Why is the Tanna - בן בג בג called בן בג בג?

Question

In Pirkei Avos, it mentions a תנא called בן בג בג.

Why is the תנא - בן בג בג called בן בג בג?

Both ben Bag Bag and ben He He are leaving them anonymous but indicating that they are converts. The references are to the letter Heh added to Avraham Avinu's name from his wife Sarah. She started as Sarai שרי and he was Avram אברם. The letter Yud from Sarai's name was divided between the two of them becoming שרה and אברהם. The two of them brought many people to serve G-d and to become a part of their household. For this, all Jewish converts are called by their names. — Yaacov Deane, Jun 01 '23 at 18:16
His personal name was actually Yochanan. Bag Bag was a nickname of sorts, there have been several different suggestions for the meanings, some have been brought in the answers below. — Harel13, Jun 01 '23 at 19:11

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered May 31 '23 at 00:53

4

Tosfos Chagiga 9B explains that he was a convert, and the gematria of bag bag is 5 and 5 representing the Heh added to Avraham and Sarah, the parents of all converts:

בר הי הי להלל. יש מפרשים שגר היה והיינו בן אברהם ושרה שנתוסף ה"א בשמן וכן בג בג דכולה הגמרא עולה ה':

answered May 31 '23 at 00:53

Chatzkel

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thank you so much! – Shalom L'olam May 31 '23 at 21:44
the word "בג" can also stand for בן גר!

Shalom L'olam

Jun 01 '23 at 01:32

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 01 '23 at 13:23

I don't recall the source right now (it might have been the 'Arukh), but it is said to be an acronym (ב.ג.ב.ג.) for בן גר בן גיורת (son of male convert son of a female convert). The name was intended to protect his/his family's identity at a time under the Romans when it would have been considered to be a capital offense to convert to Judaism.

Why is the Tanna - בן בג בג called בן בג בג?

2 Answers2