Sister

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

'Âchôth ( אָחוֹת , Strong'S #269), “sister.” Like the words for “brother” and “father,” this noun is common to many Semitic languages. Whereas “brother” appears 629 times, “sister” occurs only 114 times. The usage is rare in the poetic literature with the exception of the Song of Solomon (7 times). The first occurrence is in Gen. 4:22: “And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.”

The translation of “sister” for 'âchôth is only the beginning. In Hebrew custom the word was a term employed to refer to the daughter of one’s father and mother (Gen. 4:22) or one’s half-sister (Gen. 20:12). It may also refer to one’s aunt on the father’s side (Lev. 18:12; 20:19) or on the mother’s side (Lev. 18:13; 20:19).

The use of 'âchôth more generally denotes female relatives: “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them” (Gen. 24:60). This meaning lies behind the metaphorical use, where two divisions of a nation (Judah and Israel; Jer. 3:7) and two cities (Sodom and Samaria; Ezek. 16:46) are portrayed as sisters—Hebrew names of geographical entities are feminine.

The more specialized meaning “beloved” is found only in Song of Sol. 4:9: “Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister [or beloved], my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.” Here 'âchôth is used as a term of endearment rather than a term for a blood relative.

The Septuagint translates the word adelphe (“sister”).

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἀδελφή (Strong'S #79 — Noun Feminine — adelphe — ad-el-fay' )

is used (a) of natural relationship, e.g.,  Matthew 19:29; of the "sisters" of Christ, the children of Joseph and Mary after the virgin birth of Christ, e.g.,  Matthew 13:56; (b) of "spiritual kinship" with Christ, an affinity marked by the fulfillment of the will of the Father,  Matthew 12:50;  Mark 3:35; of spiritual relationship based upon faith in Christ,  Romans 16:1;  1—Corinthians 7:15;  9:5 , AV and RV marg.;  James 2:15;  Philemon 1:2 , RV.

 Colossians 4:10Cousin.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Song of Solomon 4:9 (b) In this verse, as well as in the rest of this beautiful, poetical book, this word is used to represent the church. It is a type of the church. Many scholars disagree on the meaning of the various expressions used in these chapters, but it is plainly a description of a love affair between the church and her Lord.

 Jeremiah 3:10 (a) The two nations, Judah and Israel, are represented in this and in other portions as being sisters of each other, as they really were (See  Ezekiel 16:46).

 Ezekiel 23:4 (a) Again the two nations of Israel and Samaria are represented as sisters, and they receive new names which describe their character.

 Matthew 13:56 These are really the sisters of the Lord Jesus although the Roman church denies the plain statement of Scripture and teaches that these were really nieces, and not sisters. We do not know how many there were. The statement uses the plural word, which means more than one. Mary gave birth to at least six other children besides JESUS. She was only a virgin in the birth of the Saviour. After that she was a normal mother with her husband Joseph.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

in the style of the Hebrews, has equal latitude as brother. It is used not only for a sister by natural relation from the same father and mother, but also for a sister only by the same father or by the same mother, or a near relation only. Sarah is called sister to Abraham,  Genesis 12:13;  Genesis 20:12 , though only his niece according to some, or sister by the father's side according to others. In the law,  Leviticus 18:18 , it is forbidden to take to wife the sister of a wife; to marry two sisters; or, according to some interpreters, to marry a second wife, having one already. Literally, "Thou shalt not take a wife over her sister to afflict her;" as if meaning to forbid polygamy. In the Gospels, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ are his cousins, children of the sisters of the holy virgin,  Matthew 13:56;  Mark 6:3 .

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. t.) To be sister to; to resemble closely.

(2): ( n.) One of the same kind, or of the same condition; - generally used adjectively; as, sister fruits.

(3): ( n.) A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with, another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or community.

(4): ( n.) A female who has the same parents with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case, she is more definitely called a half sister. The correlative of brother.

King James Dictionary

SIS'TER, n.

1. A female born of the same patents correlative to brother. 2. A woman of the same faith a female fellow christian. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food.  James 2 . 3. A female of the same kind. 4. One of the same kind, or of the same condition as sister-fruits. 5. A female of the same society as the nuns of a convent.

SIS'TER, To resemble closely.

SIS'TER, To be akin to be near to. Little used.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 29:13 Genesis 30:1 30:8 Genesis 20:12 Song of Solomon 4:9 Song of Solomon 8:8 Romans 16:1-2 Mark 3:35Family

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the style of the Hebrews, "sister" had equal latitude with "brother." It is used, not only for a sister by natural relation, from the same father and mother, but also for a sister by the same father only, or by the same mother only; or for any near female relative,  Genesis 12:13 . See Brother .

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

See Names Of Christians; Family Life And Relations

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

See Family.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sis´tẽr ( אחות , 'āḥōth ): Used repeatedly in the Old Testament of a female (1) having the same parents as another; or (2) having one parent in common, with another, half-sister (  Genesis 20:12;  Leviticus 18:9 ), and also (3) of a female belonging to the same family or clan as another, so a kinswoman ( Genesis 24:60;  Job 42:11 ); (4) also of a woman of the same country ( Numbers 25:18 ). (5) Figuratively , the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, are sisters ( Ezekiel 23:7 ff). (6) Confederate cities are conceived of as sisters (  Ezekiel 16:45 ff). (7) 'Āḥōth is used of objects which go in pairs, as curtains, each 'coupled to its sister' ( Exodus 26:3 ,  Exodus 26:6 ), and of wings in pairs ( Ezekiel 1:9;  Ezekiel 3:13 ); (8) of virtues or conditions, with which one is closely related: "Say unto wisdom, thou art my sister" ( Proverbs 7:4; compare  Job 17:14 ); (9) of a lover concerning his spouse, as a term of endearment ( Song of Solomon 4:9 f;   Song of Solomon 5:1 f;   Song of Solomon 8:8 ).

In the New Testament, ἀδελφή , adelphḗ , used (1) in sense of physical or blood kinship (  Matthew 12:50;  Matthew 13:56;  Matthew 19:29;  Luke 10:39 f;   Luke 14:26;  John 11:1 ff;   John 19:25;  Acts 23:16 ); (2) of fellow-members in Christ: "Phoebe, our sister" ( Romans 16:1; see also  1 Corinthians 7:15;  1 Timothy 5:1;  James 2:15 ); (3) possibly, of a church, "thy elect sister" ( 2 John 1:13 ). See Relationships , Family .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( אָחוֹת , Achoth '; Ἀδελφή ) , a term often having, in the style of the Hebrews, equal latitude with Brother (q.v.). It is used, not only for a sister by natural relation from the same father and mother, but also for a sister by the same father only, or by the same mother only, or a near relation only ( Matthew 13:56;  Mark 6:3). Sarah is called sister to Abraham ( Genesis 12:13;  Genesis 20:12), though only his niece according to some, or sister by the father's side according to others. By the Mosaic law ( Leviticus 18:18) it is forbidden to wed the sister of a wife, i.e. to marry two sisters; or, according to some interpreters, to marry a second wife, having one already; literally, "Thou shalt not take a wife over her sister to afflict her," as if to forbid polygamy. Sometimes the word sister expresses a resemblance of conditions and of inclinations. Thus the prophets call Jerusalem the sister of Sodom and of Samaria, because that city delighted in the imitation of their idolatry and iniquity ( Jeremiah 3:8;  Jeremiah 3:10;  Ezekiel 16:45). So Christ describes those who keep his commandments as his brothers and his sisters ( Matthew 12:50).