'Brother' in the Bible

You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.

Be careful that there isn’t this wicked thought in your heart, ‘The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,’ and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty.

For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’

The judges are to make a careful investigation, and if the witness turns out to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother,

you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from you.

“If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, you must not ignore it; make sure you return it to your brother.

If your brother does not live near you or you don’t know him, you are to bring the animal to your home to remain with you until your brother comes looking for it; then you can return it to him.

Do the same for his donkey, his garment, or anything your brother has lost and you have found. You must not ignore it.

Do not despise an Edomite, because he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you were a foreign resident in his land.

“Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or anything that can earn interest.

You may charge a foreigner interest, but you must not charge your brother interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in everything you do in the land you are entering to possess.

He may be flogged with 40 lashes, but no more. Otherwise, if he is flogged with more lashes than these, your brother will be degraded in your sight.

“When brothers live on the same property and one of them dies without a son, the wife of the dead man may not marry a stranger outside the family. Her brother-in-law is to take her as his wife, have sexual relations with her, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law for her.

The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

But if the man doesn’t want to marry his sister-in-law, she must go to the elders at the city gate and say, ‘My brother-in-law refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He isn’t willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.’

The most sensitive and refined man among you will look grudgingly at his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children,

Then you will die on the mountain that you go up, and you will be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.

So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother, Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as a wife.

Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me to my territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. I will also go with you to your territory.” So Simeon went with him.

So Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as his wife.

Judah went with his brother Simeon, struck the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and completely destroyed the town. So they named the town Hormah.

The Israelites cried out to the Lord. So the Lord raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, as a deliverer to save the Israelites.

His mother’s relatives spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the lords of Shechem, and they were favorable to Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

and now you have attacked my father’s house today, killed his 70 sons on top of a large stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave, king over the lords of Shechem ‘because he is your brother’—

Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and lived there because of his brother Abimelech.

so that the crime against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.

He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling a piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod, was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli the Lord’s priest at Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”

He said, ‘Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if you are pleased with me, let me go so I can see my brothers.’ That’s why he didn’t come to the king’s table.”

Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp to Saul?”“I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.You were such a friend to me.Your love for me was more wonderfulthan the love of women.

Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I ever look your brother Joab in the face?”

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother.

Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

They entered the interior of the house as if to get wheat and stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.

But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the Lord lives, the One who has redeemed my life from every distress,

He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai who lined up in battle formation to engage the Ammonites.

Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable every morning? Won’t you tell me?”Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.”

“Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom.

“Don’t, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don’t do this horrible thing!

Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.

“If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?”

But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar.

Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will destroy the heir!’ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.”

He then sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, “I will also march out with you.”

Joab asked Amasa, “Are you well, my brother?” Then with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it and spilled his intestines out on the ground. Joab did not stab him again for Amasa was dead. Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him.

Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three.

Among the Thirty were:Joab’s brother Asahel,Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the warriors, or his brother Solomon.

“Show loyalty to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

“You know the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother, for the Lord gave it to him.

So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.”

King Solomon answered his mother, “Why are you requesting Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my elder brother, you might as well ask the kingship for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.”

So he said, “What are these towns you’ve given me, my brother?” So he called them the Land of Cabul, as they are still called today.

Then he laid the corpse in his own grave, and they mourned over him: “Oh, my brother!”

So they dressed with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, went to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’”So he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on this and responded, “Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad.”Then he said, “Go and bring him.”So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot.

Two sons were born to Eber. One of them was named Peleg because the earth was divided during his lifetime, and the name of his brother was Joktan.

The sons of Jada, brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.

The sons of Caleb brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha, his firstborn, fathered Ziph, and Mareshah, his second son, fathered Hebron.

Chelub brother of Shuhah fathered Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.

Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.

His brother Helem’s sons: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.

His brother Eshek’s sons: Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third.

Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the leader of the Three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three.

The fighting men were:Joab’s brother Asahel,Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

Joel the brother of Nathan,Mibhar son of Hagri,

Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,

Their chief was Ahiezer son of Shemaah the Gibeathite.Then there was his brother Joash;Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth;Beracah, Jehu the Anathothite;

He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, and they lined up in battle formation to engage the Ammonites.

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Joab’s brother Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab went to Jerusalem.

Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.

When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.

Micah’s brother: Isshiah;from Isshiah’s sons: Zechariah.

The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.

The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him; 24,000 were in his division.

The offering, the tenth, and the dedicated things were brought faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second.

Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were deputies under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of God’s temple.

Then Neco king of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took his brother Jehoahaz and brought him to Egypt.

In the spring Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon along with the valuable utensils of the Lord’s temple. Then he made Jehoiachin’s brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

I have become a brother to jackalsand a companion of ostriches.

I went about grieving as if for my friend or brother;I was bowed down with grief,like one mourning a mother.

You sit, maligning your brother,slandering your mother’s son.

A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for a difficult time.

The one who is truly lazy in his workis brother to a vandal.

An offended brother is harder to reachthan a fortified city,and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

A man with many friends may be harmed,but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. >

Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,and don’t go to your brother’s housein your time of calamity;better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

If only I could treat you like my brother,one who nursed at my mother’s breasts,I would find you in public and kiss you,and no one would scorn me.

A man will even seize his brotherin his father’s house, saying:“You have a cloak—you be our leader!This heap of rubble will be under your control.”

The land is scorchedby the wrath of the Lord of Hosts,and the people are like fuel for the fire.No one has compassion on his brother.

I will provoke Egypt against Egypt;each will fight against his brotherand each against his friend,city against city, kingdom against kingdom.