Difference between revisions of "Brother"

<p> <em> 'Âch </em> (אָח, Strong'S #251), “brother.” This word has cognates in Ugaritic and most other Semitic languages. Biblical [[Hebrew]] attests the word about 629 times and at all periods.In its basic meaning, <em> 'âch </em> represents a “male sibling,” a “brother.” This is its meaning in the first biblical appearance: “And she again bare his brother Abel” (Gen. 4:2). This word represents a full brother or a half-brother: “And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren …” (Gen. 37:14). </p> <p> In another nuance, <em> 'âch </em> can represent a “blood relative.” Abram’s nephew is termed his “brother”: “And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people” (Gen. 14:16). This passage, however, might also reflect the covenantal use of the term whereby it connotes “ally” (cf. Gen. 13:8). In Gen. 9:25, <em> 'âch </em> clearly signifies “relative”: “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.” [[Laban]] called his cousin Jacob an <em> 'âch </em> : “And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought?” (Gen. 29:15). Just before this, Jacob described himself as an <em> 'âch </em> of Rachel’s father (Gen. 29:12). </p> <p> Tribes may be called <em> 'âchim </em> “And [the tribe of] Judah said unto [the tribe of] [[Simeon]] his brother, Come up with me into my lot …” (Judg. 1:3). The word <em> 'âch </em> is used of a fellow tribesman: “With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine …” (Gen. 31:32). [[Elsewhere]] it describes a fellow countryman: “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens …” (Exod. 2:11). </p> <p> In several passages, the word <em> 'âch </em> connotes “companion” or “colleague”—that is, a brother by choice. One example is found in 2 Kings 9:2: “And when thou comest thither, look out there [[Jehu]] the son of [[Jehoshaphat]] the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber” (cf. Isa. 41:6; Num. 8:26). [[Somewhat]] along this line is the covenantal use of the word as a synonym for “ally”: “And [[Lot]] went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly” (Gen. 19:6-7). [[Notice]] this same use in Num. 20:14 and 1 Kings 9:13. </p> <p> <em> 'Âch </em> can be a term of polite address, as it appears to be in Gen. 29:4: “And Jacob said unto them [shepherds, whose identity he did not know], My brethren, whence be ye?” </p> <p> The word <em> 'âch </em> sometimes represents someone or something that simply exists alongside a given person or thing: “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 … every man’s brother will I require the life of man” (Gen. 9:5-6). </p>

