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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Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
So if, in the very act of presenting your gift at the altar, you remember that your brother has something against you,
And if you say 'Good morning' to your brothers only, what more than others are you doing?
Why do you keep watching the tiny speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the girder in your own?
While He was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and His brothers had taken their stand outside, trying hard to get to speak to Him. Omitted Text. read more. But He answered the man who told Him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And with a gesture toward His disciples He said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my mother and sister and brother."
Is He not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother's name Mary, are not His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
Is He not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother's name Mary, are not His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? And are not His sisters all living here with us? Where then did He get all these things?"
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Then His mother and His brothers came. They were standing outside and sent word to call Him. And a crowd was sitting around Him when they told Him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you." read more. He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Then looking around at the people sitting about Him, He said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Simon whom he named Peter, his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon who was called the Zealot, read more. Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who afterward turned traitor.
So His brothers said to Him, "You must leave here and go to Judea, to let your disciples also see the works that you are doing;
Near Jesus' cross were standing His mother and her sister Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.
Moses, indeed, said: 'The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, as He did me. You must attentively listen to everything that He tells you.
So when the brothers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and from there sent him back to Tarsus.
So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each in proportion to his prosperity, to help the brothers who lived in Judea.
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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Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
but he did not live with her as a husband until she had had a son; and he named Him Jesus.
But I say to you: "Everyone who harbors malice against his brother, will have to answer to the court, and whoever speaks contemptuously to his brother, will have to answer to the supreme court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You cursed fool? will have to pay the penalty in the pit of torture. So if, in the very act of presenting your gift at the altar, you remember that your brother has something against you, read more. leave your grit right there at the altar, and first go and make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift.
And if you say 'Good morning' to your brothers only, what more than others are you doing?
You hypocrite, first get the girder out of your own eye, and then you can see well enough to get the tiny speck out of your brother's eye.
While He was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and His brothers had taken their stand outside, trying hard to get to speak to Him.
While He was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and His brothers had taken their stand outside, trying hard to get to speak to Him.
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my mother and sister and brother."
And the King will answer them, 'I solemnly say to you, every time you did a good deed to one of these most insignificant brothers of mine, you did a good deed to me.'
Then His mother and His brothers came. They were standing outside and sent word to call Him. And a crowd was sitting around Him when they told Him, "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, and Herod was governor of Galilee, and his brother Philip was governor of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was governor of Abilene,
But Herod the governor, because he was repeatedly reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the wicked deeds that Herod had done,
So His brothers said to Him, "You must leave here and go to Judea, to let your disciples also see the works that you are doing;
With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.
Moses, indeed, said: 'The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, as He did me. You must attentively listen to everything that He tells you.
So, brothers, you must select from your number seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit, and of good practical sense, and we will assign them to this business,
So when the brothers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and from there sent him back to Tarsus.
So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each in proportion to his prosperity, to help the brothers who lived in Judea.
and not another single one of the apostles did I see, except James, the Lord's brother.
and not another single one of the apostles did I see, except James, the Lord's brother.
For both He who is purifying them and those who are being purified all spring from one Father; so He is not ashamed to call them brothers, when He says: "I will announce your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise";
Therefore He had to be made like His brothers, so that He could be a sympathetic High Priest, as well as a faithful one, in things relating to God, in order to atone for 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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but he did not live with her as a husband until she had had a son; and he named Him Jesus.
but he did not live with her as a husband until she had had a son; and he named Him Jesus.
And are not His sisters all living here with us? Where then did He get all these things?"
And are not His sisters all living here with us? Where then did He get all these things?"
And the King will answer them, 'I solemnly say to you, every time you did a good deed to one of these most insignificant brothers of mine, you did a good deed to me.'
And the King will answer them, 'I solemnly say to you, every time you did a good deed to one of these most insignificant brothers of mine, you did a good deed to me.'
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go, tell my brothers to go back to Galilee, and there they will see me."
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go, tell my brothers to go back to Galilee, and there they will see me."
Now several women were there looking on from a distance, among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome,
Now several women were there looking on from a distance, among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome,
But he, as he wished to justify his question, said, "But who is my neighbor?"
But he, as he wished to justify his question, said, "But who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered: "A man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him till he was half dead, and then went off and left him.
Jesus answered: "A man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him till he was half dead, and then went off and left him.
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Near Jesus' cross were standing His mother and her sister Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
Near Jesus' cross were standing His mother and her sister Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. So Jesus, on seeing His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing near, said to His mother, "There is your son."
So Jesus, on seeing His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing near, said to His mother, "There is your son."
Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to me so, for I have not yet gone up to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to me so, for I have not yet gone up to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.
With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.
With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.
With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.
and after he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Now for a whole year their meeting with the church lasted, and they taught large numbers of people. It was at Antioch too that the disciples first came to be known as "Christians."
and after he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Now for a whole year their meeting with the church lasted, and they taught large numbers of people. It was at Antioch too that the disciples first came to be known as "Christians."
So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each in proportion to his prosperity, to help the brothers who lived in Judea.
So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each in proportion to his prosperity, to help the brothers who lived in Judea.
Then Agrippa answered Paul, "In brief you are trying to persuade me and make a Christian of me!"
Then Agrippa answered Paul, "In brief you are trying to persuade me and make a Christian of me!"
Now what I really meant was for you to stop associating with any so-called brother, if he is sexually immoral, a greedy grasper, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler -- with such a person you must even stop eating.
Now what I really meant was for you to stop associating with any so-called brother, if he is sexually immoral, a greedy grasper, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler -- with such a person you must even stop eating.
and not another single one of the apostles did I see, except James, the Lord's brother.
and not another single one of the apostles did I see, 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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Now when King Herod heard of it, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
And as He was going on from that point, He saw two others, brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, getting their nets in order; and He called them.
Is He not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother's name Mary, are not His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
Is He not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother's name Mary, are not His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
When he had contracted with the laborers at twenty cents a day, he sent them off to his vineyard.
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Is He not the carpenter, Mary's son, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And do not His sisters live here among us?" And so they found a cause for stumbling over him.
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who afterward turned traitor.
Near Jesus' cross were standing His mother and her sister Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.