Abba — Meaning in the Bible
An Aramaic word for "father", used by Jesus in prayer in Gethsemane and by Paul for believers calling on God.
Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
The popular claim that abba simply means "daddy" goes beyond the evidence; the New Testament translates it "Father".
What it means
In Gethsemane Jesus prayed "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you". Mark 14:36
Paul writes that the Spirit of adoption leads believers to cry "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15Galatians 4:6
Key passages
- Mark 14:32–36 — Jesus prays in Gethsemane.
- Romans 8:14–17 — The Spirit of adoption.
- Galatians 4:4–7 — Sons and heirs.
Original language
ἀββά abba
Greek · Strong’s G5 · gloss: “Abba”
The Aramaic word abba, written in Greek letters in the New Testament. Mark 14:36
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).