Meaning
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 (Mat 11:25, Mat 11:26, Mat 26:39, Mat 26:42, Luk 10:21, Luk 22:42, Luk 23:34, Joh 11:41, Joh 12:27, Joh 17:24, Joh 17:25). In Mar 14:36, Rom 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.
J. E. Harry
