51 Bible Verses about Brothers

And the LORD said unto Moses, "Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron and say unto them, 'A priest shall defile himself at the death of none of his people, but upon his kin that is nigh unto him: as his mother, father, son, daughter and brother: and on his sister as long as she is a maid and dwelleth nigh him and was never given to man: on her he may defile himself.

As long as he abstaineth unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body: he shall not make himself unclean at the death of his father, mother, brother or sister: For the abstinence of his God is upon his head.

so that it shall grieve the man that is tender, and exceeding delicate among you, to look on his brother and upon his wife that lieth in his bosom and on the remnant of his children, which he hath yet left -

A friend that delighteth in love, doth a man more friendship, and sticketh faster unto him than a brother.

They shall come at no dead person, to defile themselves; except it be father or mother, son or daughter, brother or sister that hath had yet no husband: in such they may be defiled.

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. But and if the man will not take his sister-in-law, then let her go to the gate unto the elders and say, 'My brother-in-law refuseth to stir up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not marry me.'read more.
Then let the elders of his city call unto him and commune with him. If he stand and say, 'I will not take her,' then let his sister-in-law go unto him in the presence of the elders and loose his shoe off his foot and spit in his face and answer and say, 'So shall it be done unto that man that will not build his brother's house.' And his name shall be called in Israel, the unshoed house.

And Judah gave Er, his eldest son, a wife whose name was Tamar. But this Er, Judah's eldest son, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; wherefore the LORD slew him. Then said Judah unto Onan, go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, and stir up seed unto thy brother.read more.
And when Onan perceived that the seed should not be his: therefore when he went into his brother's wife, he spilled it on the ground, because he would not give seed unto his brother. And the thing which he did, displeased the LORD, wherefore he slew him also. Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown." For he feared lest he should have died also, as his brethren did. Thus went Tamar and dwelt in her father's house.

The same day the Sadducees came to him, which say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him, saying, "Master, Moses bade, if a man die having no children, that the brother marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were with us seven brethren, and the first married and deceased without issue, and left his wife unto his brother.read more.
Likewise the second and the third, unto the seventh: Last of all the woman died also. Now in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? For all had her." Jesus answered and said unto them, "Ye are deceived, and understand not what the scripture meaneth, nor yet the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are married: but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Then came the Sadducees came unto him, which say there is no resurrection. And they asked him, saying, "Master, Moses wrote unto us, if any man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children: that then his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren and the first took a wife, and when he died left no seed behind him.read more.
And the second took her, and died: neither left he any seed, and the third likewise. And seven had her, and left no seed behind them. Last of all, the wife died also. In the resurrection, then, when they shall rise again: whose wife shall she be of them? For seven had her to wife." Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Are ye not therefore deceived, and understand not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise again from death, they neither marry, nor are married: but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection. And they asked him, saying, "Master, Moses wrote unto us, 'if any man's brother die having a wife; And the same die without issue: that then his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.' There were seven brethren, and the first took a wife, and died without children.read more.
And the second took the wife, and he died childless. And the third took her, and in likewise the residue of the seven; And left no children behind them, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Now at the resurrection whose wife of them shall she be? for seven had her to wife." Jesus answered and said unto them, "The children of this world marry wives, and are married, but they which shall be made worthy to enjoy that world, and the resurrection from death, neither marry wives, neither are married, nor yet can die any more. For they are equal unto the angels: and are the sons of God, inasmuch as they are the children of the resurrection.

And Shechem said unto her father and her brethren, "Let me find grace in your eyes, and whatsoever ye appoint me, that will I give. Ask freely of me both the dowry and gifts, and I will give according as ye say unto me, and give me the damsel to wife." Then the sons of Jacob answered to Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, because he had defiled Dina their sister.read more.
And they said unto them, "We cannot do this thing, that we should give our sister to one that is uncircumcised, for that were a shame unto us. Only in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that all the men children among you be circumcised, then will we give our daughter to you and take yours to us, and will dwell with you and be one people. But and if ye will not hearken unto us to be circumcised, then will we take our daughter and go our ways."

Then answered Laban and Bethuel, saying, "The thing is proceeded even out of the LORD, we can not therefore say unto thee, either good or bad: Behold Rebekah before thy face: take her and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, even as the LORD hath said." And when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself unto the LORD, flat upon the earth.read more.
And the servant took forth jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: But unto her brother and to her mother, he gave spices. And then they ate and drank, both he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night and rose up in the morning. And he said, "Let me depart unto my master." But her brother and her mother said, "Let the damsel abide with us a while, and it be but even ten days, and then go thy ways." And he said unto them, "Hinder me not: for the LORD hath prospered my journey. Send me away that I may go unto my master." And they said, "Let us call the damsel, and wit what she saith to the matter." And they called forth Rebekah and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man?" And she said, "Yea." Then they brought Rebekah their sister on the way, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and the men that were with him. And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, "Thou art our sister, grow into thousand thousands, and thy seed possess the gates of their enemies."

