Dictionary Article

Man or boy in his relationship to the other children of his parents; also a close male friend or fellow member of the same race, creed, profession, organization, and the like; a kinsman.

In the OT the Hebrew word translated “brother” describes the relationship between male children who have at least one parent in common. Joseph and Benjamin were children of Jacob and Rachel (Gn 35:24), but the other sons born to Jacob are also called Joseph’s brothers (42:6). The love Joseph had for Benjamin is not always found between brothers. Cain killed his brother Abel (4:8), and Esau hated his brother, Jacob (27:41). A brother may be a bad influence (Dt 13:6-7), but ideally he is one who helps in times of need (Prv 17:17). The law of levirate marriage required that if a man died leaving a childless widow, the man’s brother had to raise up children through her to perpetuate the family name (Dt 25:5).

Show passage in OET: GEN 35:24

OET-RV GEN 35:24

24 Rahel’s (Rachel) sons were Yosef (Joseph) and Benyamin.

OET-LV GEN 35:24

24 The _sons _of Rāḩēl Yōşēf/(Joseph) and_Binyāmīn.

Show passage in OET: GEN 42:6

OET-RV GEN 42:6

6 Now Yosef was the governor over all of Mitsrayim and he was the one there who was selling grain to all the people. So Yosef’s brothers approached and bowed down to him with their noses to the ground.

OET-LV GEN 42:6

6 And_Yōşēf/(Joseph) he was_the_ruler over the_earth/land he was_the_one _who_sold _grain to/from_all/each/any/every the _people _of the_earth/land and_ the _brothers _of Yōşēf _they _came and_they _bowed _down to_him/it face the _ground_to.

Show passage in OET: GEN 4:8

OET-RV GEN 4:8

8 One day, Kayin spoke to his brother Hevel when they were out in the countryside, and then Kayin attacked him and killed him.

OET-LV GEN 4:8

8 And_ Qayin/(Cain) _he/it _said to Heⱱel his/its_brother and_he/it _was on_their_being in _the_field and_ Qayin/(Cain) _he/it _rose _up against Heⱱel his/its_brother and_he/it _killed_him/it.

Show passage in OET: GEN 27:41

OET-RV GEN 27:41

41 From that time onwards, Esav (Esau) hated Ya’akov (Jacob) because of the blessing that their father had blessed him with, and Esav said to himself, “My father’s funeral can’t be that far away—after that I’ll kill my brother Ya’akov.”

OET-LV GEN 27:41

41 And_ ˊĒsāv _he _was _hostile _towards DOM Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) on the_blessing which he_had _blessed _him his/its_father and_ ˊĒsāv _he/it _said in_heart _of_his the _days _of the _mourning _of my _father _of_my they _will _draw _near and_I _will _kill DOM Yaˊₐqoⱱ my_brother/kindred.

Show passage in OET: DEU 13:6–7

OET-RV DEU 13:6

6 Your brother, son, daughter, beloved wife, or some close friend might privately urge you to worship other gods that you and your ancestors hadn’t heard about before.

OET-RV DEU 13:7

7 That might be the gods of the surrounding peoples, either nearby or right across the world.

OET-LV DEU 13:7

7  If/because he_will _entice _you your(ms)_brother/kindred the _son _of your _mother _of_your or son _of_your or daughter _of_your or the _wife _of your _bosom _of_your or friend _of_your who is_like_self _of_your in_secrecy to_say let _us _go and_let _us _serve gods other which not you and_ancestors _of_your you _have _known.

OET-LV DEU 13:8

8  Any_of _the _gods _of the _peoples which are_around _of_you(pl) (the)_near to_you or (the)_distant from_you from_the _end _of the_earth/land and_unto the _end _of the_earth/land.

Show passage in OET: PRO 17:17

OET-RV PRO 17:17

17 A true friend loves at all times,
⇔ ≈ and relatives are born to help during periods of difficulty.

OET-LV PRO 17:17

17 In_all time the_friend is_loving and_a _brother for_adversity he _is _born.

Show passage in OET: DEU 25:5

OET-RV DEU 25:5

5 If some brothers live on the same property and one of them dies without leaving a son, then the widow mustn’t marry outside of the family. Her brother-in-law must take her as a wife for himself and perform the duty of a brother-in-law.

