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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If, therefore, you offer your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has any thing against you,
And if you salute your brothers only, what do you do more than [others]? Do not the gentiles also do the same?
And why do you see a speck in your brother's eye, and not consider a beam in your own eye?
And while he was speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak to him. And some one said to him, Behold your mother and your brothers stand without, desiring to speak to you. read more. And he answered and said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers? and stretching out his hand to his disciples, he said, Behold my mother, and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And are not his sisters all with us? Whence then has this man all these things?
among whom were Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Then came his brothers and his mother, and standing without, sent to him to call him. And a multitude sat around him. And they said to him, Behold your mother, and your brothers, and your sisters seek you without. read more. And he answered them and said, Who is my mother, or my brothers? And looking round on those sitting about him, he said, Behold my mother, and my brothers! Whoever shall do the will of God, this is my brother, and sister, and 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 called Zealot, read more. Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor,
Then his brothers said to him, Go down from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do;
And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene.
All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you, of your brothers, like me; him shall you hear in all things which he shall speak to you;
And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea;
And the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is their brothers, although 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.
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and knew her not till she bore a son, and he called his name Jesus.
But I tell you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be subject to the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, Worthless fellow, shall be subject to the Sanhedrim; and whoever says, You fool, shall be subject to the hell of fire. If, therefore, you offer your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has any thing against you, read more. leave there your gift before the altar, and go and first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
And if you salute your brothers only, what do you do more than [others]? Do not the gentiles also do the same?
Hypocrite, cast out first the beam from your eye, and then will you see clearly to cast out the speck from your brother's eye.
And while he was speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak to him.
And while he was speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak to him.
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
And the king shall answer and say to them, I tell you truly, that inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.
Then came his brothers and his mother, and standing without, sent to him to call him. And a multitude sat around him. And they said to him, Behold your mother, and your brothers, and your sisters seek you without.
AND in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being procurator of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Ituria and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias being tetrarch of Abilene,
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him on account of Herodias his brother's wife and for all the evil deeds which Herod had done,
Then his brothers said to him, Go down from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do;
All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you, of your brothers, like me; him shall you hear in all things which he shall speak to you;
Look out therefore, brothers, from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit, and of wisdom, whom we may set over this business;
And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea;
and I saw no other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother.
and 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 the brother,
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,
For both he that sanctifies and the sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, I will declare thy name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly will I sing to thee.
Whence he ought in all things to be assimilated to the brothers, that he may be a merciful and faithful chief priest as to things relating to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
And the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is their brothers, although 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.
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and knew her not till she bore a son, and he called his name Jesus.
and knew her not till she bore a son, and he called his name Jesus.
And are not his sisters all with us? Whence then has this man all these things?
And are not his sisters all with us? Whence then has this man all these things?
And the king shall answer and say to them, I tell you truly, that inasmuch as you have done 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, I tell you truly, that inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.
among whom were Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
among whom were Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Then Jesus said to them, Fear not; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they shall see me.
Then Jesus said to them, Fear not; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they shall see me.
And the women also saw from afar, among whom were Mary the Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the less, and of Joset, and Salome,
And the women also saw from afar, among whom were Mary the Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the less, and of Joset, and Salome,
But he, wishing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
But he, wishing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? And Jesus replied and said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows upon him, and went away leaving him half dead.
And Jesus replied and said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows upon him, and went away leaving him half dead.
For his brothers did not believe on him.
For his brothers did not believe on him.
And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene.
And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene. Then Jesus seeing his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, said to his mother, Woman, behold your son.
Then Jesus seeing his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, 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 ascend 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 ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.
All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
and found and brought him to Antioch. And he was with them, and they met a whole year with the church and taught a great multitude; and the disciples first took the name of Christians at Antioch.
and found and brought him to Antioch. And he was with them, and they met a whole year with the church and taught a great multitude; and the disciples first took the name of Christians at Antioch.
And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea;
And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea;
And Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to be a Christian.
And Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to be a Christian.
But now I have written to you not to associate, if any one called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or rapacious, even to eat with such a one.
But now I have written to you not to associate, if any one called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or rapacious, even to eat with such a one.
and I saw no other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother.
and I saw no other of the apostles 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.
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And Herod the king hearing this was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
And going forward thence, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
And agreeing with the laborers for a denarius [14 cents] a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
among whom were Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Is not this the carpenter? the son of Mary? and a brother of James, and Joset, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended with him.
Matthew and Thomas, James, the son of Alpheus, and Simon called Zealot, Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor,
And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene.