Fellow

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

I should not have thought it necessary to have called the reader's attention to this word, had it not been to remark to him, the great beauty of it in a double sense, when applied to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ in relation to his fellowship with his Father in the nature and essence of the Godhead and in relation to his fellowship with his church in the human nature; under both which the Lord Jesus appears so lovely and so endeared to his people, as to render him most interesting indeed.

In the former sense of the word, as applied to Christ, or spoken of him, we have that very precious unequalled passage of the Lord, by the prophet Zechariah, ( Zechariah 13:7) where Jehovah calls him by this name, "The man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts." Every one who knows any thing of the common terms made use of among men, knows also, that fellow means equal. The very name, indeed, would lose all its force and meaning, when spoken of persons in common, if there were supposed the least inequality between them. And this runs through all ranks and orders of the people, from the king to the beggar. The king's fellow, and the beggar's fellow, is perfectly understood as implying a common level. How truly blessed, therefore, is the word as applied by JEHOVAH himself to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who but must rejoice, when he thus receives God the Father's own testimony to the oneness and fellowship in the divine nature between God the Father, and God the Son. "The man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts."

In like manner, on the same ground, how very blessed is it to consider him who, in his divine nature, is fellow to the Lord of hosts; in his human nature, is fellow to his church and people. Here again, the Lord JEHOVAH, the Father, gives the like testimony; for speaking to Joshua, the type of Jesus, the Lord saith, "Here now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee, for they are men wondered at" ( Zechariah 3:8) Wondered at indeed, to be fellow to him in his human nature, who, in his divine nature, "is fellow to the Lord of hosts!" But so it is: for the truth is undeniable. Hence Jesus himself, by the spirit of prophecy, under the ministry of a prophet, is introduced as saying, "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for signs and wonders in Israel; from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion." ( Isaiah 8:18) See this more fully explained, ( Hebrews 2:11-13) Hence also, the Holy Ghost bears testimony to the same in that glorious Scripture, when speaking of his mediatorial throne, and the covenanting of Christ for his people; "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above (or for) thy fellows:" for so the word may be rendered. And if I were writing a Concordance for the learned, and not for the poor man, I should say the original will justify that it should be, non prÅ“ consortibus, sedpropter consortes. (Compare  Psalms 45:6-7 with  Hebrews 1:8-9)

Now I beg the reader to ponder well the subject, and mark with me the blessedness and the preciousness of it. Here are all the persons in JEHOVAH testifying to this glorious character of the Lord Jesus, as the fellow of the Lord of hosts in his divine nature. And let me ask, what can be more blessed or precious? In the one, how glorious to consider the foundation and security of all that is interesting to our hopes for the life that now is, and that which is to come. And in the other, how very sweet and lovely it is, to know our nearness and fellow partnership in all that is in Christ Jesus as the Head and Husband of his body the church, "the fulness of him that filleth all in all." O! with what rapture ought every child of God to read what the Holy Ghost saith to this purport, in the close of the second chapter of the Hebrews. ( Hebrews 2:1-18) "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

And now I hope from such unanswerable testimonies to this great truth as are found in all the persons of the GODHEAD witnessing to it, the reader will never be in danger of being led away from the uniform and unceasing belief, that he who in his infinite grace and mercy hath made himself our fellow, is, and hath been from all eternity, fellow to the Lord of hosts. If any would teach a contrary doctrine, let him first solemnly declare whether God the Holy Ghost hath taught it him. This question, if properly applied, would be a dreadful silencing to all such as pretend to be "wise above what is written." And I would solemnly recommend also, every one of this description, who, under the pretence of candour, is literally joining, however unintentionally, the Infidel's cause, to read the history of Nadab and Abihu,  Leviticus 10:2 and Uzzah,  2 Samuel 6:6-7. With such tremendous judgments in view, we should hear no more of such presumptuous reasonings.

And while the Lord Jesus himself bears testimony to the fellowship and equality between himself and his Father, saying, "I and my Father are one," ( John 10:30) none after this would fancy fellow meant neighbour. Neither would such venture to say, when our Lord quoted the passage of Zechariah, which he did in the hour of his sufferings, (see  Zechariah 13:7 compared with  Matthew 25:31-32) he meant no more than a mere proverbial expression, and had not the most distinct relation to his sufferings and death.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἀνήρ (Strong'S #435 — Noun Masculine — aner — an'-ayr )

denotes "a man," in relation to his sex or age; in  Acts 17:5 (plural) it is rendered "fellows," as more appropriate to the accompanying description of them. See Husband , Man , Sir.

2: Ἑταῖρος (Strong'S #2083 — Noun Masculine — hetairos — het-ah'ee-ros )

"a companion, comrade," is translated "fellows" in  Matthew 11:16 [where, however, the most authentic mss. have heterois, "(the) others"]. The word is used only by Matthew and is translated "friend" in   Matthew 20:13;  22:12;  26:50 . See Friend.

3: Μέτοχος (Strong'S #3353 — Adjective — metochos — met'-okh-os )

properly an adjective signifying "sharing in, partaking of," is translated "partners" in  Luke 5:7; "partakers" in  Hebrews 3:1,14;  6:4;  12:8; "fellows" in  Hebrews 1:9 , of those who share in a heavenly calling, or have held, or will hold, a regal position in relation to the earthly, messianic kingdom. (Cp. summetochos, "fellow-partakers," in  Ephesians 3:6 , RV). See Partaker , Partner.

 Acts 24:5  Acts 22:22 Luke 23:2  John 9:29 Mark 2:7 John 6:52CitizenDiscipleElderHeirHelperLaborerMemberPartnerPrisonerServantSoldierWorkWorker.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) An equal in power, rank, character, etc.

(2): ( n.) One of a pair, or of two things used together or suited to each other; a mate; the male.

(3): ( n.) A companion; a comrade; an associate; a partner; a sharer.

(4): ( n.) A person; an individual.

(5): ( n.) In the English universities, a scholar who is appointed to a foundation called a fellowship, which gives a title to certain perquisites and privileges.

(6): ( n.) In an American college or university, a member of the corporation which manages its business interests; also, a graduate appointed to a fellowship, who receives the income of the foundation.

(7): ( n.) A member of a literary or scientific society; as, a Fellow of the Royal Society.

(8): ( v. t.) To suit with; to pair with; to match.

(9): ( n.) A man without good breeding or worth; an ignoble or mean man.

King James Dictionary

FEL'LOW, n. Heb. to tie or connect, to be joined or associated.

1. A companion an associate.

In youth I had twelve fellows, like myself.

Each on his fellow for assistance calls.

2. One of the same kind.

A shepherd had one favorite dog he fed him with his own hand, and took more care of him than of his fellows.

3. An equal.

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts.  Zechariah 13 .

4. One of a pair, or of two things used together and suited to each other. Of a pair of gloves, we call one the fellow of the other. 5. One equal or like another. Of an artist we say, this man has not his fellow, that is, one of like skill. 6. An appellation of contempt a man without good breeding or worth an ignoble man as a mean fellow.

Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow.

7. A member of a college that shares its revenues or a member of any incorporated society. 8. A member of a corporation a trustee.

FEL'LOW, To suit with to pair with to match. Little used.

In composition, fellow denotes community of nature, station or employment.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

FELLOW . This Eng. word is used in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] with the meaning either of (1) companion, or (2) of person. Thus (1)   Psalms 45:7 ‘God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows’; (2)   Matthew 26:71 ‘This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth’ (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘man’; there is no word in the Gr.). Cf. Tindale’s trans. of   Genesis 39:2 ‘And the Lorde was with Joseph, and he was a luckie fellowe.’ Although the word when used in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] for person may have a touch of disparagement, nowhere is it used to express strong contempt as now.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fel´ō ( חבר , ḥābhēr , רע , rēa‛  ; ἑταῖρος , hetaı́ros ): Meant originally a "partner," from fe , "property," and lag , "to lay," then "a companion," "an equal," "a person or individual," "a worthless person."

(1) As "companion" it is the translation of ḥābhēr , "associate," "companion," "friend" (also ḥābbār ,  Job 41:6 (Hebrew 40:30), where we have the original sense of partnership, translated "bands" the Revised Version (British and American), the King James Version "companions");   Psalm 45:7 , "God hath anointed thee ... above thy fellows"; of habhrāh ( Ecclesiastes 4:10;  Daniel 7:20 ); of rēa‛ , "companion," "friend," "another" ( Exodus 2:13;  Judges 7:13 ,  Judges 7:14 ,  Judges 7:22 ); rē‛āh (or ra‛yāh ), "a female friend" ( Judges 11:37 , "I and my fellows," the Revised Version (British and American) "companions"; here the King James Version applies "fellow" to a female; compare Baruch 6:43, "She reproacheth her fellow," hē plēsı́on ); in  Judges 11:38 , "companions" is the translation of ‛āmı̄th , "fellowship"; ‛amı̄th ( Zechariah 13:7 , "the man that is my fellow," literally, "the man of my fellowship"); hetairos , "companion" ( Matthew 11:16 ); métochos , "partner"; (compare  Luke 5:7;  Hebrews 1:9 , quoted from  Psalm 45:7 , Septuagint for ḥābhēr ).

(2) As an individual or person "fellow" is the translation of 'ı̄sh , "a man," "an individual": "make this fellow return" ( 1 Samuel 29:4 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "the man"); in the same verse "fellow" is supplied instead of "he"; "fellow" in 1611 meant simply "a man," and it is difficult to say in what passages the ideas of "worthless," etc., are meant to be implied; probably, however, in   Judges 18:25 , where the Hebrew is simply 'ĕnōsh , "man," and the text is almost the only deviation from the rendering "man," "men," "lest angry (margin, Revised Version "bitter of soul") fellows fall upon you"; also  Acts 17:5 , anḗr , "a man," "certain lewd fellows of the baser sort," the Revised Version (British and American) "vile fellows"; compare  2 Samuel 6:20 , "vain ( rēḳ ) fellows" (supplied); 1 Macc 10:61, "contain pestilent fellows" ( anēr ); Ecclesiasticus 8:15, "a bold fellow" ( tolmērós ), the Revised Version (British and American) "a rash man"; in several places of the Old Testament "fellow" represents zeh , "this," and in these instances there seems to be something of worthlessness or contempt implied ( 1 Samuel 21:15 bis  ;  1 Samuel 25:21;  1 Kings 22:27;  2 Kings 9:11 , and, as before,  1 Samuel 29:4 the Revised Version (British and American)); in the New Testament also "fellow" often represents hoútos , "this," and in most of these cases the King James Version seems to intend something depreciatory to be understood; the Revised Version (British and American) gives simply "man" ( Matthew 12:24;  Matthew 26:61 ,  Matthew 26:71;  Luke 22:59;  Luke 23:2;  John 9:29;  Acts 18:13 ); so Ecclesiasticus 13:23, "If the poor man speaks, they say, What fellow is this?" the Revised Version (British and American) "who is this?" 1 Macc 4:5, "These fellows flee from us," the Revised Version (British and American) "these men." the Revised Version (British and American) has "fellows" for "persons" ( Judges 9:4 ), for "men" ( Judges 11:3 ); "base fellows" for "men the children of Belial" ( Deuteronomy 13:13 ), margin, "sons of worthlessness"; the American Standard Revised Version "worthless fellow" for "son of Belial" ( 1 Samuel 25:17 ,  1 Samuel 25:25 ), "base fellows" for "sons of Belial" ( Judges 19:22;  Judges 20:13 , etc.); the Revised Version (British and American) has also "companions" for "fellows" ( Judges 11:37 , as above;  Ezekiel 37:19;  Daniel 2:13 ), "each man his fellow" for "one another" ( 2 Kings 3:23 ); "fellow by" for "neighbor in" ( 1 Kings 20:35 ).

Fellow-citizen , Fellow-disciple , Fellow-heirs , Yokefellow , etc. In composition, "fellow" always means partner or companion.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

besides its contemptuous use (as a rendering of אַישׁ a Man , etc.), and its frequent employment (usually as a rendering of רֵעִ , a Friend or equal), in the sense of Companion , stands in one remarkable passage ( Zechariah 13:7) as the rendering of עָמַית , society, in the phrase גֶּבֶר עֲמַיתַי , Man Of My Association, i.e. My Associate; corresponding with רֹעַי my shepherd in the parallel member, and referred to himself by our Saviour ( Matthew 26:31) as the great Pastor and Sacrifice for his people; not so much in the sense of simple equality of nature with the Father, as of-copartnership with him in the great work of caring for and redeeming mankind. (See Neighbor).