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HELPS Lexicon | NASEC dictionary

5 Abbá – "Father," the term of tender endearment used by a beloved child in an affectionate, dependent
relationship with their father as "daddy" ("papa").

5/abba ("beloved father") was likely coined in Christian Greek (N. Turner) and transliterates the Aramaic word,
abbâ.  It was used by Jesus Himself when addressing the Father while under the great strain of Gethesmane (Mk
14:36).

Believers are also urged to address God in this way, underlining their total affection and sense of security in the
Lord (Ro 8:15; Gal 4:6).

Reflection: God is the loving Father ("Papa, Daddy") of all true believers.

Ps 89:26: "You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation";  Is 64:8: "But now, O Lord, You are our
Father."  See also Is 63:16; Jer 3:19, 31:9; Mal 1:6; 2:10.

Key quotes
DNTT (Vol 1, 614) observes that Hebrew children (and even adult sons and daughters) used the term abbā
("daddy") and immā ("mommy") (Ber 40a; Sanh 70b; cf. Tg Isa 8:4).  "Thus abbā acquired the warm, familiar ring
which we may feel in such an expression as 'dear father.'"  Using abba in prayer however (as Jesus did with God)
was absolutely new to Jewish ears.  "It expresses not only his attitude of trust and obedience towards the Father
(Mk 14:36 par), but also his incomparable authority (Mt 11:25ff par).  The early church took over the use of abbā
in prayer.  This is shown by the two passages Ro 8:15 and Gal 4:6" (DNTT, 1, 615).

"Abba" was now the form for Christians "used in prayer as in the family circle" (BAGD) – the special
"speech of the child to its father'" (TDNT, 1:6).

Vine, Unger, White (NT, 1), "In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching
of the Jews). . . . Abba is the word formed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; 'father'
expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship.  The two together express the love and intelligent
confidence of the child."
(Gal 4:6) Abba, Father – M. Vincent, "The Father, is not added in order to explain the Aramaic Abba for Greek
readers.  Rather, the whole phrase, Abba ho pater had passed into the early Christian prayers.  This Aramaic title,
by which Christ addressed his Father (Mk 14:36), was very early united with the Greek synonym.  Such
combinations of Hebrew and Greek addresses having the same meaning were employed in rabbinical writings.
 Compare also Rev 9:11, 12:9" (WS, 984).
G. E. Ladd observes that 5/Abbá ("papa, daddy") was the common Aramaic word that meant "daddy" as well
as father.  The rabbis did not believe it was appropriate to be this "familiar and intimate" with God, as with one's
earthly father.

"The word ̓abbā̓ was taken from children's speech, and is something like our 'Daddy.'  The Jews did not

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ordinarily use this word in their address to God, for it was too intimate and would have seemed
disrespectful.  Jesus spoke to God like a child and taught his disciples so to speak.  He forbade them to
use 'Father' in everyday speech as a courtesy title (Mt 23:9); they were to reserve it for God. ̓abbā̓
represents the new relationship of confidence and intimacy imparted to men and women by Jesus" (A
Theology of the New Testament, 85).

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