<li> One beloved or closely united with another in affection (&nbsp;2 Samuel 1:26; &nbsp;Acts 6:3; &nbsp;1 Thessalonians 5:1 ). Brethren of Jesus (&nbsp;Matthew 1:25; &nbsp;12:46,50 : &nbsp;Mark 3:31,32; &nbsp;Galatians 1:19; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 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. <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Brother'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/b/brother.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> (Heb. אָח [see AcH-]; Gr. ἀδελφός ''),'' a term so variously and extensively applied in Scripture that it becomes important carefully to distinguish the different acceptations in which it is used. </p> <p> '''1.''' It denotes a brother in the natural sense, whether the offspring of the same father only (&nbsp;Genesis 42:15; &nbsp;Genesis 43:3; &nbsp;Judges 9:21; &nbsp;Matthew 1:2; &nbsp;Luke 3:1; &nbsp;Luke 3:19), or of the same mother only (&nbsp;Judges 8:19), or of the same father and mother (&nbsp;Genesis 42:4; &nbsp;Genesis 44:20; &nbsp;Luke 6:14, etc.) </p> <p> '''2.''' A near relative or kinsman by blood, e.g. a nephew (&nbsp;Genesis 14:16; &nbsp;Genesis 13:8; &nbsp;Genesis 24:12; &nbsp;Genesis 24:15), or in general a cousin (&nbsp;Matthew 12:46; &nbsp;John 7:3; &nbsp;Acts 1:14; &nbsp;Galatians 1:19), or even a husband (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:9). </p> <p> '''3.''' One of the same tribe (&nbsp;2 Samuel 10:13), e.g. a fellow [[Levite]] (&nbsp;Numbers 8:26; &nbsp;Numbers 16:10; &nbsp;Nehemiah 3:1). </p> <p> '''4.''' One born in the same country, descended from the same stock, a fellow- countryman (&nbsp;Judges 14:3; Ezekiel 2:11; 4:18; &nbsp;Matthew 5:47; &nbsp;Acts 3:22; &nbsp;Hebrews 7:5), or even of a cognate people (&nbsp;Genesis 9:25; &nbsp;Genesis 16:12; &nbsp;Genesis 25:18; &nbsp;Numbers 20:14). </p> <p> '''5.''' One of equal rank and dignity (&nbsp;Proverbs 18:9; &nbsp;Matthew 23:8). </p> <p> '''6.''' Disciples, followers, etc. (&nbsp;Matthew 25:40; &nbsp;Hebrews 2:11-12). </p> <p> '''7.''' One of the same faith (&nbsp;Isaiah 66:10; &nbsp;Acts 9:30; &nbsp;Acts 11:29; 1 Corinthians 5, 11); from which and other texts it appears that the first converts to the faith of Jesus were known to each other by the title of brethren, till the name of Christians was given to them at [[Antioch]] (&nbsp;Acts 11:26). </p> <p> '''8.''' An associate, colleague in office or dignity, etc. (&nbsp;Ezra 2:2; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 1:1; &nbsp;2 Corinthians 1:1,-etc.). </p> <p> '''9.''' One of the same nature, a fellow-man (&nbsp;Genesis 13:8; &nbsp;Genesis 26:31; &nbsp;Matthew 5:22-24; &nbsp;Matthew 7:5; &nbsp;Hebrews 2:17; &nbsp;Hebrews 8:11). </p> <p> '''10.''' One beloved, i.e. as a brother, in a direct address (&nbsp;Acts 2:29; &nbsp;Acts 6:3; &nbsp;1 Thessalonians 5:1). </p> <p> '''11.''' An ally of a confederate nation (&nbsp;Amos 1:9). </p> <p> '''12.''' A friend or associate (&nbsp;Job 6:15; comp. &nbsp;Job 19:13; &nbsp;1 Kings 19:13; &nbsp;Nehemiah 5:10; &nbsp;Nehemiah 5:14). </p> <p> '''13''' . It is a very favorite Oriental metaphor, as in &nbsp;Job 30:29, "I am become a brother to the jackals." </p> <p> '''14.''' It is even applied (in the Heb.) to inanimate things in the phrase " one another" (lit. ''A Man His Brother),'' -e.g. of the cherubim (&nbsp;Exodus 25:20; &nbsp;Exodus 37:9). The term is still used in the East with the same latitude (Hackett's Illustra. of Script. p. 118). The Jewish schools, however, distinguish between "brother" and "neighbor;" "brother" meant an Israelite by blood, "neighbor" a proselyte. They allowed neither title to the Gentiles; but Christ and the apostles extended the name "brother" to all Christians, and "neighbor" to all the world, &nbsp;1 Corinthians 5:11; &nbsp;Luke 10:29-30 (Lightfoot, ''Hor. Hebr. [[Ad]] Matthew'' v, 22). </p>

<p> '''''bruth´ẽr''''' ( אח , <i> ''''''āḥ''''' </i> ; ἀδελφός , <i> '''''adelphós''''' </i> = 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]] (&nbsp;Genesis 4:8 ); of Joseph and his brethren (&nbsp;Genesis 42:3 ); of Peter and Andrew, of James and John (&nbsp;Matthew 10:2 ). Of other relationships: (1) Abram's nephew, Lot, is termed "brother" (&nbsp;Genesis 14:14 ); (2) Moses' fellow-countrymen are "brethren" (&nbsp;Exodus 2:11; &nbsp;Acts 3:22; compare &nbsp;Hebrews 7:5 ); (3) a member of the same tribe (&nbsp;2 Samuel 19:12 ); (4) an ally (&nbsp;Amos 1:9 ), or an allied or cognate people (&nbsp;Numbers 20:14 ); (5) used of common discipleship or the kinship of humanity (&nbsp;Matthew 23:8 ); (6) of moral likeness or kinship (&nbsp;Proverbs 18:9 ); (7) of friends (&nbsp;Job 6:15 ); (8) an equal in rank or office (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:13 ); (9) one of the same faith (&nbsp;Acts 11:29; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 5:11 ); (10) a favorite oriental metaphor used to express likeness or similarity (&nbsp;Job 30:29 , "I am a brother to jackals"); (11) a fellow-priest or office-bearer (&nbsp;Ezra 3:2 ); Paul called [[Sosthenes]] "brother" (&nbsp;1 Corinthians 1:1 ) and Timothy his spiritual son and associate (&nbsp;2 Corinthians 1:1 ); (12) a brother-man, any member of the human family (&nbsp;Matthew 7:3-5; &nbsp;Hebrews 2:17; &nbsp;Hebrews 8:11; &nbsp;1 John 2:9; &nbsp;1 John 4:20 ); (13) signifies spiritual kinship (&nbsp;Matthew 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 (&nbsp;2 Peter 3:15; &nbsp;Colossians 4:7 , &nbsp;Colossians 4:9 , &nbsp;Colossians 4:15 ). The growing conception of mankind as a brotherhood is the outcome of this Christian view of believers as a household, a family (&nbsp;Ephesians 2:19; &nbsp;Ephesians 3:15; compare &nbsp;Acts 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 (&nbsp;1 Corinthians 5:11; &nbsp;Luke 10:29 ). 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]] . </p>