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 said Abram unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herdsmen and thine, for we be brethren.
and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.
Woe is me for thee, my brother Jonathan! Delectable to me wast thou, exceeding. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
Therefore when thou offerest thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
And if ye be friendly to your brethren only, what singular thing do ye? Do not the Publicans likewise?
Why seest thou a mote in thy brother's eye, and perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without the doors, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, "Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee." read more. He answered and said to him that told him, "Who is my mother? Or who are my brethren?" And he stretched forth his hand over his disciples, and said, "Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever doth my father's will which is in heaven, the same is my brother, my sister, and my mother."
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren be called, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren be called, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not his sisters all here with us? Whence hath he all these things?"
Among which was Mary Magdalene; and Mary the mother of James and the mother of Joseph; and the mother of Zebedee's children.
And then came his mother and his brethren, and stood without, and sent unto him and called him: And the people sat about him, and said unto him, "Behold, thy mother and thy brethren seek for thee without." read more. And he answered them, saying, "Who is my mother, and my brethren?" And he looked round about on his disciples, which sat in compass about him, and said, "Behold, my mother, and my brethren: For whosoever doeth the will of God, he is my brother, my sister and mother."
Simon, whom also he named Peter: and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon called Zealotes, read more. and Judas James' son, and Judas Iscariot, which same was the traitor.
His brethren therefore said unto him, "Get thee hence and go into Jewry that thy disciples may see thy works that thou doest.
There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, 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 said unto the fathers, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, even of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
But when the brethren knew of that, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry,
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 verily the blood of you, wherein your lives are, will I require: Even of the hand of all beasts will I require it, and of the hand of man and of the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man:
Then said Abram unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herdsmen and thine, for we be brethren.
and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.
Woe is me for thee, my brother Jonathan! Delectable to me wast thou, exceeding. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
And there stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of the city of Tyre, I will not spare her: because they have increased the captivity of the Edomites, and have not remembered the brotherly covenant.
and knew her not till she had brought forth her first son: and called his name Jesus.
But I say unto you, Whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of judgment: whosoever sayeth unto his brother, 'Raca,' shall be in danger of a council: but whosoever sayeth, 'Thou fool,' shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore when thou offerest thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; read more. leave there thine offering before the altar, and go thy way first, and be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
And if ye be friendly to your brethren only, what singular thing do ye? Do not the Publicans likewise?
"Hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to pluck out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without the doors, desiring to speak with him.
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without the doors, desiring to speak with him.
For whosoever doth my father's will which is in heaven, the same is my brother, my sister, and my 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 brethren, ye have done it to me.'
And then came his mother and his brethren, and stood without, and sent unto him and called him: And the people sat about him, and said unto him, "Behold, thy mother and thy brethren seek for thee without."
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius the Emperor, Pontius Pilate being leftenant of Jewry, and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip Tetrarch in Ituraea, and in the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene:
Then Herod the Tetrarch; when he was rebuked of him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done;
His brethren therefore said unto him, "Get thee hence and go into Jewry that thy disciples may see thy 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 said unto the fathers, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, even of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, and full of the holy ghost and wisdom, which we may appoint to this needful business:
But when the brethren knew of that, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry,
No other of the apostles saw I, save James the Lord's brother.
No other of the apostles saw I, save James the Lord's brother.
Forasmuch as he that sanctifieth, and they which are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause's sake he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren, and in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."
Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful, and a faithful high priest in things concerning God, for to purge the people's sins.
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 said Abram unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herdsmen and thine, for we be brethren.
Then said Abram unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herdsmen and thine, for we be brethren.
and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.
and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.
And see, I am with thee, and will be thy keeper in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land: Neither will I leave thee; until I have made good all that I have promised thee."
And see, I am with thee, and will be thy keeper in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land: Neither will I leave thee; until I have made good all that I have promised thee."
And it happened in these days when Moses was waxed great, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and spied an Egyptian smiting one of his brethren, an Hebrew.
And it happened in these days when Moses was waxed great, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and spied an Egyptian smiting one of his brethren, an Hebrew.
"Sanctify unto me all the firstborn that open all manner matrices among the children of Israel, as well of men as of beasts: for they are mine."
"Sanctify unto me all the firstborn that open all manner matrices among the children of Israel, as well of men as of beasts: for they are mine."