And it chanced that Absalom, David's son, had a fair sister named Tamar, whom afterward Amnon, another son of David, loved. And this Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick for the love of his sister Tamar: for he thought it hard to come by his purpose of her, seeing she was yet a virgin. But Amnon had a companion called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah the brother of David: which Jonadab was a very wise man.read more.
And he said unto him, "How cometh it that thou, being the king's son, art thus consumed every morning? Mayest thou not tell it me?" And Amnon answered him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." Then said Jonadab unto him, "Lie on thy bed and feign thyself sick. And when thy father is come to see thee, say unto him, 'Let my sister Tamar come and give me meat and dress it in my sight, that I may see it and eat it of her hand." And Amnon lay down and made himself sick. And when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto him, "Let Tamar my sister come and make me a couple of fritters in my sight, that I may eat of her hand." And David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go to thy brother Amnon's house and dress him meat. When Tamar came to her brother Amnon's house, he lay. And she took flour and made paste and made fritters in his sight and did bake them, and took a platter and poured them out before him. And Amnon would not eat, but commanded to have out all men from him. And they went all out from him. Then said Amnon unto Tamar, "Bring the meat into the chamber that I may eat it of thine hand." And Tamar took the fritters which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother, and set them before him to eat. And he took her and said unto her, "Come, lie with me my sister." And she answered him, "Nay, my brother, do not force me, for it ought not to be so in Israel. Do not this folly. For whither shall I go with my shame? And thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. But speak unto the king, and he shall not deny me unto thee." Howbeit, he would not hearken unto her voice but was too strong for her and forced her and lay with her. And then Amnon hated her exceedingly: so that the hate wherewith he hated her was greater than the love with which he before loved her. And he said unto her, "Up, and away." Then she said unto him, "This great cruelness, that thou puttest me away, passeth the other that thou didst unto me." Nevertheless he would not hear her, but called his lad that waited upon him, and said, "Put her out at the doors from me and bolt the door after her." And she had a kirtle of divers colors upon her: for with such were the king's daughters that were virgins appareled; made strait unto them. Then his servant brought her out at the doors and locked the doors after her. And Tamar put ashes on her head and rent her gay kirtle that was on her and put her hand on her head and so went, and as she went cried. Then Absalom her brother said unto her, "Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? Now then, be still my sister: for he is thy brother. And let not this thing grieve thine heart." And so Tamar remained discomforted in her brother Absalom's house. And king David heard of all these things and was very wroth. And Absalom said unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. Howbeit, Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar. And it happened, two year after, that Absalom had a sheep shearing in Baal Hazor besides the tribe of Ephraim, and bade all the king's sons. And he came to the king and said, "Behold, thy servant hath a sheep shearing. Let the king and his servants come with thy servant." And the king said unto Absalom, "Oh nay my son let us not go every one of us that we be not chargeable unto thee." And Absalom lay sore upon him: howbeit, he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, "Then let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king answered, "What needeth it that he go with thee?" But Absalom made such insistence that he let Amnon go with him, and all the king's children. Then Absalom commanded his young men, saying, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I bid you smite Amnon, then kill him. Fear not, for it is I that bid you. Be bold therefore and play the lusty bloods." And the young men of Absalom served Amnon even as Absalom commanded them. And all the king's sons arose and took each man his mule and fled. And while they were yet in the way, tidings came to David that Absalom had slain all the king's sons, so that none was left alive. Then the king arose and tare his garments and lay along on the earth: and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah David's brother answered and said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king's sons: save Amnon only is dead. For that hath been ever in Absalom's mouth since he forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing so grievously to think that all the king's sons were dead, when Amnon only is dead."

And unto Hamor and Shechem his son hearkened all that went out at the gate of his city. And all the men children were circumcised, whatsoever went out at the gates of his city. And the third day, when it was painful to them, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dina's brethren, took either of them his sword and went into the city boldly, and slew all that was male; and slew also Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dina their sister out of Shechem's house, and went their way.read more.
Then came the sons of Jacob upon the deed, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister: and took their sheep, oxen, asses and whatsoever was in the city and also in the fields. And all their goods, all their children and their wives took they captive, and made havoc of all that was in the houses. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "Ye have troubled me, and made me stink unto the inhabiters of the land, both to the Canaanites and also unto the Perizzites. And I am few in number. Wherefore they shall gather themselves together against me and slay me, and so shall I and my house be destroyed." And they answered, "Should they deal with our sister as with an whore?"

and on his sister as long as she is a maid and dwelleth nigh him and was never given to man: on her he may defile himself.

