Biblical Greek b or v

Biblical Greek Scriptures are Koine Greek

It is Avva, Father in Koine Greek (Biblical Greek) not Abba, Father

It is Yahvah, Father in Hebrew, silent y

In Koine Greek, the letter beta (β) is generally pronounced as a “v” sound, similar to the “v” in “very”. While it can sometimes represent a “b” sound in borrowed words, it is more commonly represented by the digraph “μπ” (mb). 

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

  • Ancient Greek (Classical Greek):The letter beta (β) was pronounced as a “b” sound, as in the English word “bet”. 
  • Koine Greek (Biblical Greek):Over time, the pronunciation of beta shifted, and it became more like the “v” sound in modern Greek, as in the word “vita”. 
  • Modern Greek:Today, beta (β) is generally pronounced as “v”. However, the “b” sound is usually represented by the digraph “μπ” (mb). 

In summary, in Biblical Greek, the letter beta (β) is pronounced more like a “v” sound than a “b” sound. 

Greek Ἀββᾶ

Note the timing of the phonological evolution. The further back you go, it’s abba. But in Koine Greek it is Avva.


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