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
Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; Jacob, of Judah and his brethren;
"If therefore when you are offering your gift upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has a grievance against you,
"Even the tax-gatherers do that, do they not? And if you show courtesy to your brother only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do that, do they not?
"And why do you look at the mote in your brother's eye, and fail to notice the beam which is in your own eye?
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were standing outside, desiring to speak to him. So some one told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, and wanting to speak to you." read more. But he answered the man who told him, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" And stretching his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, 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? "Are not his sisters all living among us? Where, then, did he get all these powers?"
among them being Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Then his mother and his brothers came up, and standing outside, they sent a messenger to him to call him. Now a crowd was sitting round him and they told him, "See! your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, wanting to see you." read more. "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he replied. Then, with a glance at those who were in the circle sitting around him, he added. "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, that one is my brother and sister and mother."
They were Simon, whom he had also called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Mathew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot; read more. Jude the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who was the traitor.
his brothers said to him. "Leave here and go into Judea, so that your disciples also may behold the works which you are doing.
Now there stood near the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
"Moses, for example, said: "The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he raised up me; you must listen to whatever he may tell you;
When they learned this the brothers took him down to Caesarea, and then sent him forth to Tarsus.
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea.
Now those of the sons of Levi who are appointed to the priesthood, are authorized by the Law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brothers, and that too, although these are descended from 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
Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; Jacob, of Judah and his brethren;
but did not live with her until after the birth of her son, whom he called Jesus.
but I say to you that he who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to condemnation by the court; and he who says to his brother 'Raca,' shall be liable to condemnation by the Sanhedrin, while he who curses his brother shall be liable to the Gehenna of Fire. "If therefore when you are offering your gift upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has a grievance against you, read more. "leave there your gift before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother, first of all; then come and offer your gift.
"Even the tax-gatherers do that, do they not? And if you show courtesy to your brother only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do that, do they not?
"Hypocrite! First cast out the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to cast the mote out of your brother's eye.
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were standing outside, desiring to speak to him.
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were standing outside, desiring to speak to him.
"Behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, is my brother and sister and mother."
"'In solemn truth I tell you,' the King will answer them, 'that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.'
Then his mother and his brothers came up, and standing outside, they sent a messenger to him to call him. Now a crowd was sitting round him and they told him, "See! your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, wanting to see 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, his brother Philip, tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene;
but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done,
his brothers said to him. "Leave here and go into Judea, so that your disciples also may behold the works which you are doing.
These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
"Moses, for example, said: "The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he raised up me; you must listen to whatever he may tell you;
"So, brothers, find from among your own number seven men of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this business.
When they learned this the brothers took him down to Caesarea, and then sent him forth to Tarsus.
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea.
I saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.
I saw no other apostle 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 those whom he is sanctifying are all from One; for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying. I will proclaim thy name to my brothers; In the midst of the Church I will hymn thy praises.
And so it was necessary that he should in all points be made like his brothers, so that he might become a compassionate and faithful high priest, in all that relates to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Now those of the sons of Levi who are appointed to the priesthood, are authorized by the Law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brothers, and that too, although these are descended from 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
but did not live with her until after the birth of her son, whom he called Jesus.
but did not live with her until after the birth of her son, whom he called Jesus.
"Are not his sisters all living among us? Where, then, did he get all these powers?"
"Are not his sisters all living among us? Where, then, did he get all these powers?"
"'In solemn truth I tell you,' the King will answer them, 'that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.'
"'In solemn truth I tell you,' the King will answer them, 'that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.'
among them being Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
among them being Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Then Jesus said to them. "Fear not! Go tell my brothers to depart into Galilee, and they will see men there."
Then Jesus said to them. "Fear not! Go tell my brothers to depart into Galilee, and they will see men there."
There were some women also watching from a distance. Among them were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,
There were some women also watching from a distance. Among them were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,
But he, determined to justify himself, said to Jesus, "But who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered.
But he, determined to justify himself, said to Jesus, "But who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered. "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell among bandits who both stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead.
"A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell among bandits who both stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead.
For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Now there stood near the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
Now there stood near the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and standing near her the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman behold your son."
When Jesus saw his mother, and standing near her the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman behold your son."
"Do not cling to me," said Jesus, "for I am not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, "'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
"Do not cling to me," said Jesus, "for I am not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, "'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians."
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians."
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea.
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea.
Agrippa answered, "In short, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."
Agrippa answered, "In short, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."
But what I wrote was that you were not to associate with any so-called brother who is immoral, or avaricious, or idolatrous, or abusive, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. No, with such persons do not even sit at table.
But what I wrote was that you were not to associate with any so-called brother who is immoral, or avaricious, or idolatrous, or abusive, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. No, with such persons do not even sit at table.
I saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.
I saw no 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
When King Herod heard this he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
As he went farther on he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the 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 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 workmen for two shillings a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
among them being Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?"
Philip and Bartholomew; Mathew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot; Jude the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who was the traitor.
Now there stood near the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.