13. Jephthah, Ashford. “Abba” is a Syriac and Chaldee word, and signifies “Father” It only occurs three times in the New Testament: Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6, and in each case is followed by the Greek word for father. No doubt this is very peculiar. The Greek word may have been added as explaining Abba: but it seems like a part of the address to the Father. It is never found in the Old Testament; but it is worthy of remark, that the Hebrew word for father (abh) is expressive of affection. Thus Abba in Syriac may have been the Syriac form of the same word, and in this sense would well accord with each of the three places where it is used.
This would add great force to the precious prayer of our Lord in Mark 14:36. The deep sense He had of the eternal love of the Father. And so in Rom. 8:15. The spirit of adoption does not merely enable us to cry Father in the ordinary way; but as having the same sense of the unchanging affection of the Father that Jesus had. And this would quite agree with Gal. 4:6: “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father.” To this also agree the words of Jesus, Matt. 11: “And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Beloved reader, has the Son thus revealed the Father to you, so that you can by the Spirit cry Abba Father, in the blessed sense of His eternal love?