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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there not be quarreling between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we men [are] brothers.
And he brought back all the possessions. And he also brought back Lot, his {relative}, and his possessions, and the women and the people as well.
{I am distressed} over you, my brother Jonathan. you [were] very dear to me; your love [was] more wonderful to me than the love of women.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers,
Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same?
And why do you see the speck [that is] in your brother's eye, but do not notice the beam of wood in your [own] eye?
And [while] he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers were standing there outside, desiring to speak to him. And someone told him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing there outside desiring to speak to you." read more. But he answered [and] said to the one who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father [who is] in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother."
Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? From where then did this man [get] all these [things]?"
among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
And his mother and his brothers arrived, and standing outside, they sent [word] to him to summon him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers [are] outside looking for you." read more. And he answered them [and] said, "Who is my mother or my brothers?" And looking around at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, this person is my brother and sister and mother."
Simon (whom he also named Peter) and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, read more. and Judas [the son] of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
So his brothers said to him, "Depart from here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also can see your works that you are doing.
Now his mother and the sister of his mother, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus.
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him in everything that he says to you.
And [when] the brothers found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
So from the disciples, {according to their ability to give}, each one of them determined to send [financial aid] for support to the brothers who lived in Judea,
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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And {your lifeblood} I will require; from {every animal} I will require it. And from the hand of humankind, from the hand of [each] man to his brother I will require the life of humankind.
Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there not be quarreling between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we men [are] brothers.
And he brought back all the possessions. And he also brought back Lot, his {relative}, and his possessions, and the women and the people as well.
{I am distressed} over you, my brother Jonathan. you [were] very dear to me; your love [was] more wonderful to me than the love of women.
And Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers the priests stood up, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers built the altar of the God of Israel, in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Tyre and for four I will not revoke [the punishment], because they delivered up a whole community to Edom and they did not remember the covenant of brotherhood!
Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers,
and {did not have sexual relations with} her until she gave birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
But I say to you that everyone who is angry at his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Stupid fool!' will be subject to the council, and whoever says, 'Obstinate fool!' will be subject to fiery hell. Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, read more. leave your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come [and] present your gift.
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same?
Hypocrite! First remove the beam of wood from your [own] eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye!
And [while] he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers were standing there outside, desiring to speak to him.
And [while] he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers were standing there outside, desiring to speak to him.
For whoever does the will of my Father [who is] in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother."
And the king will answer [and] say to them, 'Truly I say to you, in as much as you did [it] to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did [it] to me.'
And his mother and his brothers arrived, and standing outside, they sent [word] to him to summon him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers [are] outside looking for you."
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, [when] Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him concerning Herodias, his brother's wife, and concerning all the evil deeds that Herod had done,
So his brothers said to him, "Depart from here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also can see your works that you are doing.
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him in everything that he says to you.
So, brothers, select from among you seven men {of good reputation}, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.
And [when] the brothers found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
So from the disciples, {according to their ability to give}, each one of them determined to send [financial aid] for support to the brothers who lived in Judea,
but I did not see [any] others of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord.
but I did not see [any] others of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
For both the one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified [are] all from one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will sing in praise of you."
Therefore he was obligated to be made like his brothers in all [respects], in order that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things relating to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
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 to Lot, "Please, let there not be quarreling between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we men [are] brothers.
Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there not be quarreling between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we men [are] brothers.
And he brought back all the possessions. And he also brought back Lot, his {relative}, and his possessions, and the women and the people as well.
And he brought back all the possessions. And he also brought back Lot, his {relative}, and his possessions, and the women and the people as well.
Now behold, I [am] with you, and I will keep you wherever you go. And I will bring you to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised to you."
Now behold, I [am] with you, and I will keep you wherever you go. And I will bring you to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised to you."
{And then} in those days when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and he saw their {forced labor}, and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, [one of] his brothers.
{And then} in those days when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and he saw their {forced labor}, and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, [one of] his brothers.
"Consecrate to me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the {Israelites}, among humans and among domestic animals; {it belongs to me}."
"Consecrate to me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the {Israelites}, among humans and among domestic animals; {it belongs to me}."
" 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your fellow citizen, so that you do not incur sin {along with} him.
" 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your fellow citizen, so that you do not incur sin {along with} him.