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart but shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour: that thou bear not sin for his sake.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart but shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour: that thou bear not sin for his sake.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, "Thus sayeth thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath happened us,
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, "Thus sayeth thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath happened us,
When brethren dwell together and one of them die and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not be given out unto a stranger: but her brother-in-law shall go in unto her and take her to wife and marry her.
When brethren dwell together and one of them die and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not be given out unto a stranger: but her brother-in-law shall go in unto her and take her to wife and marry her. And the eldest son which she beareth, shall stand up in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out in Israel.
And the eldest son which she beareth, shall stand up in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out in Israel.
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, "Who shall go up first unto the Cananites to fight against them?"
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, "Who shall go up first unto the Cananites to fight against them?"
Ye are my brethren, my bones and my flesh: wherefore then should ye be the last that should come to bring the king home again?'
Ye are my brethren, my bones and my flesh: wherefore then should ye be the last that should come to bring the king home again?'
Mine own brethren pass over by me, as the water brook that hastily runneth through the valleys.
Mine own brethren pass over by me, as the water brook that hastily runneth through the valleys.
and knew her not till she had brought forth her first son: and called his name Jesus.
and knew her not till she had brought forth her first son: and called his name Jesus.
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 brethren, ye have done it to 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 brethren, ye have done it to me.'
Among which was Mary Magdalene; and Mary the mother of James and the mother of Joseph; and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Among which was Mary Magdalene; and Mary the mother of James and the mother of Joseph; and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Then said Jesus unto them, "Be not afraid. Go and tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."
Then said Jesus unto them, "Be not afraid. Go and tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."
There were also women a good way off beholding him: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the little and of Joseph, and Mary Salome:
There were also women a good way off beholding him: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the little and of Joseph, and Mary Salome:
He, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, "Who is then my neighbor?"
He, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, "Who is then my neighbor?" Jesus answered and said, "A certain man descended from Jerusalem into Jericho; And fell into the hands of thieves, which robbed him of his raiment and wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead.
Jesus answered and said, "A certain man descended from Jerusalem into Jericho; And fell into the hands of thieves, which robbed him of his raiment and wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead.
For as yet his brethren believed not in him.
For as yet his brethren believed not in him.
There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.
There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple standing whom he loved, he said unto his mother, "Woman behold thy son."
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple standing whom he loved, he said unto his mother, "Woman behold thy son."
Jesus said unto her, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my father. But go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my father, and your father: to my God and your God."
Jesus said unto her, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my father. But go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my father, and your father: 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 when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it chanced that a whole year they had their conversation with the congregation there, and taught much people insomuch that the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry,
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry,
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian."
but now I write unto you that ye company not together. If any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or a worshipper of images, either a railer, either a drunkard, or an extortioner: with him that is such see that ye eat not.
but now I write unto you that ye company not together. If any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or a worshipper of images, either a railer, either a drunkard, or an extortioner: with him that is such see that ye eat not.
No other of the apostles saw I, save James the Lord's brother.
No other of the apostles saw I, save 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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When Abram heard that his brother was taken, he harnessed his servants born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and followed till they came at Dan.
And it happened in these days when Moses was waxed great, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and spied an Egyptian smiting one of his brethren, an Hebrew.
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, "Go to, and carry your brethren from the holy place out of the host."
Whoso is slothful and slack in his labor, is the brother of him that is a waster.
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 said Abram unto Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me, and between my herdsmen and thine, for we be brethren.
and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.
And it happened in these days when Moses was waxed great, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and spied an Egyptian smiting one of his brethren, an Hebrew.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart but shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour: that thou bear not sin for his sake.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, "Thus sayeth thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath happened us,
And say to Amasa, 'Art thou not my bone and my flesh? And God do so to me and so thereto: except thou be captain of the host to me forever in the room of Joab.'"
Wherefore he said, "What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother?" And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
And so he delivereth the poor from the sword, from the threatenings of the ungodly, and from the hand of the cruel;
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 this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And he went forth from thence, and saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and called them.
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren be called, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren be called, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
And he agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, and sent them into his vineyard.
Among which was Mary Magdalene; and Mary the mother of James and the mother of Joseph; and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Is not this that carpenter: Mary's son, the brother of James, and Joseph and of Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they were offended by the reason of him.
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon called Zealotes, and Judas James' son, and Judas Iscariot, which same was the traitor.
There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.