Dictionary of Bible Themes
The son of one's parents, or of either mother or father. God's people may be referred to collectively as brothers, all being children of one heavenly Father.
Leviticus 21:1-3Close relationship between brothers
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Numbers 6:6-7Deuteronomy 28:54Proverbs 18:24Ezekiel 44:25Deuteronomy 25:5-10Duties of brothers
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Levirate marriage
Genesis 38:6-11Matthew 22:23-30pp Mk 12:18-25
Genesis 34:11-17pp Lk 20:27-36
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Participation in arrangement of marriages for sisters
Genesis 24:50-602 Samuel 13:1-33See also
Protection of sisters
Genesis 34:24-31Leviticus 21:31 Samuel 17:17-18See also
Younger brothers taking news of older brothers to their father
Genesis 37:12-17Deuteronomy 21:15-17The priority of the eldest brother
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Genesis 43:33; 44:121 Samuel 20:291 Chronicles 5:1-22 Chronicles 21:1-3Psalms 89:27
Hebrews 12:16Genesis 25:21-23Examples of younger brothers superseding their elder brothers
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Genesis 48:8-20Deuteronomy 33:13-171 Samuel 16:6-131 Kings 2:22Numbers 27:8-11Brothers as heirs
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Ecclesiastes 4:8Genesis 25:24-26Twin brothers
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Genesis 38:27-30Malachi 1:2-3Judges 11:1-2Half-brothers
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Genesis 21:8-9Judges 8:30-31; 9:1-6Numbers 10:29-32Brothers-in-law
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Genesis 38:8Deuteronomy 25:5,7Judges 4:11Genesis 4:8-12Examples of brothers failing to live up to expectations of them
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Genesis 37:3-4,12-33; 38:6-10Judges 9:1-52 Chronicles 21:4Genesis 42:32Application of the term "brothers"
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To siblings
Genesis 16:9-12; 25:18Judges 16:311 Samuel 17:17-22; 22:12 Chronicles 21:13Nehemiah 1:2; 5:14Job 19:17; 42:11Proverbs 17:17Matthew 10:21Matthew 13:55pp Mk 13:12
pp Lk 21:16
John 7:3-5pp Mk 6:3
Ruth 4:3See also
To relatives
Numbers 36:2Proverbs 27:102 Samuel 19:11-12See also
To members of the same tribe
Numbers 8:26Deuteronomy 3:18See also
To Israelites
Deuteronomy 10:9; 17:15Judges 20:232 Samuel 19:411 Chronicles 13:2Jeremiah 7:15Numbers 20:14See also
To descendants of a common ancestor
Deuteronomy 2:4; 23:7Leviticus 19:17See also
To equals and fellow-citizens
Deuteronomy 1:16; 15:3; 22:1; 23:192 Samuel 2:26Matthew 5:22-24; 7:3-5pp Lk 6:41-42
Luke 14:26Love for God must exceed love for brothers
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Deuteronomy 33:9Matthew 19:29pp Mk 10:29-30
pp Lk 18:29-30
Matthew 12:49-50Jesus Christ calls his disciples his "brothers"
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pp Mk 3:34-35
Matthew 25:34-40; 28:10pp Lk 8:21
John 20:17Hebrews 2:11Matthew 23:8The fraternal relationship among God's people
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Fellow Christians called brothers
Acts 15:23; 28:141 Corinthians 5:112 Corinthians 1:1; 9:3; 11:9; 12:182 Thessalonians 2:13Philemon 1:11 Thessalonians 4:10See also
Believers urged to love each other
Romans 12:10James 2:14-171 Peter 2:172 Peter 1:5-9Acts 14:2See also
The church referred to as "the brothers"
Acts 9:30; 11:1,29; 15:3; 16:2; 17:14; 21:17Genesis 29:4Brother as an honorific term
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Equals called "brothers"
1 Samuel 30:22-232 Samuel 1:26; 20:91 Kings 13:29-30Acts 1:16; 2:37; 3:17; 7:2; 22:1; 28:171 Corinthians 1:10See also
Fellow Christians called "brothers"
Acts 9:17; 22:13Romans 8:12; 11:251 Corinthians 2:1; 7:242 Corinthians 8:1Galatians 4:311 Thessalonians 2:14Hebrews 3:1James 1:16; 5:10See also
2212 Christ, head of church5680 family5688 firstborn5705 inheritance, spiritual5711 marriage, restrictions5737 sisters5738 sons6611 adoption, privileges & duties7115 children of God7120 Christians8298 love for one another8452 neighbours, duty to 
