BROTHER

Signifies in Scripture the son of the same parent or parents, Mt 1:2 Lu 6:14; a cousin or near kinsman, Ge 13:8 14:16 Joh 7:3 Ac 1:14; one of the same stock or country, Mt 5:47 Ac 3:22 Heb 7:5; a fellow-man, and equal, Mt 5:23 7:3; one beloved, 2Sa 1:26; Christians, as sons of God, Ac 9:30 11:29. In Mt 12:46-50 13:55,56 Mr 3:31-35, the brothers of Christ are so mentioned, in connection with his mother and sisters, as almost to require us to believe they were children of Joseph and Mary, younger than Jesus. Yet this is not quite certain, as it may be that the James, Joses, and Judas in Mt 13:55, are the nephews of Christ alluded to in Mt 27:56 Lu 6:15,16 Joh 19:25; Cleophas and Alphaeus being probably the same.

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Brother. Brother
(1.) In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19).

(2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19).

(3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt. 5:47; Acts 3:22; Heb. 7:5).

(4.) A disciple or follower (Matt. 25:40; Heb. 2:11, 12).

(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.

(6.) A colleague in office (Ezra 3:2; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1).

(7.) A fellow-man (Gen. 9:5; 19:7; Matt. 5:22, 23, 24; 7:5; Heb. 2:17).

(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.

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BROTHER. → Signifies
* a relative, Ge 14:16; 29:12
* a neighbor De 23:7; Jud 21:6; Neh 5:7
* any Israelite Jer 34:9; Ob 1:10
* mankind Ge 9:5; Mt 18:35; 1Jo 3:15
* a companion 2Sa 1:26; 1Ki 13:30; 20:33

→ Love of Pr 17:17; 18:24; So 8:1 → Unfaithful Pr 27:10 → Reuben's love for Joseph Ge 37:21,22 → Joseph's, for his brethren Ge 43:30-34; 45:1-5; 50:19-25 → A fraternal epithet, especially among Christians.
* Instituted by Christ Mt 12:50; 25:40; Heb 2:11,12
* Used by disciples Ac 9:17; 21:20; Ro 16:23; 1Co 7:12; 2Co 2:13
* by Peter 1Pe 1:22
* Used among the Israelites Le 19:17; De 22:1-4

→ Brother's widow.
* Law concerning Levirate marriage of De 25:5-10; Mt 22:24; Mr 12:19; Lu 20:28

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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.

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a fellow Christian Mt 12:50; Ac 9:17; 21:20; Ro 16:23; 1Co 7:12 --SEE Brethren, CHURCH, THE CHURCH, THE

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brother. Brother, n. a male born of the same parents, or of one of them, an associate, on of the same race

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Broth″er (brŭt͡h″ẽr), n.; pl. Brothers (brŭt͡h″ẽrz) or Brethren (brĕt͡h″rĕn). See Brethren. [[OE. brother, AS. brōðor; akin to OS. brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G. bruder, Icel. brōðir, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. brōþar, Ir. brathair, W. brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis, Russ. brat', Pol. & Serv. brat, OSlav. bratrŭ, L. frater, Skr. bhrātṛ, Zend bratar brother, Gr. φράτηρ, φράτωρ, a clansman. The common plural is Brothers; in the solemn style, Brethren, OE. pl. brether, bretheren, AS. dat. sing. brēðer, nom. pl. brōðor, brōðru. √258. Cf. Friar, Fraternal.]] 1. 1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more definitely called a half brother, or brother of the half blood.
Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother. Wordsworth. 2. 2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil, suffering, etc.; — used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians, lawyers, professors of religion, etc. “A brother of your order.” Shak.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. Shak. 3. 3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities or traits of character.
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Prov. xviii. 9. That April morn Of this the very brother. Wordsworth. ☞ In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men. For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men? Milton. Brother Jonathan, a humorous designation for the people of the United States collectively. The phrase is said to have originated from Washington's referring to the patriotic Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, as “Brother Jonathan.” — Blood brother. See under Blood.