XXab-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 (Mt 11:25,26; 26:39,42; Lk 10:21; 22:42; 23:34; Jn 11:41; 12:27; 17:24,25). In Mk 14:36; Rom 8:15, and Gal 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 Rom 8:15; compare G. Dalman, Gram. des jud.-palast. Aramaisch, etc., section 40, c. 3.
J. E. Harry