Abba ≠ Daddy

More information on the often stated, but factually incorrect assertion here.
http://aramaicnt.org/2014/06/14/brace-yourselves-abba-does-not-mean-daddy/

Comments

  1. janotecJune 16, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    The word "daddy" itself is intended as a term that denotes tenderness and fondness. It is a family term of perichoresis, rather than a "domus" term that pertains to the domineering paterfamilias.

    So "daddy" turns out to be the best translation for the theological context, as "abba" is susceptible of both the formal and informal lexical meanings.

    So the issue here (aside from the warning not to base theology on the TDNT, or the Aramaic version of same) is not so much the meaning of "abba" as it is the meaning of "daddy." Is it just too sentimental or familiar for one's tastes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Byzantine, TXJune 16, 2014 at 3:33 PM

      Twee is the word that comes to mind. :)

      Delete
    2. janotecJune 17, 2014 at 4:26 PM

      That is unfortunate. I understand that the word has degenerated into cutesy-ness. But we cannot always let popular connotations determine the lexical meaning of a term, can't we? Like, for instance, denoting "catholic" as "universal," or "bad."

      Delete
    3. Samn!June 18, 2014 at 3:32 AM

      In linguistic terms, 'daddy' is way more marked than 'father'. In Aramaic, 'aba' is the unmarked word for 'father', and so 'daddy' is a pretty silly mistranslation.

      Delete
  2. FlambeauxJune 16, 2014 at 2:37 PM

    I don't get the point the OP is trying to make. Seems a distinction without a difference.

    ReplyDelete
  3. momeJune 23, 2014 at 1:22 AM

    So what word would a two-year old child in first-century Palestine have used to address his or her father? If the word was "Abba," then that means "Daddy" is at least to some extent a legitimate translation of the term, no matter how pedantic the Aramaic-as-a-second-language speakers want to be about it.

    ReplyDelete

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