Topic
Brother
96 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Genesis 14:16Easton · Smith · Nave Signifies — a relative
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
- Amos 1:9Easton · Smith · ISBE
¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
- Matthew 12:50Easton · ISBE · Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Instituted by Christ
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
- Genesis 9:5Easton · Nave Signifies — mankind
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
- Genesis 13:8Easton · Smith
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
- Exodus 2:11Smith · ISBE
¶ And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
- Leviticus 19:17Smith · Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Used among the Israelites
¶ Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
- Numbers 20:14Smith · ISBE
¶ And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
- 2 Samuel 1:26Easton · Nave Signifies — a companion
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
- 1 Kings 9:13Smith · ISBE
And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
- Ezra 3:2Easton · ISBE
Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
- Matthew 25:40Easton · Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Instituted by Christ
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Show 84 more
- Acts 3:22 Easton · ISBE
- Acts 11:29 Easton · ISBE
- 1 Corinthians 1:1 Easton · ISBE
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 Easton · ISBE
- 2 Corinthians 1:1 Easton · ISBE
- Hebrews 2:11 Easton · Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Instituted by Christ
- Hebrews 2:12 Easton · Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Instituted by Christ
- Hebrews 2:17 Easton · ISBE
- Hebrews 7:5 Easton · ISBE
- Genesis 4:8 ISBE
- Genesis 14:14 ISBE
- Genesis 19:7 Easton
- Genesis 29:12 Nave Signifies — a relative
- Genesis 37:21 Nave Reuben's love for Joseph
- Genesis 37:22 Nave Reuben's love for Joseph
- Genesis 42:3 ISBE
- Genesis 43:30–34 Nave Joseph's, for his brethren
- Genesis 45:1–5 Nave Joseph's, for his brethren
- Genesis 50:19–25 Nave Joseph's, for his brethren
- Deuteronomy 22:1–4 Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Used among the Israelites
- Deuteronomy 23:7 Nave Signifies — a neighbor
- Deuteronomy 25:5–10 Nave Brother's widow. — Law concerning Levirate marriage of
- Judges 21:6 Nave Signifies — a neighbor
- 2 Samuel 19:12 ISBE
- 2 Samuel 19:13 Smith
- 1 Kings 13:30 Nave Signifies — a companion
- 1 Kings 20:33 Nave Signifies — a companion
- Nehemiah 5:7 Nave Signifies — a neighbor
- Job 5:15 Smith
- Job 6:15 ISBE
- Job 30:19 Smith
- Job 30:29 ISBE
- Proverbs 17:17 Nave Love of
- Proverbs 18:9 ISBE
- Proverbs 18:24 Nave Love of
- Proverbs 27:10 Nave Unfaithful
- Song of Songs 4:9 Smith
- Song of Songs 8:1 Nave Love of
- Jeremiah 34:9 Nave Signifies — any Israelite
- Obadiah 1:1 Nave Signifies — any Israelite
- Matthew 1:2 Easton
- Matthew 1:25 Easton
- Matthew 5:22 Easton
- Matthew 5:23 Easton
- Matthew 5:24 Easton
- Matthew 5:47 Easton
- Matthew 7:3–5 ISBE
- Matthew 7:5 Easton
- Matthew 10:2 ISBE
- Matthew 12:46 Easton
- Matthew 18:35 Nave Signifies — mankind
- Matthew 22:24 Nave Brother's widow. — Law concerning Levirate marriage of
- Matthew 23:8 ISBE
- Mark 3:31 Easton
- Mark 3:32 Easton
- Mark 12:19 Nave Brother's widow. — Law concerning Levirate marriage of
- Luke 3:1 Easton
- Luke 3:19 Easton
- Luke 10:29 ISBE
- Luke 20:28 Nave Brother's widow. — Law concerning Levirate marriage of
- John 7:3 Easton
- Acts 1:14 Easton
- Acts 6:3 Easton
- Acts 9:17 Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Used by disciples
- Acts 9:30 Easton
- Acts 17:26 ISBE
- Acts 21:20 Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Used by disciples
- Romans 16:23 Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Used by disciples
- 1 Corinthians 7:12 Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Used by disciples
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 Easton
- 2 Corinthians 2:13 Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — Used by disciples
- Galatians 1:19 Easton
- Ephesians 2:19 ISBE
- Ephesians 3:15 ISBE
- Colossians 4:7 ISBE
- Colossians 4:9 ISBE
- Colossians 4:15 ISBE
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Easton
- Hebrews 8:11 ISBE
- 1 Peter 1:22 Nave A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians. — by Peter
- 2 Peter 3:15 ISBE
- 1 John 2:9 ISBE
- 1 John 3:15 Nave Signifies — mankind
- 1 John 4:20 ISBE
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 39 references
(1.) In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19).
(2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19).
(3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt. 5:47; Acts 3:22; Heb. 7:5).
(4.) A disciple or follower (Matt. 25:40; Heb. 2:11, 12).
(5.) One of the same faith (Amos 1:9; Acts 9:30; 11:29; 1 Cor. 5:11); whence the early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as brethren.
(6.) A colleague in office (Ezra 3:2; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1).
(7.) A fellow-man (Gen. 9:5; 19:7; Matt. 5:22, 23, 24; 7:5; Heb. 2:17).
(8.) One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2 Sam. 1:26; Acts 6:3; 1 Thess. 5:1). Brethren of Jesus (Matt. 1:25; 12:46, 50: Mark 3:31, 32; Gal. 1:19; 1 Cor. 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.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 11 references
- Any kinsman, and not a mere brother; e.g. nephew, (Genesis 13:8; 14:16) husband, (Solomon 4:9)
- One of the same tribe. (2 Samuel 19:13)
- Of the same people, (Exodus 2:11) or even of a cognate people. (Numbers 20:14)
- An ally. (Amos 1:9)
- Any friend, (Job 5:15)
- One of the same office. (1 Kings 9:13)
- A fellow man. (Leviticus 19:17)
- Metaphorically of any similarity, as in (Job 30:19) The word adelphos has a similar range of meanings in the New Testament.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 35 references
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.
See also FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.
Dwight M. Pratt
In the topical indexes
Nave's Topical Bible (1896) · 38 references, grouped by sub-topic
- → Signifies
- → Love of Pr 17:17; 18:24; So 8:1
- → Unfaithful Pr 27:10
- → Reuben's love for Joseph Ge 37:21,22
- → Joseph's, for his brethren Ge 43:30-34; 45:1-5; 50:19-25
- → A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians.
- → Brother's widow.
- Law concerning Levirate marriage of De 25:5-10; Mt 22:24; Mr 12:19; Lu 20:28
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.