Most Bible readers are familiar with Pilate's famous words during the trial of Yehoshua "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?" What most do not realize is that Barabbas' first name was actually Jesus as well.
The name 'Barabbas' is actually a surname or family name in much the same sense as Peter was known as Simon Bar-Jonah (Matthew 16:17) which means Simon 'son of'' Jonah. Bar is a Hebraic or Aramaic rendering of the word 'son,' so Simon (Peter's) Father was named Jonah and he was called Simon the son of Jonah. Now Barabbas actually means Bar-Abba or son of the Father.
So a more accurate rendition of what Pilate actually may have said might be, "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Jesus who is called the son of the Father or Jesus who is called Christ?"
This detail, the fact that Barabbas' first name was actually Jesus, isn't mentioned in the King James version, but it is in the New Revised Standard Version.
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3 comments:
"Barabbas" is Not a "family name"... it is what He was called, -His Name was "Jesus". Barabbas is an Aramaic appellation, the meaning of which is Bar = Son + Abba = Father (or God).
It Is written (as you posited) in the original Greek Gospel of Matthew, -but omitted from the original Latin translation of the same text.
I appreciate your comment. No one can be absolutely sure as there are no available records. It is *speculated* within scholarly circles that he (Barabbas) could possibly have been the son of an influential Rabbi (as they were sometimes called 'father' as a sign of respect).
Shalom
That "...there are no available records." is not altogether true.
I am reminded of the story about the man who lost his keys in a dark alley, but looked for them under the light of a lamppost. Moreover, I daresay that there Are 'available records', -we simply deny their relevance.
Roland.
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