a title of honor among the Hebrews, corresponding nearly to the English master. There are two other forms of the title, rabboni and rabbani, the former of which is found in the New Testament. It is supposed that this title first came into use at the period immediately preceding the birth of Christ, and in the time of our Lord was applied generally to all religious teachers, sometimes to Christ himself. The term rabbi, or rabbin, is now applied to regularly appointed teachers of Talmudic Judaism.