<strong>BROTHER.</strong> 1. A male person related to another person or other persons by having the same parents (<bibleref ref="Gen.27.6">Gen.27.6</bibleref>) or the same father (<bibleref ref="Gen.28.2">Gen.28.2</bibleref>) or the same mother (<bibleref ref="Judg.8.19">Judg.8.19</bibleref>).<br /><br />

2. A man of the same country (<bibleref ref="Exod.2.11">Exod.2.11</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Acts.3.22">Acts.3.22</bibleref>).

3. A member of the same tribe (<bibleref ref="2Sam.19.12">2Sam.19.12</bibleref>).<br /><br />

4. An ally (<bibleref ref="Amos.1.9">Amos.1.9</bibleref>).

5. One of a kindred people (<bibleref ref="Num.20.14">Num.20.14</bibleref>).

6. A coreligionist (<bibleref ref="Acts.9.17">Acts.9.17</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Cor.6.6">1Cor.6.6</bibleref>); often, Christian disciples (<bibleref ref="Matt.23.8">Matt.23.8</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Rom.1.13">Rom.1.13</bibleref>). Someone spiritually akin (<bibleref ref="Matt.12.50">Matt.12.50</bibleref>).

7. A fellow office-bearer (<bibleref ref="Ezra.3.2">Ezra.3.2</bibleref>).

8. Someone of equal rank or office (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.9.13">1Kgs.9.13</bibleref>).

9. Any member of the human race (<bibleref ref="Matt.7.3-Matt.7.5">Matt.7.3-Matt.7.5</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Heb.2.17">Heb.2.17</bibleref>).<br /><br />

In the NT the common Gr. word for “brother” is used exclusively, <span class="greek">ἀδελφός</span>, <span class="gknumber">G81</span>, which appears over 100 times, the most frequent being in Matthew’s gospel. Although a broader definition of the word is apparent in the NT, possibly due to the broader definition of the Gr. word, yet the responsibilities of brotherhood are much the same as those of the OT. The often sought notion of the innate brotherhood of all mankind is not supported by the usage of the term in the NT. The teaching of <bibleref ref="Matt.12.50">Matthew 12:50</bibleref>, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother,” is the primary definition of the term in the other references where it is used. In the epistles it is a straightforward substitute for fellow Christians (<bibleref ref="Eph.6.2">Eph 6:2</bibleref>, et al.). The responsibility for mutual love, compassion and respect within the Christian community are stipulated in 1 John consistently in terms of “brother” to “brother.”

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

Used extensively in both <span class="auto-link">[[Old Testament]]</span> and <span class="auto-link">[[New Testament]]</span> 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 (<bibleref ref="Gen.4.8">Ge 4:8</bibleref>); of Joseph and his brethren (<bibleref ref="Gen.42.3">Ge 42:3</bibleref>); of Peter and Andrew, of James and John (<bibleref ref="Matt.10.2">Mt 10:2</bibleref>). Of other relationships:<br /><br />

(1) Abram’s nephew, Lot, is termed "brother" (<bibleref ref="Gen.14.14">Ge 14:14</bibleref>);

(2) Moses’ fellow-countrymen are "brethren" (<bibleref ref="Exod.2.11">Ex 2:11</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Acts.3.22">Ac 3:22</bibleref>; compare <bibleref ref="Heb.7.5">Heb 7:5</bibleref>);

(3) a member of the same tribe (<bibleref ref="2Sam.19.12">2Sa 19:12</bibleref>);<br /><br />

(4) an ally (<bibleref ref="Amos.1.9">Am 1:9</bibleref>), or an allied or cognate people (<bibleref ref="Num.20.14">Nu 20:14</bibleref>);

(5) used of common discipleship or the kinship of humanity (<bibleref ref="Matt.23.8">Mt 23:8</bibleref>);

(6) of moral likeness or kinship (<bibleref ref="Prov.18.9">Pr 18:9</bibleref>);

(7) of friends (<bibleref ref="Job.6.15">Job 6:15</bibleref>);

(8) an equal in rank or office (<bibleref ref="1Kgs.9.13">1Ki 9:13</bibleref>);

(9) one of the same faith (<bibleref ref="Acts.11.29">Ac 11:29</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="1Cor.5.11">1Co 5:11</bibleref>);

(10) a favorite oriental metaphor used to express likeness or similarity (<bibleref ref="Job.30.29">Job 30:29</bibleref>, "I am a brother to jackals");

(11) a fellow-priest or office-bearer (<bibleref ref="Ezra.3.2">Ezr 3:2</bibleref>); Paul called Sosthenes "brother" (<bibleref ref="1Cor.1.1">1Co 1:1</bibleref>) and Timothy his spiritual son and associate (<bibleref ref="2Cor.1.1">2Co 1:1</bibleref>);

(12) a brother-man, any member of the human family (<bibleref ref="Matt.7.3-Matt.7.5">Mt 7:3-5</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Heb.2.17">Heb 2:17</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Heb.8.11">8:11</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Heb.1.1-Heb.1.14">1</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="John.2.9">Joh 2:9</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="John.4.20">4:20</bibleref>);<br /><br />

(13) signifies spiritual kinship (<bibleref ref="Matt.12.50">Mat 12:50</bibleref>);

(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 (<bibleref ref="2Pet.3.15">2Pe 3:15</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Col.4.7">Col 4:7</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Col.4.9">9</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Col.4.15">15</bibleref>).

The growing conception of mankind as a brotherhood is the outcome of this Christian view of believers as a household, a family (<bibleref ref="Eph.2.19">Eph 2:19</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Eph.3.15">3:15</bibleref>; compare <bibleref ref="Acts.17.26">Ac 17:26</bibleref>). 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 (<bibleref ref="1Cor.5.11">1Co 5:11</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Luke.10.29-Luke.10.42">Lu 10:29 ff</bibleref>). 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 <em>FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS</em>.<br /><br />

Dwight M. Pratt<br /><br />

Brother