OET-LV DEU 25:5

5 If/because brothers they _will _dwell together and_ one from_them _he _will _die and_a _son there_belongs_not to_him/it not the _wife _of the _dead_man she _will _belong to_the_outside to_a _man strange brother _of_her _husband’s he _will _go on/upon_it(f) and_he_will _take _her to_him/it to/for_(a)_woman and_he_will _act _as _a _husband’s _brother _for _her.

Jump to OET GEN 35:24 section.

Jump to OET GEN 42:6 section.

Jump to OET GEN 4:8 section.

Jump to OET GEN 27:41 section.

Jump to OET DEU 13:6–7 section.

Jump to OET PRO 17:17 section.

Jump to OET DEU 25:5 section.

David spoke affectionately of his “brother” Jonathan, although they were not related (2 Sm 1:26). A fellow Israelite could be called brother. The relationship required certain obligations: money could not be loaned to a brother at interest, and a brother could not be enslaved (Lv 25:35-43).

Show passage in OET: SA2 1:26

OET-RV SA2 1:26

⇔  26 I grieve for you my dear friend Yonatan (Jonathan).
⇔ You were so kind to me.
⇔ Your friendship meant more to me than the women who say they love me.

OET-LV SA2 1:26

26 It _is _distress to_me on_you my_brother/kindred Yōnātān you _were _pleasant to/for_me very love _of_your it _was _wonderful to_me more_than_the_love _of women.

Show passage in OET: LEV 25:35–43

OET-RV LEV 25:35

35 If a fellow citizen becomes poor and is unable to survive beside you, then you must support that person and allow him to live with you like a foreigner might.

OET-RV LEV 25:36

36 You mustn’t charge that person any interest or make a profit from him, but you must respect and obey your god, and your fellow citizen can continue to live with you.

OET-RV LEV 25:37

37 If you loan him money, don’t charge interest or make a profit from his food.

OET-RV LEV 25:38

38 I am your god Yahweh who brought you all out of Mitsrayim (Egypt) to give you the Kena’an (Canaan) region and to be your god.

OET-RV LEV 25:39

39 If a fellow citizen becomes poor and selling himself to you, don’t force him to work like a slave—

OET-RV LEV 25:40

40 treat him like a hired worker or a temporary resident. He can work with you until the restoration celebration year

OET-RV LEV 25:41

41 when he must be released along with his children, and he can return to his family, and to his clan’s land,

OET-RV LEV 25:42

42 because they are my slaves that I brought out of Mitsrayim (Egypt) so they mustn’t be sold again as slaves.

OET-RV LEV 25:43

43 Don’t rule harshly over them but rather, respect and obey your god.

OET-LV LEV 25:35

35 And_because/when your(ms)_brother/kindred he _will _become _impoverished and_ his/its_hand _it _will _slip with_you and_you _will _strengthen in/on/over_him/it a _sojourner and_a _resident _alien and_he/it _will _live with_you.

OET-LV LEV 25:36

36 Do _not take from_with_him interest and_usury and_you _will _fear from_god _of_your and_ your(ms)_brother/kindred _he _will _live with_you.

OET-LV LEV 25:37

37 DOM silver _of_your not you _will _give to_him/it for_interest and_for_increase not you _will _give food _of_your.

OET-LV LEV 25:38

38 I am_YHWH god _of_your(pl) who I _brought _out you(pl) from_the _land _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) to_give to/for_you(pl) DOM the _land _of Kənaˊan/(Canaan) to_be to/for_you(pl) (into)_god.

OET-LV LEV 25:39

39 And_because/when your(ms)_brother/kindred he _will _become _impoverished with_you and_he _will _sell _himself to/for_you(fs) not you _will _labour in/on/over_him/it the_labour _of a _slave.

OET-LV LEV 25:40

40 Like_a _hired _labourer like_a _resident _alien he _will _be with_you until the _year _of the _jubilee he _will _serve with_you.

OET-LV LEV 25:41

41 And_he _will _go _out from_with_you he and_sons _of_his with_him/it and_he _will _return to clan _of_his and_near/to the _possession _of his _ancestors _of_his he _will _return.

