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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Therefore, when presenting your gift at the altar, if even there you remember that your brother has some grievance against you,
And, if you show courtesy to your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do this!
And why do you look at the straw in your brother's eye, while you pay no attention at all to the beam in yours?
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told him this, and Jesus replied: read more. "Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?" Then, stretching out his hands towards his disciples, he said: "Here are my mother and my brothers! For any one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Is not he the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
Is not he the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, too--are not they all living among us? Where, then did he get all this?"
Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebediah's sons.
And his mother and his brothers came, and stood outside, and sent to ask him to come to them. There was a crowd sitting round Jesus, and some of them said to him: "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you." read more. "Who is my mother? and my brothers?" was his reply. Then he looked around on the people sitting in a circle round him, and said: "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
They were Simon (whom Jesus also named Peter), and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon known as the Zealot, read more. Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who proved a traitor.
His brothers said to him: "Leave this part of the country, and go into Judea, so that your disciples, as well as we, may see the work that you are doing.
Meanwhile near the cross of Jesus were standing his mother and his mother's sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala.
They all united in devoting themselves to Prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Moses himself said--'The Lord your God will raise up from among your brothers a Prophet, as he raised me. To him you will listen whenever he speaks to you.
But, when the Brethren found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judea.
Those descendants of Levi, who are from time to time appointed to the priesthood, are directed to collect tithes from the people in accordance with the Law--that is from their own Brothers, although they also 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.
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He made Mary his wife, but did not live with her as her husband until after the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus.
I, however, say to you that any one who cherishes anger against his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the Court; and whoever pours contempt upon his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the High Council, while whoever calls down curses upon him shall be liable to answer for it in the fiery Pit. Therefore, when presenting your gift at the altar, if even there you remember that your brother has some grievance against you, read more. Leave your gift there, before the altar, go and be reconciled to your brother, first, then come and present your gift.
And, if you show courtesy to your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do this!
Hypocrite! Take out the beam from your own eye first, and then you will see clearly how to take out the straw from your brother's.
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him.
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him.
For any one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
And the King will reply 'I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.'
And his mother and his brothers came, and stood outside, and sent to ask him to come to them. There was a crowd sitting round Jesus, and some of them said to him: "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you."
In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was Governor of Judea, Herod Ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip Ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Ruler of Abilene,
But Prince Herod, being rebuked by John respecting Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and for all the evil things that he had done,
His brothers said to him: "Leave this part of the country, and go into Judea, so that your disciples, as well as we, may see the work that you are doing.
They all united in devoting themselves to Prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Moses himself said--'The Lord your God will raise up from among your brothers a Prophet, as he raised me. To him you will listen whenever he speaks to you.
Therefore, Brothers, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter;
But, when the Brethren found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judea.
I did not, however, see any other Apostle, except James, the Master's brother.
I did not, however, see any other Apostle, except James, the Master's brother.
From Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, our Brother.
From Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, our Brother.
For he who purifies, and those whom he purifies, all spring from One; and therefore he is not ashamed to call them 'Brothers.' He says-- 'I will tell of thy Name to my Brothers, In the midst of the congregation I will sing thy praise.'
And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like 'his Brothers,' in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful High Priest in man's relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his People.
Those descendants of Levi, who are from time to time appointed to the priesthood, are directed to collect tithes from the people in accordance with the Law--that is from their own Brothers, although they also 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.
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He made Mary his wife, but did not live with her as her husband until after the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus.
He made Mary his wife, but did not live with her as her husband until after the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus.
And his sisters, too--are not they all living among us? Where, then did he get all this?"
And his sisters, too--are not they all living among us? Where, then did he get all this?"
And the King will reply 'I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.'
And the King will reply 'I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.'
Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebediah's sons.
Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebediah's sons.
"Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee, and they shall see me there."
"Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee, and they shall see me there."
There were some women also watching from a distance, among them being Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James the Little and of Joseph, and Salome--
There were some women also watching from a distance, among them being Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James the Little and of Joseph, and Salome--
But the man, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus: "And who is my neighbor?"
But the man, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus: "And who is my neighbor?" To which Jesus replied: "A man was once going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him of everything, and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
To which Jesus replied: "A man was once going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him of everything, and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
For even his brothers did not believe in him.
For even his brothers did not believe in him.
Meanwhile near the cross of Jesus were standing his mother and his mother's sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala.
Meanwhile near the cross of Jesus were standing his mother and his mother's sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved, standing near, he said to his mother: "There is your son."
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved, standing near, he said to his mother: "There is your son."
"Do not hold me," Jesus said; "for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my Brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God."
"Do not hold me," Jesus said; "for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my Brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God."
They all united in devoting themselves to Prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
They all united in devoting themselves to Prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
They all united in devoting themselves to Prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
They all united in devoting themselves to Prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
And, when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the Church there, and taught a large number of people; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called 'Christians.'
And, when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the Church there, and taught a large number of people; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called 'Christians.'
So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judea.
So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judea.
But Agrippa said to Paul: "You are soon trying to make a Christian of me!"
But Agrippa said to Paul: "You are soon trying to make a Christian of me!"
But, as things are, I say that you are not to associate with any one who, although a Brother in name, is immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or abusive, or a drunkard, or grasping-no, not even to sit at table with such people.
But, as things are, I say that you are not to associate with any one who, although a Brother in name, is immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or abusive, or a drunkard, or grasping-no, not even to sit at table with such people.
I did not, however, see any other Apostle, except James, the Master's brother.
I did not, however, see any other Apostle, except James, the Master'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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When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so, too, was all Jerusalem.
Going further on, he saw two other men who were also brothers, James, Zebediah's son, and his brother John, in their boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them,
Is not he the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
Is not he the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
He agreed with the laborers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard.
Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebediah's sons.
Is not he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters, too, living here among us?" This proved a hindrance to their believing in him;
Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon known as the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who proved a traitor.
Meanwhile near the cross of Jesus were standing his mother and his mother's sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala.