Reference: Brother
American
Signifies in Scripture the son of the same parent or parents, Mt 1:2; Lu 6:14; a cousin or near kinsman, Ge 13:8; 14:16; Joh 7:3; Ac 1:14; one of the same stock or country, Mt 5:47; Ac 3:22; Heb 7:5; a fellow-man, and equal, Mt 5:23; 7:3; one beloved, 2Sa 1:26; Christians, as sons of God, Ac 9:30; 11:29. In Mt 12:46-50; 13:55-56; Mr 3:31-35, the brothers of Christ are so mentioned, in connection with his mother and sisters, as almost to require us to believe they were children of Joseph and Mary, younger than Jesus. Yet this is not quite certain, as it may be that the James, Joses, and Judas in Mt 13:55, are the nephews of Christ alluded to in Mt 27:56; Lu 6:15-16; Joh 19:25; Cleophas and Alphaeus being probably the same.
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Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac of Jacob, and Jacob of Judah and his brothers,
So when you are presenting your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother has any grievance against you,
And if you are polite to your brothers and no one else, what is there remarkable in that? Do not the very heathen do that?
Why do you keep looking at the speck in your brother's eye, and pay no attention to the beam that is in your own?
While he was still speaking, his mother and his brothers came up and stood outside the crowd, wanting to speak to him. OMITTED TEXT read more. But he said to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And he pointed to his disciples and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary, and are not his brothers named James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary, and are not his brothers named James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And do not all his sisters live here among us? Then where did he get all this?"
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
And his mother and his brothers came. And they stood outside the house and sent word in to him to come outside to them. There was a crowd sitting around him when they told him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you." read more. He answered, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around at the people sitting about him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Simon, whom he named Peter, his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, the son of Alpheus, Simon, who was called the Zealot, read more. Judas, the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who turned out a traitor.
So his brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, to let your disciples also see the things you are doing.
Near Jesus' cross stood his mother and her sister Mary, the daughter of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
They were all devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, as he raised me up. You must listen to everything that he tells you.
When the brothers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
The disciples determined to make up a contribution, each according to his ability, and send it to the brothers who lived in Judea,
Those of the descendants of Levi who are appointed to the priesthood are directed by the Law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their own brothers, although they are descended from Abraham like themselves.
Easton
(1.) In the natural and common sense (Mt 1:2; Lu 3:1,19).
(2.) A near relation, a cousin (Ge 13:8; 14:16; Mt 12:46; Joh 7:3; Ac 1:14; Ga 1:19).
(3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Mt 5:47; Ac 3:22; Heb 7:5).
(4.) A disciple or follower (Mt 25:40; Heb 2:11-12).
(5.) One of the same faith (Am 1:9; Ac 9:30; 11:29; 1Co 5:11); whence the early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as brethren.
(6.) A colleague in office (Ezr 3:2; 1Co 1:1; 2Co 1:1).
(7.) A fellow-man (Ge 9:5; 19:7; Mt 5:22-23,24; 7:5; Heb 2:17).
(8.) One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2Sa 1:26; Ac 6:3; 1Th 5:1). Brethren of Jesus (Mt 1:25; 12:46,50; Mr 3:31-32; Ga 1:19; 1Co 9:5, etc.) were probably the younger children of Joseph and Mary. Some have supposed that they may have been the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and others that they were the children of Mary, the Virgin's sister, and wife of Cleophas. The first interpretation, however, is the most natural.
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Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac of Jacob, and Jacob of Judah and his brothers,
But he did not live with her as a husband until she had had a son, and he named the child Jesus.
But I tell you that anyone who gets angry with his brother will have to answer to the court, and anyone who speaks contemptuously to his brother will have to answer to the great council, and anyone who says to his brother 'You cursed fool!' will have to answer for it in the fiery pit! So when you are presenting your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother has any grievance against you, read more. leave your gift right there before the altar and go and make up with your brother; then come back and present your gift.
And if you are polite to your brothers and no one else, what is there remarkable in that? Do not the very heathen do that?
You hypocrite! First get the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see to get the speck out of your brother's eye.
While he was still speaking, his mother and his brothers came up and stood outside the crowd, wanting to speak to him.
While he was still speaking, his mother and his brothers came up and stood outside the crowd, wanting to speak to him.
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"
The king will answer, 'I tell you, in so far as you did it to one of the humblest of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.'
And his mother and his brothers came. And they stood outside the house and sent word in to him to come outside to them. There was a crowd sitting around him when they told him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you."
In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod governor of Galilee, while his brother Philip was governor of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the governor of Abilene,
but Herod the governor, whom he condemned because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the wicked things Herod had done,
So his brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, to let your disciples also see the things you are doing.
They were all devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, as he raised me up. You must listen to everything that he tells you.
You, brothers, must pick out from your number seven men of good standing, who are wise and full of the Spirit, and we will put them in charge of this matter,
When the brothers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
The disciples determined to make up a contribution, each according to his ability, and send it to the brothers who lived in Judea,
but I did not see any other apostle, except James, the Lord's brother.
but I did not see any other apostle, except James, the Lord's brother.
Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy,
Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy,
For both he who purifies them and they who are purified spring from one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, and say, "I will tell your name to my brothers, In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise";
And so he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might prove a compassionate high priest as well as one faithful in his service to God, in order to forgive the people's sins.
Those of the descendants of Levi who are appointed to the priesthood are directed by the Law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their own brothers, although they are descended from Abraham like themselves.
Fausets
Includes, besides sons of the same parents, cousins and near relatives, as a nephew (Ge 13:8; 14:16; De 25:5-6 margin). One of the same tribe (2Sa 19:12). Of the same or a kindred people (Ex 2:11; Nu 20:14). A friend (Job 6:15). A fellow man (Le 19:17). "A brother to (i.e. a fellow on a level with) the dragons" or "jackals" (Job 30:29). As the outer pagan world knew believers by the name "Christian," so they know one another by the name "brethren" (Ac 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16; compare Mt 25:40; Ac 11:29). The Jews distinguished a "brother" as an Israelite by birth, and a "neighbor" a proselyte, and allowed neither title to the Gentiles. But Christ applied "brother" to all Christians, and "neighbor" to all the world (1Co 5:11; Lu 10:29-30). The arguments for the "brethren" of Jesus (James, Joses, Simon, and Judas) mentioned in Mt 13:56 being literally His brothers, born of Joseph and Mary, are:
(1) their names are always connected with Mary, "His brethren" is the phrase found nine times in the Gospels, once in Acts (Ac 1:14);
(2) nothing is said to imply that the phrase is not to be taken literally. But:
(1) "My brethren" is found in the wide sense (Mt 28:10; Joh 20:17).
(2) If Joseph had been their father, they would have been some one time at least designated in the usual mode "sons of Joseph." The statement that. His "brethren did not believe in Him" (Joh 7:5) may refer to His near relations generally, excepting the two apostles James (who is expressly called "the Lord's brother," Ga 1:19) and Jude (Jg 1:1). In Ac 1:14 His "brethren," as distinct from the apostles, may refer to Simon and Joses and other near relatives. It is not likely there would be two pairs of brothers named alike, of such eminence; James and Jude. His brethren are, most probably, the writers of the epistles.
(3) It is expressly stated that Mary, wife of Cleophas and sister of the Virgin Mary (Joh 19:25), had sons, of whom James and Joses are named (Mt 27:56; Mr 15:40). How unlikely that two mothers of the same name, Mary the Virgin and her sister, should have sons also bearing the same names.
(4) If the Virgin had had sons of her own, Jesus would not have given her in charge to John (Joh 19:26), who was not a relative.
(5) It is a fitting thing that in Jesus the line of David should have its final consummation. The naming of Jesus' brethren with His virgin mother so often may be because Jesus and she took up their abode at the home of Mary, the Virgin's sister, after Joseph's death; for that he soon died appears from his name being never mentioned after Luke 2. Hence the cousins would grow up as brothers. The very difficulty implies the absence of collusion or mythical origin in the gospel narrative.
Firstborn son (Mt 1:25) does not imply that any sons were born of the Virgin afterwards, but that none were born before Him. Ex 13:2 defines "the firstborn" "whatsoever openeth the womb": whether other children followed or not. "Knew her not until" does not necessarily imply he even then knew her; compare Ge 28:15, "I will not leave thee until I have done," not meaning He would leave Jacob even then. The main truth asserted is the virginity of Mary up to Jesus' birth. What was afterward is not dearly revealed, being of less consequence to us.
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But he did not live with her as a husband until she had had a son, and he named the child Jesus.
But he did not live with her as a husband until she had had a son, and he named the child Jesus.
And do not all his sisters live here among us? Then where did he get all this?"
And do not all his sisters live here among us? Then where did he get all this?"
The king will answer, 'I tell you, in so far as you did it to one of the humblest of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.'
The king will answer, 'I tell you, in so far as you did it to one of the humblest of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.'
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Jesus said to them, "You need not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and they will see me there."
Jesus said to them, "You need not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and they will see me there."
There were some women also watching from a distance, among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome,
There were some women also watching from a distance, among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome,
But he, wishing to justify his question, said, "And who is my neighbor?"
But he, wishing to justify his question, said, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers, and they stripped him and beat him and went off leaving him half dead.
Jesus replied, "A man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers, and they stripped him and beat him and went off leaving him half dead.
For even his brothers did not believe in him.
For even his brothers did not believe in him.
Near Jesus' cross stood his mother and her sister Mary, the daughter of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
Near Jesus' cross stood his mother and her sister Mary, the daughter of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. So Jesus, seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, said to his mother, "There is your son!"
So Jesus, seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, said to his mother, "There is your son!"
Jesus said to her, "You must not cling to me, for I have not yet gone up to my Father, but go to my brothers and say to them that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
Jesus said to her, "You must not cling to me, for I have not yet gone up to my Father, but go to my brothers and say to them that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
They were all devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
They were all devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
They were all devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
They were all devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
and found him and brought him to Antioch. The result was that for a whole year they met with the church, and taught large numbers of people, and it was at Antioch that the disciples first came to be known as Christians.
and found him and brought him to Antioch. The result was that for a whole year they met with the church, and taught large numbers of people, and it was at Antioch that the disciples first came to be known as Christians.
The disciples determined to make up a contribution, each according to his ability, and send it to the brothers who lived in Judea,
The disciples determined to make up a contribution, each according to his ability, and send it to the brothers who lived in Judea,
"You are in a hurry to persuade me and make a Christian of me!" Agrippa said to Paul.
"You are in a hurry to persuade me and make a Christian of me!" Agrippa said to Paul.
What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who is supposed to be a Christian brother, and yet is immoral or greedy or idolatrous or abusive or drunken or grasping??ith such a person you must not even eat.
What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who is supposed to be a Christian brother, and yet is immoral or greedy or idolatrous or abusive or drunken or grasping??ith such a person you must not even eat.
but I did not see any other apostle, except James, the Lord's brother.
but I did not see any other apostle, except James, the Lord's brother.
Hastings
Morish
Smith
Brother.
The Hebrew word is used in various senses in the Old Testament, as,
1. Any kinsman, and not a mere brother; e.g. nephew,
husband,
2. One of the same tribe.
3. Of the same people,
or even of a cognate people.
4. An ally.
5. Any friend,
6. One of the same office.
7. A fellow man.
8. Metaphorically of any similarity, as in
The word adelphos has a similar range of meanings in the New Testament.
Watsons
BROTHER. 1. A brother by the same mother, a uterine brother, Mt 4:21; 20:2. A brother, though not by the same mother, Mt 2:3. A near kinsman, a cousin, Mt 13:55; Mr 6:3. Observe, that in Mt 13:55, James, and Joses, and Judas, are called the ???????, brethren, of Christ, but were most probably only his cousins by his mother's side; for James and Joses were the sons of Mary, Mt 27:56; and James and Judas, the sons of Alpheus, Lu 6:15-16; which Alpheus is therefore probably the same with Cleopas, the husband of Mary, sister to our Lord's mother, Joh 19:25.
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When King Herod heard of this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And he went on a little farther and saw two other men who were brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother, John, in the boat with Zebedee, their father, putting their nets in order, and he called them.
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary, and are not his brothers named James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary, and are not his brothers named James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
He agreed with the laborers to pay them a dollar a day, and sent them to his vineyard.
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Is he not the carpenter, Mary's son, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And do not his sisters live here among us?"
Matthew, Thomas, James, the son of Alpheus, Simon, who was called the Zealot, Judas, the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who turned out a traitor.
Near Jesus' cross stood his mother and her sister Mary, the daughter of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.