OET-LV LEV 25:42

42 If/because servants _of_are_my they whom I _brought _out DOM_them from_the _land _of Miʦrayim not they _will _be _sold a _sale _of a _slave.

OET-LV LEV 25:43

43 Not you _will _rule in_him/it with_harshness and_you _will _fear from_god _of_your.

Jump to OET SA2 1:26 section.

Jump to OET LEV 25:35–43 section.

In the NT the Greek word is used to describe natural brothers, such as Andrew and Peter (Jn 1:41). Four brothers of Jesus are named (Mk 6:3). (The Roman Catholic view is that they were really Jesus’ cousins, but the Greek language has several words for cousin, and the word “brother” is used here; thus, it refers either to children or foster children of Mary and Joseph.) Jesus’ brothers did not believe in him at first (Jn 7:5), but after the resurrection they were meeting with the Christian community (Acts 1:14). Jesus taught that his disciples had one Father (God) and were therefore brothers (Mt 23:8-9), and he graciously identified himself with the disciples as their brother (28:10).

Show passage in OET: JHN 1:41

OET-RV JHN 1:41

41 As soon as he found his brother, he said to Shim’on, “We have found the messiah—God’s chosen one,”

OET-LV JHN 1:41

41 This one first is _finding the his own brother Simōn, and is _saying to _him:
We _have _found the chosen _one /messiah, (which is being _translated:
The_chosen _one /messiah).

Show passage in OET: MRK 6:3

OET-RV MRK 6:3

3 Isn’t that the carpenter, the son of Maria (Mary; Heb. Miryam; Grk. Maria /Mariam), and the brother of Ya’akov (James; Grk. Yakobos) and Yosef (Joseph) CHECK and Yehudah (Judas; Grk. Yudas) and Shim’on (Simon)? Don’t his sisters live around here?” And they were offended by his teaching.

OET-LV MRK 6:3

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of_ the _Maria/(Miryām), and brother of_Yakōbos/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ), and Yōsaʸs/(Yōşēf?
), and Youdas/(Yəhūdāh), and Simōn?
And are not the sisters of _him here with us?
And they _were _being _offended at him.

Show passage in OET: JHN 7:5

OET-RV JHN 7:5

5 (You see, not even Yeshua’s own half-brothers believed that he came from God.)

OET-LV JHN 7:5

5 For/Because not _even the brothers of _him were _believing in him.

Show passage in OET: ACT 1:14

OET-RV ACT 1:14

14 They were united in their ongoing prayers, along with Maria (Mary; Heb. Miryam; Grk. Maria /Mariam) the mother of Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus), and his brothers.

OET-LV ACT 1:14

14 These all were persevering the in _prayer with _one _accord, with the_women and Maria/(Miryām) the mother of_ the _Yaʸsous, and the brothers of _him.

Show passage in OET: MAT 23:8–9

OET-RV MAT 23:8

8 But don’t let anyone call you ‘my great one’, because you only have one leader, and you’re all brothers and sisters,

OET-RV MAT 23:9

9 and don’t call anyone here on earth your ‘Father’, because you only have one father—a heavenly one.

OET-LV MAT 23:8

8 But you _all may_ not _be _called My _great_one, because/for one is the instructor of _you _all, and you _all are all brothers.

OET-LV MAT 23:9

9 And you _all _may_ not _call of _you on the earth father, because/for one is the the heavenly father of _you _all.

Show passage in OET: MAT 28:10

OET-RV MAT 28:10

10 Then Yeshua spoke again, “Don’t be scared. Go now and tell my brothers so they’ll go up to Galil and then they’ll see me there.”

OET-LV MAT 28:10

10 Then the Yaʸsous is _saying to _them:
Be_ not _fearing.
Be _going, report to _the brothers of _me that they _may _go _away into the Galilaia, and they _will _be _seeing me there.

Jump to OET JHN 1:41 section.

Jump to OET MRK 6:3 section.

Jump to OET JHN 7:5 section.

Jump to OET ACT 1:14 section.

Jump to OET MAT 23:8–9 section.

Jump to OET MAT 28:10 section.

Early in the history of the church it became customary for Christians to address one another as brother (Acts 9:17; Col 1:1); on two occasions the Christian community is called “the brotherhood” (1 Pt 2:17; 5:9, rsv). Specific duties and responsibilities accompany Christian brotherhood. A Christian’s love for his brother will be demonstrated in the restraint of sexual passions (1 Thes 4:6), provision of material goods when needed (Jas 2:15-16), and determination not to offend (Rom 14:13). A Christian must not “go to law” against a brother (1 Cor 6:5-6), but brothers must resolve their problems either personally or within the church group (Mt 18:15-17). The relationship between Christians is significant because a Christian cannot offer worship to God if he is out of harmony with his brother (Mt 5:23-24).

Show passage in OET: ACT 9:17

OET-RV ACT 9:17

17 So Hananyah left and went into Yehudah’ house where he placed his hands on Sha’ul and said, “Brother Sha’ul, the master has sent me here—Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) the one you saw on the road when you were coming here—so that you’ll be able to see again and also be filled with the holy spirit.”

OET-LV ACT 9:17

17 And Ananias went _away and came _in into the house, and having _laid _on on him his hands he _said:
Saulos, brother, the master has _sent _out me Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), the one having _been _seen by _you on the road in _which you _were _coming, so _that you _may _receive _sight and may _be _filled with_the_ holy _spirit.

Show passage in OET: COL 1:1

OET-RV COL 1:1

1 This letter is from Paulos, a missionary of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) by God’s will, and from our brother Timotheos.

OET-LV COL 1:1

1 Paulos, an_ambassador of_chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) by the_will of_god, and Timotheos our brother,

Show passage in OET: PE1 2:17

OET-RV PE1 2:17

17 Honour others and be loving towards your fellow believers. Revere God as well as honouring the king.

OET-LV PE1 2:17

17 Honor all, be _loving the brotherhood, be _revering the god, be _honouring the king.

Show passage in OET: PE1 5:9

OET-RV PE1 5:9

9 but you should remain firmly in the faith and resist him, knowing that fellow believers all around the world experiencing similar suffering are doing the same.

OET-LV PE1 5:9

9 against _whom resist, solid in _the in _faith, having _known the same things of _the sufferings, by _the in the world of _you _all brotherhood to _be _being _accomplished.

Show passage in OET: TH1 4:6

OET-RV TH1 4:6

6 nor going beyond lusts and exploiting your fellow believers, because Yahweh is the one who avenges all those things as we’ve told you before and testified to you all.

OET-LV TH1 4:6

6 which not to _be _going _beyond and to _be _exploiting in the matter the brother of _him, because avenging is the_master concerning all these things, as also we _previously _said to _you _all and we _testified.

Show passage in OET: JAM 2:15–16

OET-RV JAM 2:15

15 If a fellow believer is lacking clothes or food,

OET-RV JAM 2:16

16 and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace and be warm and satisfied,’ but don’t help with their physical needs, what use would that be?

OET-LV JAM 2:15

15 If a_brother or a_sister naked may _be _being, and lacking of_ the _daily food,

OET-LV JAM 2:16

16 and may _say anyone to _them from you _all:
Be _going in peace, be _warming and be _satisfying, not but you _all _may _give to _them the necessary things for _their body, what is profit?

Show passage in OET: ROM 14:13

OET-RV ROM 14:13

13 So we shouldn’t be judging each other, but instead we should be judging ourselves—that we’re not causing another believer to stumble or fall into temptation.

OET-LV ROM 14:13

13 Therefore no _longer one _another we _may _be _judging, but this judge rather, which not to _be _putting stumbling to _your brother or temptation.

Show passage in OET: CO1 6:5–6

OET-RV CO1 6:5

5 I say that to your shame. Don’t you have anyone among you all who can arbitrate between believers?

OET-RV CO1 6:6

6 But instead, one believer goes to court against another, and it’s in front of unbelievers!

OET-LV CO1 6:5

5 For/Because shame to _you _all I _am _saying.
Thus not there _is among you _all no _one wise, who will _be _able to _distinguish among your_midst of _the brother of _him?

OET-LV CO1 6:6

6 But brother with brother is _being _judged, and this before unbelievers?

Show passage in OET: MAT 18:15–17

OET-RV MAT 18:15

15 “If a fellow believer sins, go where there’s just the two of you and rebuke that person privately. If they listen to you, you’ve gained back a fellow believer.

OET-RV MAT 18:16