Encyclopedia entry
Brother
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 8 distinct subjects under Brother. Jump to one below, or read in order.
- 1.In the natural and common sense (Matt.
- 2.A near relation, a cousin (Gen.
- 3.Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt.
- 4.A disciple or follower (Matt.
- 5.One of the same faith (Amos 1:9; Acts 9:30; 11:29; 1 Cor.
- 6.A colleague in office (Ezra 3:2; 1 Cor.
- 7.A fellow-man (Gen.
- 8.One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2 Sam.
Brother (1)
#Brother (2)
#A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19).
Brother (3)
#Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt. 5:47; Acts 3:22; Heb. 7:5).
Brother (4)
#A disciple or follower (Matt. 25:40; Heb. 2:11, 12).
Brother (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.
Brother (6)
#A colleague in office (Ezra 3:2; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1).
Brother (7)
#A fellow-man (Gen. 9:5; 19:7; Matt. 5:22, 23, 24; 7:5; Heb. 2:17).
Brother (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.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
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, (Song of 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.
In the Bible
342
Verses where Brother is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 1:19
Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan.
- 1 Chronicles 2:32
The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.
- 1 Chronicles 2:42
The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and Mareshah his second son, who was the father of Hebron.
- 1 Chronicles 4:11
Chelub the brother of Shuhah was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
- 1 Chronicles 6:39
Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,
- 1 Chronicles 7:16
Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.
+336 more verses naming Brother.
Scripture on Brother
199
See all 199 +−
- Deuteronomy 15Genesis 24Genesis 32Matthew 5John 111 John 3Genesis 38Genesis 44Exodus 28Deuteronomy 25Judges 91 Kings 21 Chronicles 11Philemon 1Genesis 4Genesis 14Genesis 20Genesis 22Genesis 29Genesis 45Numbers 20Deuteronomy 22Deuteronomy 23Judges 1Proverbs 18Jeremiah 34Amos 1Matthew 18Mark 3Luke 3Luke 6Romans 142 Corinthians 8Galatians 11 John 2Genesis 9Genesis 10Genesis 13Genesis 28Genesis 33Genesis 35Genesis 37Exodus 7Exodus 32Leviticus 18Leviticus 19Deuteronomy 19Deuteronomy 24Judges 202 Samuel 12 Samuel 22 Samuel 32 Samuel 42 Samuel 202 Samuel 212 Samuel 231 Kings 91 Kings 201 Chronicles 21 Chronicles 71 Chronicles 191 Chronicles 202 Chronicles 312 Chronicles 36Job 30Obadiah 1Zechariah 7Matthew 1Matthew 4Matthew 10Matthew 12Matthew 22Mark 1Mark 6Luke 15John 1Acts 1Acts 91 Corinthians 11 Corinthians 51 Corinthians 71 Corinthians 82 Corinthians 1Colossians 42 Thessalonians 3Hebrews 21 John 4Genesis 25Genesis 36Genesis 48Exodus 2Exodus 4Leviticus 16Leviticus 20Leviticus 21Numbers 6Numbers 27Numbers 36Deuteronomy 1Deuteronomy 13Deuteronomy 17Deuteronomy 28Deuteronomy 32Joshua 15Judges 3Judges 21Ruth 41 Samuel 141 Samuel 171 Samuel 201 Samuel 262 Samuel 102 Samuel 142 Samuel 182 Samuel 191 Kings 11 Kings 132 Kings 241 Chronicles 11 Chronicles 41 Chronicles 61 Chronicles 81 Chronicles 241 Chronicles 261 Chronicles 27Ezra 3Nehemiah 5Nehemiah 7Job 5Job 22Psalms 35Psalms 49Psalms 50Proverbs 17Proverbs 27Ecclesiastes 4Song of Solomon 8Isaiah 3Isaiah 9Isaiah 19Isaiah 41Jeremiah 9Jeremiah 22Jeremiah 23Jeremiah 31Ezekiel 18Ezekiel 33Ezekiel 38Ezekiel 44Hosea 12Micah 7Haggai 2Malachi 1Malachi 2Matthew 7Matthew 14Matthew 17Matthew 25Mark 5Mark 12Mark 13Luke 12Luke 17Luke 20John 6John 7Acts 3Acts 6Acts 12Acts 21Acts 22Romans 161 Corinthians 61 Corinthians 91 Corinthians 162 Corinthians 22 Corinthians 12Ephesians 6Philippians 2Colossians 11 Thessalonians 31 Thessalonians 41 Thessalonians 5Hebrews 7Hebrews 8Hebrews 13James 1James 2James 41 Peter 52 Peter 31 John 5Jude 1Revelation 1
Entries that reference Brother
14
Brother references
23
Voices on Brother
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.