Question: I know the New Testament was written in Greek. However I’ve been told that there are a few verses from Jesus in Aramaic. Are you able to share with me exactly what verses in the New Testament are Aramaic?
You are correct. The New Testament was written in Greek with only a few Aramaic words or phrases scattered here and there. They are generally recognizable because when you are reading along in English, or hear the Scriptures read aloud, these words jump out at you:
Talitha cum meaning “Little girl, get up!” (Mark 5:41)
Ephphatha meaning “Be opened.” (Mark 7:34)
Abba meaning “Father” (Mark 14:36)
Raca meaning “fool” (Matthew 5:22)
Rabbouni meaning “teacher” (John 20:16)
Eli Eli lema sabachthani meaning “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
Hosanna meaning “O Lord, save us.” (Mark 11:9)
Maranatha meaning “Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22)
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There are a handful of other words and names that have a clear Semitic origin, but it’s not known whether they are strictly from Aramaic or biblical Hebrew. Some examples of these are: mammon, Bartholomew, Barabbas, Boanerges, Gethsemane, and Golgotha.
