51 Bible Verses about Brothers

Jehovah gave Moses these instructions for Aaron's sons, the priests: Touching a dead body will make you unclean. So do not go near a dead relative, except for your mother, father, son, daughter, brother, or an unmarried sister, who has no husband to take care of her.

While they are dedicated to Jehovah as Nazirites, they must never go near a dead body. Even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not make themselves unclean by going near them. Nazarites show their vow to God with their long hair.

The kindest and most sensitive man among you will become stingy toward his brother, the wife he loves, and the children he still has left.

A man with friends must be friendly! A friend sticks closer than a brother.

A priest must not make himself unclean by going near a dead body. But a priest may become unclean if the dead person is his father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or unmarried sister.

When brothers live together and one of them dies without a son the wife of the deceased shall not marry outside the family to a strange man. Her husband's brother shall marry her and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. The firstborn son she bears will assume the name of the dead brother. That way his name will not be blotted out from Israel. If the man does not desire to take his brother's wife, his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say: My husband's brother refuses to establish a name for his brother in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.read more.
The elders of his city must summon him and speak to him. If he persists and says: I do not desire to take her, his brother's wife shall must to him in the sight of the elders. She will pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. Then she will declare: It is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house. His name in Israel will be: 'The house of him whose sandal is removed.'

For his first son Er, Judah got a wife whose name was Tamar. Er was an evil man. It displeased Jehovah. So Jehovah killed him. Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan: Go sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother. That way your brother may have descendants.read more.
Onan knew that the children would not belong to him. So when he had intercourse with his brother's widow, he let the semen spill on the ground, assuring that there would be no children for his brother. What he did displeased Jehovah. So Jehovah killed him also. Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar: Return to your father's house and remain a widow until my son Shelah grows up. He said this because he was afraid that Shelah would be killed, as his brothers had been. So Tamar went back home.

That same day, Sadducees came to him. They believe there is no resurrection. They asked him a question. Teacher, Moses said if a man dies having no children, his brother should marry his wife, and bring up seed for his brother. There were seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no children, left his wife to his brother.read more.
The same happened to the second, right on through the seventh. After that the woman died. In the resurrection, with which of the seven will she be married? All seven had her. Jesus answered: You are mistaken! You do not know the scriptures or the power of God. In the resurrection they will not marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like the angels in heaven.

Sadducees say that there is no resurrection. They came to him to ask a question: Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man's brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed for his brother. There were seven brothers the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.read more.
The second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him. The third also died without leaving a seed. The seven left no seed. The woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? For each of the seven had her as wife. Jesus replied: Is it not for this cause that you err? You do not know the scriptures or the power of God. For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.

Some Sadducees came to him. They believe there is no resurrection. They asked him: Teacher, Moses wrote if a man's brother dies and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed for his brother. There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless.read more.
The same for the second. The third married her. The remaining of the seven also married her, left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be? All seven married her. Jesus said, The sons of this age marry, and are given in marriage. Those accounted worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. They cannot die anymore for they are equal to the angels. They are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

Shechem added: Let me have your favor and I will give you whatever you want. Ask anything as the bride price, no matter how expensive. I will do anything. Just let me marry Dinah. Jacob's sons wanted to get even with Shechem and his father because of what happened to their sister.read more.
So they tricked them by saying: You are not circumcised! It would be a disgrace for us to let you marry Dinah now. But we will let you marry her, if you and the other men in your tribe get circumcised. Then we will give our daughters to you. And we will take your daughters for us. We will live with you as one people. But if you will not undergo circumcision as we say, then we will take our daughter and go.

Laban and Bethuel replied: The matter comes from Jehovah. We cannot speak to you bad or good. Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go. Let her be the wife of your master's son, as Jehovah has spoken. Abraham's servant heard their answer. Then he bowed down to Jehovah.read more.
The servant took out gold and silver jewelry and clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother. He and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they got up in the morning, he said: Let me go back to my master. Her brother and mother replied: Let the girl stay with us ten days or so. After that she may go. He said: Do not make us stay. Jehovah has made my journey a success. Let me go back to my master. They answered: Let us call her and find out what she has to say. They called Rebecca and asked: Do you want to go with this man? Yes, she answered. They allowed Rebecca and her old family servant to go with Abraham's servant and his men. They gave Rebecca their blessing in these words: May you, sister, become the mother of millions! May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies!

David had a beautiful daughter named Tamar. She was Absalom's sister. She was also the half sister of Amnon. Amnon fell in love with her. Tamar was a virgin. Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with her. He was so upset about it that he made himself sick. Amnon had a friend named Jonadab. He was the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab usually knew how to get what he wanted.read more.
Jonadab said to Amnon: You are the king's son. Even so day after day I see you looking sad. What is the problem? Amnon answered: I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my half brother Absalom. Jonadab said: Pretend that you are sick and go to bed. When your father comes to see you, say to him: 'Please ask my sister Tamar to come and feed me. I want her to fix the food here where I can see her. Then she can serve it to me.' So Amnon went to bed and pretended that he was sick. King David went to see him. Amnon said: Please have Tamar come and make a few cakes here where I can see her. Then she can serve them to me. David sent word to Tamar at the palace: Go to Amnon's house and fix him some food. She went there and found him in bed. She prepared dough and made some cakes there where he could see her. Then she baked the cakes. Tamar emptied them out of the pan for him to eat. But he refused to eat. He said: Send everyone away. So they all left. He said to her: Bring the cakes here to my bed and serve them to me. She took the cakes and went over to him. She offered them to him. He grabbed her and said: Come to bed with me! She said: No! Do not force me to do this disgraceful thing. It is evil. How could I ever hold up my head in public again? And you, you would be completely disgraced in Israel. Please speak to the king. I am sure he will give me to you. Amnon wouldn't listen to her. He grabbed his sister and raped her. After that Amnon developed an intense hatred for her. His hatred for her was greater than the lust he felt for her. Get out of here, he told her. She said: No, You do a greater wrong by sending me away than the other thing you did to me! He would not listen to her. He called his servant and said: Throw this woman out and lock the door! The servant forced her to leave. He locked the door behind her. The king's unmarried daughters used to wear long robes with sleeves. Tamar tore the robe she was wearing. She put ashes on her head. Then she covered her face with her hands. She cried loudly as she walked away. Tamar's brother Absalom said to her: How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he is your brother, do not tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it. Tamar soon moved into Absalom's house. She was always sad and lonely. King David heard what happened and he was furious! Absalom hated Amnon so much because he raped his sister Tamar. He would not speak to him anymore. Two years later Absalom had sheep sheared at Baal Hazor, near the town of Ephraim. He invited all the king's sons to be there. He went to King David and said: Your Majesty, I am having my sheep sheared. Will you and your officials take part in the festivities? The king answered: No, my son. It would be too much trouble for you if we all went. Absalom insisted, but the king would not give in. So he asked Absalom to leave. Absalom said: Will you at least let my brother Amnon come? Why should he? The king asked. Absalom insisted until David finally let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king. Absalom gave an order to his servants: Watch now and when Amnon begins to feel good from drinking too much wine, I will tell you, Attack Amnon. Then kill him. Do not be afraid. I give this order. Be strong and courageous. Absalom's servants did to Amnon as Absalom ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled. While they were on their way, David heard this rumor: Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not a single one is left. The king stood up and tore his clothes. Then he lay down on the ground. All his servants stood beside him with their clothes torn to show their grief. Jonadab son of David's brother Shimea, said: Do not think that all the young men are dead. They have not killed all the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom decided to do this the day his half brother raped his sister Tamar. You should not burden your heart with the idea that all the king's sons are dead. Your Majesty, only Amnon is dead.

