Dictionary Article

Designation of those in the household of God. Good evidence exists that Jews at the time of Jesus frequently referred to themselves as brothers (Acts 2:29, 37 OET ACT 2:29 · OET ACT 2:37; 7:2; 22:5; 28:21; Rom 9:3). From the beginning it seemed natural for Jewish Christians to call each other “brothers” (that is, “siblings”—the term included both male and female; Acts 1:15-16; 9:30; 11:1). Members of gentile religious communities also called each other brothers, so the name found a home in the gentile churches as well (Acts 17:14; Rom 1:13; 1 Cor 1:1, 10 OET CO1 1:1 · OET CO1 1:10; plus dozens of other places in Paul’s letters to gentile churches). In fact, along with “disciple” (in Acts) and “saint” (always plural in the writings of Paul and the book of Revelation), it was one of the most popular names for Christians and the only one used in James and 1 John.

Show passage in OET: ACT 2:29; ACT 2:37

OET-RV ACT 2:29

29 “Fellow Israelis, we can tell you all with confidence that our patriarch David both died and was buried, and his tomb is still here with us today.

OET-RV ACT 2:37

37 When the people heard that, they were deeply troubled and asked Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros) and the other missionaries, “What should we do then, brothers?”

OET-LV ACT 2:29

29 Men, brothers, it _is _permitting to _speak with confidence to you _all concerning the patriarch Dawid that he_ both _died and was _buried, and the tomb of _him is among us until the this day.

OET-LV ACT 2:37

37 And having _heard, they _were _pierced to _the heart, both they _said to the Petros and the other ambassadors:
What may _we _do, men, brothers?

Show passage in OET: ACT 7:2

OET-RV ACT 7:2

2 And he replied, “My brothers and fathers, please listen. Our honoured God was seen by our ancestor Avraham in Mesopotamia before he moved to Haran

OET-LV ACT 7:2

2 And he was _saying:
Men, brothers and fathers, hear me.
The god of_ the _glory was _seen by_ Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām) _the father of _us, him being in the Mesopotamia before or/than to _dwell in Ⱪarran/(Ḩārān),

Show passage in OET: ACT 22:5

OET-RV ACT 22:5

5 as the Chief Priest and all the council of elders can tell you. I took letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damesek (Damascus) when I went so that I could arrest the ones there and bring them back here to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to be punished.

OET-LV ACT 22:5

5 as also the chief _priest is _testifying to _me and all the council _of _elders, from whom also having _received letters to the brothers, I _was _going to Damaskos/(Dammeseq), going _to_ also _bring the ones being there, having _been _bound to Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim), in _order _that they _may _be _punished.

Show passage in OET: ACT 28:21

OET-RV ACT 28:21

21 “We haven’t received any correspondence here about you,” they answered. “Nor have any of our brothers from Yerushalem arrived here to report any crimes of yours.

OET-LV ACT 28:21

21 And they said to him:
We neither received letters concerning you from the Youdaia, nor having _arrived anyone of _the brothers reported or spoke anything evil concerning you.

Show passage in OET: ROM 9:3

OET-RV ROM 9:3

3 because I was hoping that I myself would be a sacrifice from the messiah for my brothers and sisters, my fellow-citizens in this world.

OET-LV ROM 9:3

3 For/Because I _was _hoping a_curse to _be myself, I from the chosen _one /messiah for the brothers of _me, the fellow-citizen of _me, according _to flesh,

Show passage in OET: ACT 1:15–16

OET-RV ACT 1:15

15 Then one day, Kefa stood up in the meeting of the believers (about 120 of them) and said,

OET-RV ACT 1:16

16 “Brothers, it was necessary for the scripture to be fulfilled, where the holy spirit had spoken previously through David about Yehudah, the one who guided those that arrested Yeshua

OET-LV ACT 1:15

15 And in the these days, Petros having _stood _up in the_midst of _the brothers said (and the_crowd of _names with the same was about a_hundred twenty),

OET-LV ACT 1:16

16 Men, brothers, it _was _fitting the scripture to _be _fulfilled, which the the holy spirit previously _said by the_mouth of _Dawid/(Dāvid) concerning Youdas, the one having _become guide to _the ones having _captured Yaʸsous.

Show passage in OET: ACT 9:30

OET-RV ACT 9:30

30 so when the brothers found out, they took Sha’ul down to Kaisareia on the coast, and from there sent him on a ship to Tarsos.

OET-LV ACT 9:30

30 But having _known it, the brothers brought_ him _down to Kaisareia, and they _sent_ him _away to Tarsos.

Show passage in OET: ACT 11:1

OET-RV ACT 11:1

11 Soon the missionaries and other believers in Yehudah (Judea) heard that non-Jews had also accepted God’s message,

OET-LV ACT 11:1

11 And the ambassadors and the brothers which being in the Youdaia heard that the pagans also received the message of_ the _god.

Show passage in OET: ACT 17:14

OET-RV ACT 17:14

14 So the believers immediately sent Paulos off to the coast, but Silas and Timotheos both stayed.

OET-LV ACT 17:14

14 And then the brothers immediately the Paulos sent _away, to _be _going as _far _as to the sea, and the both Silas and the Timotheos remained there.

Show passage in OET: ROM 1:13

OET-RV ROM 1:13

13 Brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to be unaware that I’d planned several times to come to you, but I was vetoed until recently so that I’d also have a harvest among you similar to those among the other non-Jews.

OET-LV ROM 1:13

13 Not and I _am _wanting you _all to _be _not _knowing, brothers, that often I _purposed to _come to you _all, and I _was _forbidden until the time presently, in _order _that some fruit I _may _have also among you _all, as even among the other pagans.

Show passage in OET: CO1 1:1; CO1 1:10

OET-RV CO1 1:1

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

OET-RV CO1 1:10

10 Now brothers and sisters, I appeal to you in the name of our master Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) Messiah, that you all agree together so that there’ll be no divisions among you, but rather that you’ll be united in your thinking and in your purpose,

OET-LV CO1 1:1

1 Paulos, a_called ambassador of_chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) by the_will of_god, and Sōsthenaʸs, our brother,

OET-LV CO1 1:10

10 And I _am _exhorting you _all, brothers, by the name of _the master of _us, Yaʸsous chosen _one /messiah, in _order _that the same thing you _all _may _be _speaking all, and not may _be among you _all divisions, but you _all _may _be having _been _prepared in the same mind and in the same opinion.

Jump to OET ACT 2:29 section. · OET ACT 2:37 section.

Jump to OET ACT 7:2 section.

Jump to OET ACT 22:5 section.

Jump to OET ACT 28:21 section.

Jump to OET ROM 9:3 section.

Jump to OET ACT 1:15–16 section.

Jump to OET ACT 9:30 section.

Jump to OET ACT 11:1 section.

Jump to OET ACT 17:14 section.

Jump to OET ROM 1:13 section.

Jump to OET CO1 1:1 section. · OET CO1 1:10 section.

Each Christian was called “brother,” and the Christians collectively were “the brothers.” The name stressed the intimacy of the Christian community. That is, the relationship of believers to one another was as close as that of blood kin (closer, in fact—Mk 10:23-31). In 1 John and James the name underlines the claim that poorer Christians have upon those better off (Jas 2:15; 1 Jn 3:10-18; 4:20-21). It also points to equality among members of the Christian community.

Show passage in OET: MRK 10:23–31

OET-RV MRK 10:23

23 Yeshua looked around and told his followers, “It’s so difficult for wealthy people to enter God’s kingdom.”

OET-RV MRK 10:24

24 (His followers were a bit stunned at his teaching.) Yeshua continued, “Yes, it’s certainly difficult to enter into God’s kingdom.

OET-RV MRK 10:25

25 It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

OET-RV MRK 10:26

26 Now they were totally stunned, asking, “How can anyone possibly be saved then?”

OET-RV MRK 10:27

27 Yeshua looked intently at them, “Yes, humanly it’s quite impossible. But with God it’s different—God can do anything!”

OET-RV MRK 10:28

28 Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros) said, “Well, we left everything and came and followed you.”

OET-RV MRK 10:29

29 “Yes, I can assure you all,” Yeshua answered, “that anyone who left their home or farm, and left their siblings or parents or children because of me and my teaching,

OET-RV MRK 10:30

30 they’ll be rewarded one hundred times over with homes and farms and siblings and parents and children along with times of persecution, but gaining eternal life in the next era.

OET-RV MRK 10:31

31 But many at the top now will be at the bottom then, and many at the bottom now will be blessed then.”

OET-LV MRK 10:23

23 And the Yaʸsous having _looked _around, is _saying to _the apprentices/followers of _him:
How difficultly the ones having the wealth will _be _coming _in into the kingdom of_ the _god.

OET-LV MRK 10:24

24 And the apprentices/followers were _being _amazed at the messages of _him.
But the Yaʸsous again answering is _saying to _them:
Children, how difficult it _is to _come _in into the kingdom of_ the _god.

OET-LV MRK 10:25

25 It _is easier for_a_camel to _pass _through through eye needle than a_rich one to _come _in into the kingdom of_ the _god.

OET-LV MRK 10:26

26 But they were _being_ exceedingly _astonished, saying to him:
And who is _able to _be _saved?

OET-LV MRK 10:27

27 the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) having _focused _in on _them, is _saying:
With humans it _is impossible, but not with god, because/for all things are possible with the god.

OET-LV MRK 10:28

28 The Petros began to _be _saying to _him:
Behold, we left all things and have _followed after _you.

OET-LV MRK 10:29

29 The Yaʸsous was _saying:
Truly, I _am _saying to _you _all, there _is no _one who left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or farms, on _account of _me and of _the good _message,

OET-LV MRK 10:30

30 if may_ not _receive hundred _fold now in the this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and farms, with persecutions, and in the age which coming, eternal life.

OET-LV MRK 10:31

31 But many first will _be last, and last first.

Show passage in OET: JAM 2:15

OET-RV JAM 2:15

15 If a fellow believer is lacking clothes or food,

OET-LV JAM 2:15

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

Show passage in OET: JN1 3:10–18

OET-RV JN1 3:10

10 You can distinguish God’s children and the devil’s children like this: everyone who doesn’t faithfully obey Yeshua’s teaching or doesn’t love their fellow believers, that person doesn’t belong to God.

OET-RV JN1 3:11

11 Yes, this is the message that you all heard from the beginning: to be loving each other—

OET-RV JN1 3:12

12 not living like Kayin (Cain) who belonged to the evil one and went on to murder his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own actions were evil, but his brother Hevel (Abel) followed God’s instructions.

OET-RV JN1 3:13

13 And friends, don’t be surprised if the world hates you.

OET-RV JN1 3:14

14 We know that we have transferred from death to life because we are loving our fellow believers. Anyone who doesn’t love others is stuck in death.

OET-RV JN1 3:15

15 Everyone who hates another person is a murderer, and you all know that murderers don’t have eternal life in them.

OET-RV JN1 3:16

16 We know about real love because we saw that Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) gave up his life for us, and we should give up our lives for our fellow believers.

OET-RV JN1 3:17

17 But anyone who’s enjoying being alive and notices that a fellow believer is in need yet shuts that other believer’s needs out of their conscience, how can God’s love be living in that person?

OET-RV JN1 3:18

18 So you new believers, don’t just proclaim that you’re loving people, but actually demonstrate it in actions and in fact.

OET-LV JN1 3:10