrase (''Ab[i]ram'' = "[my] father is exalted") or simply an apposition (''Ab[i]ram'' = "father of exaltedness"). Forms with the connecting vowel and with the pronominal suffix were likely confused, so that the translation will depend on what is meaningful in connection with the second element.
Most modern Israelis (along with other semitic-speaking peoples) call their fathers ''Abba'' as one would use "" or "" in English.

Arabic

'''Abun''', from earlier ''abawun'' (triliteral '-b-w) is Arabic for "father. The dual is ''abawāni'' or ''abāni'' "two fathers" or "mother and father" (''abai-ka'' meaning "thy parents"). The plural is ''abiyna'' (Sura 2:127 has ''abiyka'' "[the God] of thy fathers"). There is a diminutive ''ubā' '', from original ''ubayūn''.
''li-llāhi abū-ka'' is an expression of praise, meaning "to God is attributable [the excellence of] your father".
As a verb, '' '-b-w'' means "to become [as] a father to [somebody]" (''abawtu'') or "to adopt [him] as a father" (''ta'bā-hu'' or ''ista'bā-hu'').
In the construct state, '''Abū''' is followed by another word to form a complete name, e.g.: Abu Mazen, another name for Mahmoud Abbas.
To refer to a man by his fatherhood (of male offspring) is polite, so that ''abū'' takes the function of a honorific, and the use of Abu to describe a man will cause his real name to fall into disuse. Even a man that is as yet childless may still be known as ''abū'' of his father's name, implying that he will yet have a son called after his father.
The combination is extended beyond the literal sense: a man may be described as acting as a father in his relation to animals, e. g., Abu Bekr, "the father of a camel's foal;" Abu Huraira, "father of kittens." In some cases, a man's enemies will refer to him in such a way to besmirch him, e.g. Abu Jahl, "the father of ignorace". A man may be described as being the possessor of some quality, as Abu'l Gadl, "father of grace," or "the graceful one;" Abu'l Fida, "father of devotion," or "the devout one." An object or a place may be given a nickname, such as Abu'l hawl, "father of terror," (the Sphinx at Giza). Abu'l fulus, "father of money," is frequently used to refer to a place where rumors have been told of a treasure being hidden there.
The Swahili word ''Bwana'', meaning "mister," "sir," or "lord," is derived from the Arabic ''Abuna'', "our father."

References

★ Abba (jewishencyclopedia.com)

★ Abi and Ab in personal names (jewishencyclopedia.com)

★ Gray, ''Hebrew Proper Names,'' pp. 22-34, 75-86;

★ Edward William Lane, Arabic English Lexicon, 1893

See also

★ Abd

★ Kunya

★ Hebrew name

★ Mama and papa