- Included in Eastons: Yes
- Included in Hitchcocks: No
- Included in Naves: Yes
- Included in Smiths: Yes
- Included in Websters: Yes
- Included in Strongs: Yes
- Included in Thayers: Yes
- Included in BDB: Yes
- H1730 Used 1 time
- H251 Used 263 times
- H2992 Used 2 times
- H2993 Used 2 times
- H4480 Used 3 times
- H7453 Used 1 time
- G80 Used 118 times
8. One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2 Samuel 1:26; Acts 6:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:1). Brethren of Jesus (Matthew 1:25; 12:46, 50: Mark 3:31, 32; Galatians 1:19; 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.
Reuben's love for Joseph
A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians
Used by Peter
1 Peter 1:22
The Hebrew word is used in various senses in the Old Testament, as,
- 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.
BROTHER, noun plural brothers or brethren. [Latin frater.]
1. A human male born of the same father and mother. A male by one of the parents only is called a half-brother, or brother of the half blood.
2. Any one closely united; an associate; as a band of brothers.
3. One that resembles another in manners.
He that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Proverbs 18:9.
In scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote that a son of the same parents; as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. Persons of the same profession call each other brother as judges, clergymen, professors of religion, members of societies united in a common cause, monks and the like.
Kings give to each other the title of brother address their congregations by the title of brethren. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for man in general; all men being children of the same primitive ancestors, and forming one race of beings.
BROTHER-german is a brother by the father's and mother's side, in contradistinction to a uterine brother or by the mother only.
BROTH'ERHOOD, noun [brother and hood.] The state or quality of being a brother.
1. An association of men for any purpose, as a society of monks; a fraternity.
2. A class of men of the same kind, profession, or occupation.
BROTH'ERLESS, adjective Without a brother.
BROTH'ERLIKE, adjective Becoming a brother.
BROTH'ERLOVE, noun Brotherly affection.
BROTH'ERLY, adjective Pertaining to brothers; such as is natural for brothers; becoming brothers; kind; affectionate; as brotherly love.
Shakespeare uses this word as an adverb. 'I speak but brotherly ' But the use is not authorized.