By the question Jesus asked, What are you looking for? John indicates that discipleship is based upon the initiative of Jesus.

Rabbi is used of Jesus in 1.38,49; 3.2; 4.31; 6.25; 9.2; 11.8. This title, which literally means “my great one,” that is, “my master,” was used in Judaism of those qualified to expound and apply Jewish law. In the Gospel of John it is used as the equivalent of Greek didaskalos, “teacher.” which occurs here, as well as in 11.28; 13.13f; 20.16.

The parenthetical expression (This word means “Teacher”) may often be rendered simply as “The word Rabbi means Teacher.” However, in some languages a more appropriate way of introducing the meaning of a borrowed term would be “This word in our language means Teacher” or “The word Rabbi was used to speak about a teacher.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .