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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Then Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee and between my pastors and thine, for we are brethren.
And he recovered all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot and his goods and the women also and the people.
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother has something against thee;
And if ye embrace your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?
And why dost thou behold the mote that is in thy brother's eye but dost not consider the beam that is in thine own eye?
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brothers stand without, desiring to speak with thee. read more. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brothers! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in the heavens, the same is my brother and sister and mother.
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? From where then does this man have all these things?
among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. The multitude was sitting all around him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brothers and sisters seek thee without. read more. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother or my brethren? And looking round about on those who sat about him, he said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever doeth the will of God, the same is my brother and my sister and my mother.
Simon (whom he also named Peter) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon called Zelotes read more. and Judas the brother of James and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor.
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart from this place and go into Judea that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things doing whatever he shall say unto you.
which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Then the disciples, each one according to what he had, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea,
And verily those that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they also have come out of the loins of Abraham;
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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For surely your blood which is your souls I will require; at the hand of every animal I will require it and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother I will require the soul (or life) of man.
Then Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee and between my pastors and thine, for we are brethren.
And he recovered all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot and his goods and the women also and the people.
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
Then stood up Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings upon it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Thus hath the LORD said: For three transgressions of Tyre and for the fourth, I will not convert her because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom and did not remember the brotherly covenant;
and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus.
but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother out of control shall be in danger of the judgment, and whosoever shall insult his brother shall be in danger of the council, but whosoever shall say, Thou art impious, shall be in danger of hell. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother has something against thee; read more. leave thy gift there before the altar, and go; first restore friendship with thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
And if ye embrace your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou be able to see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him.
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him.
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in the heavens, the same is my brother and sister and mother.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, ye have done it unto me.
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. The multitude was sitting all around him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brothers and sisters seek thee without.
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Then Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife and for all the evils which Herod had done,
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart from this place and go into Judea that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things doing whatever he shall say unto you.
therefore, brethren, seek out among you seven men of whom you bear witness, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Then the disciples, each one according to what he had, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea,
But I saw none of the other apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
But I saw none of the other apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
For both he that sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.
Therefore in all things he should be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
And verily those that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they also have come out of the loins of Abraham;
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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Then Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee and between my pastors and thine, for we are brethren.
Then Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee and between my pastors and thine, for we are brethren.
And he recovered all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot and his goods and the women also and the people.
And he recovered all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot and his goods and the women also and the people.
And, behold, I am with thee and will keep thee in all places where thou goest and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
And, behold, I am with thee and will keep thee in all places where thou goest and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
And it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
And it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of beast; for it is mine.
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of beast; for it is mine.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt rebuke thy neighbour in sincerity, that thou not bear sin for him.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt rebuke thy neighbour in sincerity, that thou not bear sin for him.
And Moses sent ambassadors from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that has befallen us:
And Moses sent ambassadors from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that has befallen us:
When brethren dwell together and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside unto a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her.
When brethren dwell together and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside unto a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her. And it shall be that the firstborn which she bears shall be raised up in the name of his brother who is dead that his name be not blotted out of Israel.
And it shall be that the firstborn which she bears shall be raised up in the name of his brother who is dead that his name be not blotted out of Israel.
Now after the death of Joshua, it came to pass that the sons of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first to fight against them?
Now after the death of Joshua, it came to pass that the sons of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first to fight against them?
Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh; why then are ye the last to bring back the king?
Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh; why then are ye the last to bring back the king?
I have become a brother to dragons and a companion to owls.
I have become a brother to dragons and a companion to owls.
and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus.
and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus.
And his sisters, are they not all with us? From where then does this man have all these things?
And his sisters, are they not all with us? From where then does this man have all these things?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, ye have done it unto me.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, ye have done it unto me.
among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Then Jesus said unto them, Be not afraid; go tell my brothers that they may go into Galilee, and there they shall see me.
Then Jesus said unto them, Be not afraid; go tell my brothers that they may go into Galilee, and there they shall see me.
There were also some women looking on afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the lesser and of Joses, and Salome
There were also some women looking on afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the lesser and of Joses, and Salome
But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead.
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead.
For not even his brethren believed in him.
For not even his brethren believed in him.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Jesus said unto her, Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.
Jesus said unto her, Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
And it came to pass that for a whole year they gathered themselves together with the congregation and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
And it came to pass that for a whole year they gathered themselves together with the congregation and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Then the disciples, each one according to what he had, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea,
Then the disciples, each one according to what he had, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea,
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
But now I have written unto you not to associate with anyone calling himself a brother if he is a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner; with such a one do not even eat.
But now I have written unto you not to associate with anyone calling himself a brother if he is a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner; with such a one do not even eat.
But I saw none of the other apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
But I saw none of the other apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
Hastings
Morish
Besides the ordinary use of the word in its literal sense, it is applied to cousins and nephews, Ge 14:14; Le 10:4; and to kinsmen generally. Ex 2:11; 2Ki 10:13; 2Ch 22:8. Also employed where there is a moral likeness. Job 30:29; Pr 18:9. See BRETHREN.
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And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his tried and experienced servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
And it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
I have become a brother to dragons and a companion to owls.
He also that is negligent in his work is brother to him that is the great spendthrift.
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.
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Then Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee and between my pastors and thine, for we are brethren.
And he recovered all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot and his goods and the women also and the people.
And it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt rebuke thy neighbour in sincerity, that thou not bear sin for him.
And Moses sent ambassadors from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that has befallen us:
Likewise say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone and of my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the place of Joab.
And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And they called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
But he saves the poor from the sword, from the mouth of the wicked, and from the hand of the violent.
He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
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 Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.
And going on from there, he saw another two brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and of Juda and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon called Zelotes and Judas the brother of James and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.