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
And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are men, brothers.
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant you have been to me. Your love to me was wonderful, more than the love of women.
Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers.
Therefore if you offer your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax-collectors do so?
And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?
But while He yet talked with the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with You. read more. And He answered and said to him who told Him, Who is My mother? And who are My brothers? And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, 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 Joses and Simon and Judas,
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brothers, James and Joses and Simon and Judas, and his sisters, are they not all with us? Then from where does this man have all these things?
among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Then His brothers and His mother came. And standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him. And the crowd sat about Him, and they said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking for You. read more. And He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brothers? And He looked around on those who sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does 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 Alpheus, and Simon who was called Zelotes; read more. Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became the betrayer.
Therefore His brothers said to Him, Move away from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see the works that You do.
And His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
For Moses truly said to the fathers, "The Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet to you from your brothers, One like me. You shall hear Him in all things, whatever He may say to you.
And the disciples, as any were prospered, determined each of them to send for ministry to those brothers who lived in Judea,
And truly they who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priest, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, from their brothers, though they 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and surely the blood of your lives will I require. At the hand of every animal will I require it, and at the hand of man. At the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are men, brothers.
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant you have been to me. Your love to me was wonderful, more than the love of women.
And Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers. And they 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.
So says Jehovah: For three transgressions of Tyre, yea for four, I will not turn away from it. Because they delivered up as exiles a complete population to Edom, and did not remember the brotherly covenant.
Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers.
and did not know her until she bore her son, the First-born. And he called His name JESUS.
But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be liable to the judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the sanhedrin; but whoever shall say, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of hell. Therefore if you offer your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, read more. leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax-collectors do so?
Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye.
But while He yet talked with the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him.
But while He yet talked with the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him.
For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother.
And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
Then His brothers and His mother came. And standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him. And the crowd sat about Him, and they said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking for You.
And in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the Trachonitus country, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene--
But Herod the tetrarch (being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done)
Therefore His brothers said to Him, Move away from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see the works that You do.
these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
For Moses truly said to the fathers, "The Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet to you from your brothers, One like me. You shall hear Him in all things, whatever He may say to you.
Therefore, brothers, look out among you seven men being witnessed to, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this duty.
And the disciples, as any were prospered, determined each of them to send for ministry to those brothers who lived in Judea,
But I saw no other of the apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
But I saw no other of the apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
For both He who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
Therefore in all things it behoved him to be made like His brothers, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of His people.
And truly they who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priest, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, from their brothers, though they 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are men, brothers.
And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are men, brothers.
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in every place where you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.
And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in every place where you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.
And it happened in those days, when Moses was grown, he went out to his brothers and looked upon their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
And it happened in those days, when Moses was grown, he went out to his brothers and looked upon their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
Sanctify all the first-born to Me, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, of man and of beast. It is Mine.
Sanctify all the first-born to Me, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, of man and of beast. It is Mine.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall always rebuke your neighbor, and not allow sin on him.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall always rebuke your neighbor, and not allow sin on him.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, So says your brother Israel, You know all the trouble that has happened to us,
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, So says your brother Israel, You know all the trouble that has happened to us,
If brothers live together, and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as a wife for himself, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.
If brothers live together, and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as a wife for himself, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And it shall be, the first-born whom she bears shall succeed in the name of his dead brother, so that his name may not be put out of Israel.
And it shall be, the first-born whom she bears shall succeed in the name of his dead brother, so that his name may not be put out of Israel.
And it happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked Jehovah, saying, Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?
And it happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked Jehovah, saying, Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?
You are my brothers, and my flesh and my bone. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?
You are my brothers, and my flesh and my bone. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?
My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a torrent; they pass away as the streams of torrents,
My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a torrent; they pass away as the streams of torrents,
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to daughters of the ostrich.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to daughters of the ostrich.
and did not know her until she bore her son, the First-born. And he called His name JESUS.
and did not know her until she bore her son, the First-born. And he called His name JESUS.
and his sisters, are they not all with us? Then from where does this man have all these things?
and his sisters, are they not all with us? Then from where does this man have all these things?
And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid; go tell My brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see Me.
Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid; go tell My brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see Me.
And also women were watching from a distance, among whom also was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome,
And also women were watching from a distance, among whom also was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome,
But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? And answering, Jesus said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And answering, Jesus said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
For His brothers did not believe in Him.
For His brothers did not believe in Him.
And His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
And His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Then when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son!
Then when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son!
Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God.
Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God.
these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
And finding him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened to them a whole year they were assembled in the church. And they taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christian in Antioch.
And finding him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened to them a whole year they were assembled in the church. And they taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christian in Antioch.
And the disciples, as any were prospered, determined each of them to send for ministry to those brothers who lived in Judea,
And the disciples, as any were prospered, determined each of them to send for ministry to those brothers who lived in Judea,
And Agrippa said to Paul, Do you persuade me to be a Christian in but a little?
And Agrippa said to Paul, Do you persuade me to be a Christian in but a little?
But now I have written to you not to associate intimately, if any man called a brother and is either a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one not to eat.
But now I have written to you not to associate intimately, if any man called a brother and is either a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one not to eat.
But I saw no other of the apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
But I saw no other of the 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained servants, born in his own house (three hundred and eighteen) and pursued them to Dan.
And it happened in those days, when Moses was grown, he went out to his brothers and looked upon their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, Come near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to daughters of the ostrich.
Also he who is slack in his work is brother to a great destroyer.
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
And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are men, brothers.
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
And it happened in those days, when Moses was grown, he went out to his brothers and looked upon their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall always rebuke your neighbor, and not allow sin on him.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, So says your brother Israel, You know all the trouble that has happened to us,
And you say to Amasa, Are you not of my bone and of my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me all the days instead of Joab.
And he said, What cities are these which you have given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul to this day.
But He saves the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But when Herod the king 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 boat 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 Joses and Simon and Judas,
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brothers, James and Joses and Simon and Judas,
And when he had agreed with the laborers 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 Zebedee's children.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him.
Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who was called Zelotes; Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became the betrayer.
And His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.