Dictionaries :: Brother

Brother:

(1.) In the natural and common sense (Mat 1:2; Luk 3:1,19).

(2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen 13:8; 14:16; Mat 12:46; Jhn 7:3; Act 1:14; Gal 1:19).

(3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Mat 5:47; Act 3:22; Hbr 7:5).

(4.) A disciple or follower (Mat 25:40; Hbr 2:11,12).

(5.) One of the same faith (Amo 1:9; Act 9:30; 11:29; 1Cr 5:11); whence the early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as brethren.

(6.) A colleague in office (Ezr 3:2; 1Cr 1:1; 2Cr 1:1).

(7.) A fellow-man (Gen 9:5; 19:7; Mat 5:22,23,24; 7:5; Hbr 2:17).

(8.) One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2Sa 1:26; Act 6:3; 1Th 5:1). Brethren of Jesus (Mat 1:25; Mar 3:31,32; Gal 1:19; 1Cr 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.

Brother:

bruth'-er ('ach; adelphos = kin by birth, from the same parents or parent): Used extensively in both Old Testament and New Testament of other relations and relationships, and expanding under Christ's teaching to include the universal brotherhood of man. Chiefly employed in the natural sense, as of Cain and Abel (Ge 4:8); of Joseph and his brethren (Ge 42:3); of Peter and Andrew, of James and John (Mt 10:2). Of other relationships:

(1) Abram's nephew, Lot, is termed "brother" (Ge 14:14);

(2) Moses' fellow-countrymen are "brethren" (Ex 2:11; Ac 3:22; compare Heb 7:5);

(3) a member of the same tribe (2Sa 19:12);

(4) an ally (Am 1:9), or an allied or cognate people (Nu 20:14);

(5) used of common discipleship or the kinship of humanity (Mt 23:8);

(6) of moral likeness or kinship (Pr 18:9);

(7) of friends (Job 6:15);

(8) an equal in rank or office (1Ki 9:13);

(9) one of the same faith (Ac 11:29; 1Co 5:11);

(10) a favorite oriental metaphor used to express likeness or similarity (Job 30:29, "I am a brother to jackals");

(11) a fellow-priest or office-bearer (Ezr 3:2); Paul called Sosthenes "brother" (1Co 1:1) and Timothy his spiritual son and associate (2Co 1:1);

(12) a brother-man, any member of the human family (Mt 7:3-5; Heb 2:17; 8:11; 1 Joh 2:9; 4:20);

(13) signifies spiritual kinship (Mat 12:50);

(14) a term adopted by the early disciples and Christians to express their fraternal love for each other in Christ, and universally adopted as the language of love and brotherhood in His kingdom in all subsequent time (2Pe 3:15; Col 4:7,9,15).

The growing conception of mankind as a brotherhood is the outcome of this Christian view of believers as a household, a family (Eph 2:19; 3:15; compare Ac 17:26). Jesus has made "neighbor" equivalent to "brother," and the sense of fraternal affection and obligation essential to vital Christianity, and coextensive with the world. The rabbis distinguished between "brother" and "neighbor," applying "brother" to Israelites by blood, "neighbor" to proselytes, but allowing neither title to the Gentiles. Christ and the apostles gave the name "brother" to all Christians, and "neighbor" to all the world (1Co 5:11; Lu 10:29 ff). The missionary passion and aggressiveness of the Christian church is the natural product of this Christian conception of man's true relation to man.

Written by Dwight M. Pratt

See FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Brother: Signifies

A relative,

Gen 14:16; 29:12;

a neighbor,

Deu 23:7; Jdg 21:6; Neh 5:7;

any Israelite,

Jer 34:9; Oba 1:10;

mankind,

Gen 9:5; Mat 18:35; 1Jo 3:15;

a companion,

2Sa 1:26; 1Ki 13:30; 20:33.

Brother: Love Of

Pro 17:17; 18:24; Sgs 8:1

Brother: Unfaithful

Pro 27:10

Brother: Reuben's Love for Joseph

Gen 37:21, 22

Brother: Joseph's, for His Brethren

Gen 43:30-34; 45:1-5; 50:19-25

Brother: A Fraternal Epithet, Especially among Christians

Instituted by Christ,

Mat 12:50; 25:40; Hbr 2:11, 12.

Used by disciples,

Act 9:17; 21:20; Rom 16:23; 1Cr 7:12; 2Cr 2:13;

by Peter,

1Pe 1:22.

Used among the Israelites,

Lev 19:17; Deu 22:1-4.

Brother: Brother's Widow

Law concerning Levirate marriage of,

Deu 25:5-10; Mat 22:24; Mar 12:19; Luk 20:28.

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 (Genesis 13:8; 14:16) husband (Solomon 4:9).

(2.) One of the same tribe (2 Samuel 19:13).

(3.) Of the same people (Exodus 2:11) or even of a cognate people (Numbers 20:14).

(4.) An ally (Amos 1:9).

(5.) Any friend (Job 5:15).

(6.) One of the same office (1 Kings 9:13).

(7.) A fellow man (Leviticus 19:17).

(8.) Metaphorically of any similarity, as in Job 30:19. The word adelphos has a similar range of meanings in the New Testament.