And Jesse said unto David his son, "Take for thy brethren this ephah of parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the host, to thy brethren. And carry these ten fresh cheeses unto the captain, and look how thy brethren fare, and set out their pledges."

His brethren went to keep their father's sheep in Shechem, and Israel said unto Joseph, "Do not thy brethren keep in Shechem? Come, that I may send thee to them." And he answered, "Here am I." And he said unto him, "Go and see whether it be well with thy brethren and the sheep, and bring me word again." And sent him out of the vale of Hebron, for to go to Shechem.read more.
And a certain man found him wandering out of his way in the field, and asked him what he sought. And he answered, "I seek my brethren, tell me, I pray thee, where they keep sheep." And the man said, "They are departed hence, for I heard them say, 'Let us go unto Dothan.'" Thus went Joseph after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

If a man have two wives, one loved and another hated, and they have borne him children, both the loved and also the hated; if the firstborn be the son of the hated: then when he dealeth his goods among his children, he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall know the son of the hated for his firstborn, that he give him double of all that he hath. For he is the first of his strength, and to him belongeth the right of the firstbornship.

And they sat before him; the eldest according unto his age, and the youngest according unto his youth. And the men marveled among themselves.

And he searched, and began at the eldest and left at the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

'Let me go I pray thee, for our kindred hold an offering in the city, and my brother hath sent for me. Now therefore if I have found favour in thine eyes let me go and see my brother.' And therefore he cometh not unto the table of the king."

The sons of Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: for he was the eldest. But because he defied his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, and so he is not reckoned unto the birthright. For unto Judah which was mighty among his brethren, was given the principality before him. But the birthright was given Joseph.

Jehoshaphat laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his room: which Jehoram had other brethren, sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. And their father gave them many great gifts in silver, gold and other precious things with strong cities in Judah: but the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the eldest.

And I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

and that there be no fornicator, or unclean person, as Esau, which for one breakfast sold his birthright.

And Isaac made intercession unto the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children strove together within her. Then she said, "If it should go so to pass, what helpeth it that I am with child?" And she went and asked the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, "There are two manner of people in thy womb, and two nations shall spring out of thy bowels, and the one nation shall be mightier than the other and the eldest shall be servant unto the younger."

And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, "What are these?" And Joseph said unto his father, "They are my sons, which God hath given me here." And he said, "Bring them to me, and let me bless them." And the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.read more.
And Israel said unto Joseph, "I had not thought to have seen thy face, and yet lo, God hath showed it me and also thy seed." And Joseph took them away from his lap, and they fell on the ground before him. Then took Joseph them both: Ephraim in his righthand, toward Israel's lefthand, and Manasseh in his lefthand, toward Israel's righthand, and brought them unto him. And Israel stretched out his righthand and laid it upon Ephraim's head which was the younger, and his lefthand upon Manasseh's head, crossing his hands; for Manasseh was the elder. And he blessed Joseph saying, "God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, and the God which hath fed me all my life long unto this day; And the angel which hath delivered me from all evil, bless these lads: that they may be called after my name, and after my father Abraham and Isaac, and that they may grow and multiply upon the earth." When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. And he lift up his father's hand, to have removed it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head, and said unto his father, "Not so my father, for this is the eldest. Put thy righthand upon his head." And his father would not, but said, "I know it well my son, I know it well. He shall be also a people and shall be great. But of a truth his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall be full of people." And he blessed them, saying, "At the example of these, the Israelites shall bless and say, 'God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'" Thus set he Ephraim before Manasseh.

And unto Joseph he said, "Blessed of the LORD is his land with the goodly fruits of heaven, with dew and with springs that lie beneath: and with fruits of the increase of the sun and with ripe fruit of the months, and with the tops of mountains that were from the beginning and with the dainties of hills that last ever,read more.
and with goodly fruit of the earth and of the fullness thereof. And the goodwill of him that dwelleth in the bush shall come upon the head of Joseph and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from among his brethren. His beauty is as a firstborn ox and his horns as the horns of an unicorn. And with them he shall push the nations together, even unto the ends of the world. These are the many thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh."