All the citizens of the city agreed with what Hamor and Shechem proposed. Then all the males were circumcised. Three days later the men who had been circumcised were still weak from pain. So Simeon and Levi, two of Dinah's brothers, attacked with their swords and killed every man in town. They also killed Hamor and Shechem. Then they took Dinah and left.read more.
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain. They plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. They took their flocks and their herds, their asses and whatever was in the city and in the field. They captured their wives and all their little ones. They took all the wealth that was in their houses. Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have brought trouble on me by making me loathsome to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Per'izzites. My numbers are few. If they gather themselves against me and attack my household I will be destroyed. They responded: Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?

or an unmarried sister, who has no husband to take care of her.

Jesse told his son David: Take this half-bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Take them to your brothers in the camp right away. Also take these ten slices of cheese to the commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are getting along. Bring back something to show that you saw them and that they are well.

His brothers went to Shechem to take care of their father's flock. His father Jacob said to him: I want you to go to your brothers. They are with the sheep near Shechem. Yes, I will go, Joseph answered. His father said: Go and find out how your brothers and the sheep are doing. Then come back and let me know. So he sent him from Hebron Valley. Joseph was near Shechem,read more.
and wandering through the fields, when a man asked: What are you looking for? Joseph answered: I am looking for my brothers who are watching the sheep. Can you tell me where they are? They are not here anymore, the man replied. I heard them say they were going to Dothan. Joseph soon found his brothers in Dothan.

If a man have two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife he does not love. A man near death and dividing up his property must give a double share to his first-born son. This is because he was the first to be born. The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife. He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.

To the surprise of Joseph's brothers, they were seated in front of him according to their ages, from the oldest to the youngest.

Joseph's servant started searching the sacks. They began with the one that belonged to the oldest brother. When he came to Benjamin's sack, he found the cup.

David said to me: 'Please let me go, since our family must make a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to attend. If I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table.'

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph

Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king. Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah had six brothers: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. Their father gave them large amounts of gold, silver, and other valuable possessions, and placed each one in charge of one of the fortified cities of Judah. But because Jehoram was the oldest, Jehoshaphat made him his successor.

I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

Let no one become immoral or unspiritual like Esau. He sold his birthright for a single meal!

Isaac prayed to Jehovah for his wife because she was childless. Jehovah answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant. She was going to have twins. Before they were born they struggled against each other in her womb. She said: Why should something like this happen to me? She asked Jehovah for an answer. Jehovah said: Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger.

Then Israel saw Joseph's sons. He asked Joseph: Who are these boys? Joseph answered: They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt. Bring them to me, Jacob said. I want to give them my blessing. Joseph brought the boys to him. Israel's eyesight was failing because of old age. He could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to his father. Israel hugged them and kissed them.read more.
Israel said to Joseph: I never expected to see you again. Now God has even let me see your sons. Joseph took them off his father's lap and bowed with his face touching the ground. Then Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right, facing Israel's left, and Manasseh on his left, facing Israel's right, and brought them close to him. But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim's head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh's head, although Manasseh was older. Jacob blessed Joseph. He said: May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may this God who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day, May the being who rescued me from all evil bless these boys! May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth. Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim's head. Joseph did not like it. So he took his father's hand in order to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's. He said to his father: That is not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head. His father refused and said: I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation. He, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he. His descendants will become many nations. That day he blessed them. He said: Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!' In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

Blessed of Jehovah is his land. Bless it with the dew from heaven above and with the deep waters lying below. Bless with the choice yield of the sun, and with the bounty produced each month. Bless with the best things of the ancient mountains, and with the choice things of the everlasting hills.read more.
Bless with the choice things of the earth and its fullness. Let the favor of him who dwelt in the bush come to the head of Joseph and to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers. As the firstborn of his bulls, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild bull. With them he will push the peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.

When they entered he looked at Eliab and thought: Surely Jehovah's anointed is before Him. But Jehovah said to Samuel: Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature. I have rejected him. God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance. Jehovah looks at the heart (inner man). Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. Samuel said: Jehovah has not chosen this one either.read more.
Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. He said: Jehovah has not chosen this one either. So Jesse brought seven more of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse: Jehovah has not chosen any of these. Are these all the sons you have? Samuel asked. There is still the youngest one, Jesse answered. He is tending sheep. Samuel responded: Send someone to get him. We will not continue until he gets here. Jesse sent for him. He was a handsome, healthy young man, and his eyes sparkled. Jehovah said to Samuel: This is the one. Anoint him! Samuel took the olive oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. Immediately the Spirit of Jehovah took control of David and was with him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

Then King Solomon answered: Why are you requesting me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Take the kingdom for him in addition, for he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, the son of Zeruiah, are on his side.

Tell the Israelites: 'If a man dies and leaves no sons, turn his property over to his daughters. If he has no daughters give his property to his brothers. If he has no brothers give his property to his uncles on his father's side of the family.read more.
If he has no uncles, give his property to the nearest relative in his family. That relative will take possession of it. This will be a rule for the Israelites, as Jehovah commanded Moses.'

The time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to twin sons. The first one was reddish. His skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau. The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand. The midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said: This one came out first. When he drew back his hand, his brother came out. She said: So this is how you have broken out! He was named Perez.read more.
Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out and he was given the name Zerah.

I have loved you, said Jehovah. You replied: How have you loved us? Was Esau Jacob's brother? Responded Jehovah: Yet I loved Jacob. And yet I hated Esau and his descendants. I devastated Esau's hill country and abandoned his inheritance to the desert jackals.

Jephthah was a brave soldier from Gilead. He was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was his father. They had other sons by his wife, and when they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave home. They told him: You will have no inheritance from our father for you are the son of another woman.

The child grew and was weaned. Abraham held a big feast on the day Isaac was weaned. Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was laughing in mockery.

He had many wives and seventy sons. He also kept a concubine in Shechem. She bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

Gideon's son Abimelech went to the town of Shechem. All his mother's relatives lived there. He told them: Ask the men of Shechem: 'Which is better for you. To have all seventy of Gideon's sons govern you or to have just one man? Remember that Abimelech is your own flesh and blood.' His mother's relatives talked to the men of Shechem about this for him. The men of Shechem decided to follow Abimelech because: He is our relative.read more.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to join him. He went to his father's house at Ophrah. There on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid and therefore was not killed. All the men of Shechem and Bethmillo got together and went to the sacred oak tree at Shechem, where they made Abimelech king.

Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab son of Jethro the Midianite: We are about to start out for the place Jehovah said he would give us. He promised to make Israel prosperous, so come with us, and we will share our prosperity with you. Hobab answered: No, I am going back to my native land. Please do not leave us, Moses said. You know where we can camp in the desert. You can be our guide.read more.
If you come with us, we will share with you all the blessings that Jehovah gives us.

Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan: Go sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother. That way your brother may have descendants.

When brothers live together and one of them dies without a son the wife of the deceased shall not marry outside the family to a strange man. Her husband's brother shall marry her and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.

Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent at the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Jehovah asked Cain: Where is your brother Abel? I do not know, he replied. Am I my brother's keeper? Jehovah said: What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood (life) cries out to me from the ground.read more.
Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer (vagabond) on the earth.

Jacob (Israel) loved Joseph more than all his sons because Joseph had been born in Israel's old age. So he made Joseph a special multicolored robe with long sleeves. Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. They hated Joseph and could not speak to him in a friendly way.

For his first son Er, Judah got a wife whose name was Tamar. Er was an evil man. It displeased Jehovah. So Jehovah killed him. Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan: Go sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother. That way your brother may have descendants.read more.
Onan knew that the children would not belong to him. So when he had intercourse with his brother's widow, he let the semen spill on the ground, assuring that there would be no children for his brother. What he did displeased Jehovah. So Jehovah killed him also.