From Kadesh Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: "Thus your brother Israel has said, 'You know all the hardship that has found us;
From Kadesh Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: "Thus your brother Israel has said, 'You know all the hardship that has found us;
"When brothers dwell together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not become the wife of a {man of another family}; her brother-in-law {shall have sex with her}, and he shall take her {to himself} as wife, and he shall perform his duty as brother-in-law [with respect to] her.
"When brothers dwell together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not become the wife of a {man of another family}; her brother-in-law {shall have sex with her}, and he shall take her {to himself} as wife, and he shall perform his duty as brother-in-law [with respect to] her. And then the firstborn that she bears {shall represent his dead brother}, so that his name is not blotted out from Israel.
And then the firstborn that she bears {shall represent his dead brother}, so that his name is not blotted out from Israel.
After the death of Joshua, the {Israelites} inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Who will go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?"
After the death of Joshua, the {Israelites} inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Who will go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?"
My brothers, you [are] my bones and you [are] my flesh. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?'
My brothers, you [are] my bones and you [are] my flesh. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?'
My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed; like a streambed of wadis they flow away,
My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed; like a streambed of wadis they flow away,
and {did not have sexual relations with} her until she gave birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
and {did not have sexual relations with} her until she gave birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
And are not all his sisters with us? From where then did this man [get] all these [things]?"
And are not all his sisters with us? From where then did this man [get] all these [things]?"
And the king will answer [and] say to them, 'Truly I say to you, in as much as you did [it] to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did [it] to me.'
And the king will answer [and] say to them, 'Truly I say to you, in as much as you did [it] to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did [it] to me.'
among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid! Go tell my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid! Go tell my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
And there were also women observing from a distance, among whom [were] Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome,
And there were also women observing from a distance, among whom [were] Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome,
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" And Jesus replied [and] said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat [him]. [After] inflicting blows on [him], they went away, leaving [him] half dead.
And Jesus replied [and] said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat [him]. [After] inflicting blows on [him], they went away, leaving [him] half dead.
(For not even his brothers believed in him.)
(For not even his brothers believed in him.)
Now his mother and the sister of his mother, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus.
Now his mother and the sister of his mother, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus. So Jesus, seeing [his] mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, said to [his] mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
So Jesus, seeing [his] mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, said to [his] mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
Jesus said to her, "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"
Jesus said to her, "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
And [when he] found [him], he brought [him] to Antioch. And it happened to them also [that they] met together [for] a whole year with the church and taught a large number [of people]. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
And [when he] found [him], he brought [him] to Antioch. And it happened to them also [that they] met together [for] a whole year with the church and taught a large number [of people]. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
So from the disciples, {according to their ability to give}, each one of them determined to send [financial aid] for support to the brothers who lived in Judea,
So from the disciples, {according to their ability to give}, each one of them determined to send [financial aid] for support to the brothers who lived in Judea,
But Agrippa [said] to Paul, "In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?"
But Agrippa [said] to Paul, "In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?"
But now I have written to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he is a sexually immoral person or a greedy person or an idolater or an abusive person or a drunkard or a swindler--with such a person not even to eat.
But now I have written to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he is a sexually immoral person or a greedy person or an idolater or an abusive person or a drunkard or a swindler--with such a person not even to eat.
but I did not see [any] others of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord.
but I did not see [any] others of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord.
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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When Abram heard that his {relative} was taken captive, he summoned his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen [of them], and he went in pursuit up to Dan.
{And then} in those days when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and he saw their {forced labor}, and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, [one of] his brothers.
Then Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan the sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle, and he said to them, "Come forward. Carry your brothers from {the front of} the sanctuary to {outside the camp}."
Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master of destruction.
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there not be quarreling between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we men [are] brothers.
And he brought back all the possessions. And he also brought back Lot, his {relative}, and his possessions, and the women and the people as well.
{And then} in those days when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and he saw their {forced labor}, and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, [one of] his brothers.
" 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your fellow citizen, so that you do not incur sin {along with} him.
From Kadesh Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: "Thus your brother Israel has said, 'You know all the hardship that has found us;
To Amasa you shall say: '[Are] you not my bones and my flesh? {May God punish me} if you [are] not the commander of my army before me forever, in place of Joab.'"
So he said, "What [are] these cities that you have given to me, my brother?" {So they are called the land of Cabul until this day}.
And he saves from the sword of their mouth, {even} [the] poor from the hand of the strong.
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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And [when] King Herod heard [it], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him,
And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the [son] of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.
Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
And [after] coming to an agreement with the workers for a denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard.
among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they were offended by him.
and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas [the son] of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Now his mother and the sister of his mother, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus.