Lexical Summary adelphos: Brother Original Word: ἀδελφός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance brother. From a (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like a) -- brother. see GREEK a see GREEK a NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a cop. prefix) and delphus (womb) Definition a brother NASB Translation believing husband (1), brethren (170), brethren* (13), brother (111), brother's (8), brothers (40). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 80: ἀδελφόςἀδελφός, (οῦ, ὁ (from ἆ copulative and δελφύς, from the same womb; cf. ἀγάστωρ) (from Homer down); 1. a brother (whether born of the same two parents, or only of the same father or the same mother): Matthew 1:2; Matthew 4:18, and often. That 'the brethren of Jesus,' Matthew 12:46, 47 (but WH only in marginal reading); 2. according to a Hebrew use of אָח (Exodus 2:11; Exodus 4:18, etc.), hardly to be met with in secular authors, having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, countryman; so the Jews (as the σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ, υἱοί Ἰσραήλ, cf. Acts 13:26; (in Deuteronomy 15:3 opposed to ὁ ἀλλότριος, cf. Acts 17:15; Acts 15:12; Philo de septen. § 9 at the beginning)) are called ἀδελφοί: Matthew 5:47; Acts 3:22 (Deuteronomy 18:15); 3. just as in Leviticus 19:17 the word אָח is used interchangeably with רֵַעַ (but, as Leviticus 19:16, 18 show, in speaking of Israelites), so in the sayings of Christ, Matthew 5:22, 24; Matthew 7:3ff, ἀδελφός is used for ὁ πλησίον to denote (as appears from Luke 10:29ff) any fellow-man — as having one and the same father with others, viz. God (Hebrews 2:11), and as descended from the same first ancestor (Acts 17:26); cf. Epictetus diss. 1, 13, 3. 4. a fellow-believer, united to another by the bond of affection; so most frequently of Christians, constituting as it were but a single family: Matthew 23:8; John 21:23; Acts 6:3 (Lachmann omits); 5. an associate in employment or office: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 2:13(12); Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 1:1. 6. brethren of Christ is used of, a. his brothers by blood; see 1 above. b. all men: Matthew 25:40 (Lachmann brackets); Hebrews 2:11f (others refer these examples to d.) c. apostles: Matthew 28:10; John 20:17. d. Christians, as those who are destined to be exalted to the same heavenly δόξα (which see, III. 4 b.) which he enjoys: Romans 8:29. In the Gospels ἀδελφός often identifies physical brothers born of the same parents (Matthew 1:2; Mark 6:3; Luke 3:1). Jesus’ own household is listed: “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?” (Mark 6:3). The term is likewise used for ordinary family accounts (Luke 14:12; Luke 15:27). Such verses remind readers that the incarnation entered an everyday human family and validate the goodness of natural ties while preparing for their transformation in Christ. Redefined by Christ Jesus enlarges the concept of brotherhood to encompass all who submit to God’s will. “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). Here biological relations yield to covenant loyalty. After His resurrection He instructs the women, “Go, tell My brothers to go to Galilee” (Matthew 28:10), signalling that the risen Lord now counts disciples as brothers, sharing His Father with them (John 20:17). Covenant Identity in the Early Church Luke’s record of Acts reveals ἀδελφοί as the preferred address within the believing community. From the first assembly in the upper room (Acts 1:15) through the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:23) to Paul’s arrival at Rome (Acts 28:15), Christians call one another “brothers,” expressing solidarity that transcended ethnicity, status, and geography. The greeting is not honorary but declarative, stating that God has adopted each member into a single household (Ephesians 2:19). Brotherly Love Brotherhood carries ethical weight. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers” (1 John 3:14). Love is concrete: sharing material goods (1 John 3:17), guarding consciences (Romans 14:13), and restoring the erring (James 5:19). Failure to love a brother exposes counterfeit faith (1 John 4:20). The motive is Christ’s example: “He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). Equality and Mutual Respect Jesus rejects hierarchical titles that diminish brotherhood: “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8). Paul adopts the same spirit when he calls affluent believers to regard enslaved believers “not as slaves, but better than slaves, as beloved brothers” (Philemon 1:16), and when he instructs Timothy that believing masters are “brothers” (1 Timothy 6:2). In Christ social distinctions are real yet relativized; equality before the cross rules Christian conduct. Discipline and Reconciliation Because the church is a family, sin is addressed personally: “If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately” (Matthew 18:15). Reconciliation is urgent; worship is postponed until peace is sought (Matthew 5:24). Lawsuits before unbelievers are shameful precisely because brothers should settle matters within the household of faith (1 Corinthians 6:6). Persistent unrepentance leads to loving separation, “yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:15). Costly Allegiance End-time warnings predict division inside natural families: “Brother will betray brother to death” (Mark 13:12). Loyalty to Jesus may cost disciples their nearest ties (Luke 14:26), but the Lord compensates with a hundredfold of brothers and sisters in the present age (Mark 10:29-30). Thus ἀδελφός embodies both the pain of loss and the comfort of the church’s embrace. Missionary Partnership Paul frequently attaches ἀδελφός to coworkers: Sosthenes (1 Corinthians 1:1), Timothy (2 Corinthians 1:1), Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), and Quartus (Romans 16:23). The title underscores shared authority and shared toil. When the Macedonians send relief “to the brothers living in Judea” (Acts 11:29), practical generosity knits scattered assemblies into one mission. Christ the Firstborn Romans 8:29 exalts the goal of redemption: believers are “conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.” The resurrected Jesus, therefore, stands as elder brother, guaranteeing family likeness and inheritance (Hebrews 2:11-12). Hymnic lines in Hebrews 2 place Psalm 22:22 on Jesus’ lips: “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers.” His mediatorial role makes the family possible; His worship becomes theirs. Heavenly Advocacy and Victory Revelation views the church’s cosmic struggle through the lens of brotherhood. Satan is “the accuser of our brothers…overcome by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:10-11). Angelic servants identify themselves as “a fellow servant with you and with your brothers” (Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9), affirming the dignity of the saints in the heavenly court. Ministerial Implications Today 1. Preaching: Emphasize adoption and equality; avoid language or structures that erode the consciousness of shared sonship. Summary ἀδελφός in the New Testament moves from bloodlines to the blood of Christ, from shared parentage to shared participation in the divine nature. Its 343 occurrences weave a tapestry of identity, affection, duty, and destiny. The church’s credibility rests, in part, on living out the reality that in Christ “we, who are many, are one body, and each member belongs to one another” (Romans 12:5)—the very heart of New Testament brotherhood. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:2 N-AMPGRK: καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ NAS: the father of Judah and his brothers. KJV: and his brethren; INT: and the brothers of him Matthew 1:11 N-AMP Matthew 4:18 N-AMP Matthew 4:18 N-AMS Matthew 4:21 N-AMP Matthew 4:21 N-AMS Matthew 5:22 N-DMS Matthew 5:22 N-DMS Matthew 5:23 N-NMS Matthew 5:24 N-DMS Matthew 5:47 N-AMP Matthew 7:3 N-GMS Matthew 7:4 N-DMS Matthew 7:5 N-GMS Matthew 10:2 N-NMS Matthew 10:2 N-NMS Matthew 10:21 N-NMS Matthew 10:21 N-AMS Matthew 12:46 N-NMP Matthew 12:47 Noun-NMP Matthew 12:48 N-NMP Matthew 12:49 N-NMP Matthew 12:50 N-NMS Matthew 13:55 N-NMP Matthew 14:3 N-GMS Strong's Greek 80 |
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