# \*rabb-: 'big' 1, 'chief, master, lord' 2

> Proto-Semitic *rabb-, 'big' 1, 'chief, master, lord' 2: reflexes in 16 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [R](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/r/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-26.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*rabb- |
| Meaning | 'big' 1, 'chief, master, lord' 2 |
| Basis | reconstruction SED; meaning SED, corrected |
| SED | SEDonline semet 3011 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akkadian | rabû (Kogan 2015, ch. 5 §2.2.2.1 no. 5); rubû (rubāʾu) 2 (CAD R 395) | Kogan 2015 ch. 5 §2.2.2.1 no. 5; CAD R 395 | gloss withheld |
| Mandaic Aramaic | rba (MD 422) | MD 422 |  |
| Ugaritic | rb; /rabbu/?, fem. /rabbatu/ (UVST 176); rb 2 in titles, rb khnm (HALOT 1172); rbt (G) 1 (DULAT 719) | UVST 176; HALOT 1172; DULAT 719 | gloss withheld |
| Biblical Aramaic | rab (CAL s.v. rb) | CAL s.v. rb |  |
| Phoenician | rb; rbt (T 301); rb 2; rbn 2 (Krahmalkov 439); brbm 1, in wbrbm (Krahmalkov 125) | T 301; Krahmalkov 439; Krahmalkov 125 | gloss withheld |
| Modern Aramaic | Urm rāb- |  | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | rab (Kogan 2015, ch. 3 §5.2 no. 46); MHeb. 2 (HALOT 1172) | Kogan 2015 ch. 3 §5.2 no. 46; HALOT 1172 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | rabb-; rab 'great; elder; chief, master, teacher' 2 (Payne Smith 525); rabbūnā 'master, lord'; rabbī 'Rabbi, master' 2 (Payne Smith 526) | Payne Smith 525; Payne Smith 526 |  |
| Judaic Aramaic | rab 2 (HALOT 1172) | HALOT 1172 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | Pal rb (Jastrow 1438 apud CAL); rbn (DNWSI 1055); rby (DNWSI 1054); rbnw (DNWSI 1055); rbrb (DNWSI 1058) | Jastrow 1438; CAL; DNWSI 1055; DNWSI 1054; DNWSI 1058 | gloss withheld |
| Punic | rbt, rbʿt, rbbt, rbʾt (T 301); rb 2 (T 298); N.Pu. rbt 1 (T 300); brbm 1, in pʿmt brbm (Krahmalkov 125) | T 301; T 298; T 300; Krahmalkov 125 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | rabb 2 (Lane 1003; HALOT 1172) | Lane 1003; HALOT 1172 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab rb 2 (Biella 475) | Biella 475 | gloss withheld |
| Emar | ra-ab-ba /rabba/ (Pentiuc 2001, 151–152); ra-ba-tu₄ /rabbatu/ (Pentiuc 2001, 152) | Pentiuc 2001 151–152; Pentiuc 2001 152 | gloss withheld |
| Amorite | r-b-b/y 1: ia-ar-bi-DINGIR, ia-ar-bu-DINGIR; ra-ba-il (Ur III); rabay: cf. la-aḫ-ra-bu (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 152) | Sanmartín GlOS 2, 152 | gloss withheld |
| Eblaitic | /rabbut/ 1: name ra-bù-du (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 153) | Sanmartín GlOS 2, 153 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

Akkadian construct rab 'chief' is of Amorite origin; the Hebrew and Aramaic title rab is native West Semitic (Kaufman 1974, 87).

## Linked from

- [R](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/r/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/r/2477_big_1_chief_master_lord_2/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.