And when they were come, he looked on Eliab and said, "The LORD's anointed is before him." But the LORD said unto Samuel, "Look not on his fashion nor on the height of his stature, for I have refused him. Because it is not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance: but the LORD beholdeth the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him come before Samuel. And he said, "Neither hath the LORD chosen this."read more.
Then Jesse made Shammah come, and he said, "Neither hath the LORD chosen him." Then made Jesse seven of his sons come before Samuel. And Samuel said, "The LORD hath chosen none of these." Then said Samuel to Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" And he said, "The youngest is yet behind. Behold, he keepeth the sheep." Then Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch him for we will not sit down, till he be come hither." And he sent and brought him in. And he was brown with goodly eyes, and well favoured in sight. And then the LORD said, "Up and anoint him: for this is he." And Samuel took the horn with the ointment and anointed him in the presence of his brethren. And the spirit of the LORD came upon David, from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, "Why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? But rather ask for him the kingdom, seeing he is mine elder brother! Even for him ask it; and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah."

And speak unto the children of Israel saying, 'If a man die and have no son, ye shall turn his inheritance unto his daughter. If he have no daughter, ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. If he have no brethren, ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.read more.
If he have no father's brethren, ye shall give his inheritance unto him that is next to him of his kindred, and let him possess it. And this shall be unto the children of Israel an ordinance, and a law, as the LORD hath commanded Moses.'"

And when her time was come to be delivered, behold, there were two twins in her womb. And he that came out first was red and rough over all, as it were a hide: and they called his name Esau. And afterward his brother came out, and his hand holding Esau by the heel. Wherefore his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was forty years old when she bare them:

When time was come that she should be delivered, behold there was two twins in her womb. And as she travailed, the one put out his hand and the midwife took and bound a red thread about it, saying, "This will come out first." But he plucked his hand back again, and his brother came out. And she said, "Wherefore hast thou rent a rent upon thee?" And called him Perez.read more.
And afterward came out his brother that had the red thread about his hand, which was called Zerah.

"I have loved you," sayeth the LORD: And yet ye say, "Wherein hast thou loved us?" "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" sayeth the LORD, "Yet have I loved Jacob, and hated Esau: Yea I have made his hills waste, and his heritage a wilderness for dragons."

And there was one Jephthah a Gileadite, a strong man, which was the son of a harlot: Howbeit Gilead begat Jephthah. But Gilead's wife bare him sons, which when they were come to age, thrust out of Jephthah, and said unto him, "Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house, for thou art the son of a strange woman."

The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast, the same day that Isaac was weaned. Sara saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, a mocking.

And Gideon had seventy sons of his body begotten, for he had many wives. And his concubine that dwelt in Shechem bare him a son also, whose name he called Abimelech.

For Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them and with all his mother's father's kindred, saying, "Say, I pray you, in the ears of all the inhabiters of Shechem: whether is better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal which are seventy persons reign over you, either that one reign over you. And remember thereto, that I am your bones and your flesh." And his mother's brethren rehearsed of him in the audience of all the citizens of Shechem, all these words, and moved their hearts to follow Abimelech, in that they said how he was their brother.read more.
And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light persons which went with him. And they went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew all his brethren, the sons of Jerubbaal, even seventy persons upon one stone. Notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal escaped, for he hid himself. And all the citizens of Shechem gathered together with all the house of Mello, and went and made Abimelech king at a certain oak that was by Shechem.

And Moses said unto Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We go unto the place of which the LORD said, 'I will give it you.' Go with us and we will do thee good, for the LORD hath promised good unto Israel." And he said unto him, "I will not: but will go to mine own land and to my kindred." And Moses said, "Oh nay, leave us not, for thou knowest where is best for us to pitch in the wilderness: and thou shalt be our eyes.read more.
And if thou go with us, look what goodness the LORD showeth upon us, the same we will show upon thee."

Then said Judah unto Onan, go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, and stir up seed unto thy brother.

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.

But Heber the Kenite was removed out of the Kenites, which was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and pitched his tent until he was come unto the oak of Zaananim, by Kadesh.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother. And as soon as they were in the fields, Cain fell upon Abel his brother and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, "Where is Abel thy brother?" And he said, "I can not tell, am I my brother's keeper?" And he said, "What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood cryeth unto me out of the earth.read more.
And now cursed be thou as pertaining to the earth, which opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood of thine hand. For when thou tillest the ground she shall henceforth not give her power unto thee. A vagabond and a renegade shalt thou be upon the earth."

And Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he begat him in his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. When his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak one kind word unto him.

And Judah gave Er, his eldest son, a wife whose name was Tamar. But this Er, Judah's eldest son, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; wherefore the LORD slew him. Then said Judah unto Onan, go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, and stir up seed unto thy brother.read more.
And when Onan perceived that the seed should not be his: therefore when he went into his brother's wife, he spilled it on the ground, because he would not give seed unto his brother. And the thing which he did, displeased the LORD, wherefore he slew him also.