5661 brothers
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.
Close relationship between brothers
Lev 21:1-3 See also Nu 6:6-7; Dt 28:54; Pr 18:24; Eze 44:25
Duties of brothers
Levirate marriage Dt 25:5-10 See also Ge 38:6-11; Mt 22:23-30 pp Mk 12:18-25 pp Lk 20:27-36
Participation in arrangement of marriages for sisters Ge 34:11-17 See also Ge 24:50-60
Protection of sisters 2Sa 13:1-33 See also Ge 34:24-31; Lev 21:3
Younger brothers taking news of older brothers to their father 1Sa 17:17-18 See also Ge 37:12-17
The priority of the eldest brother
Dt 21:15-17 See also Ge 43:33; Ge 44:12; 1Sa 20:29; 1Ch 5:1-2; 2Ch 21:1-3; Ps 89:27; Heb 12:16
Examples of younger brothers superseding their elder brothers
Ge 25:21-23 See also Ge 48:8-20; Dt 33:13-17; 1Sa 16:6-13; 1Ki 2:22
Brothers as heirs
Nu 27:8-11 See also Ecc 4:8
Twin brothers
Ge 25:24-26 See also Ge 38:27-30; Mal 1:2-3
Half-brothers
Jdg 11:1-2 See also Ge 21:8-9; Jdg 8:30-31; Jdg 9:1-6
Brothers-in-law
Nu 10:29-32 See also Ge 38:8; Dt 25:5,7; Jdg 4:11
Examples of brothers failing to live up to expectations of them
Ge 4:8-12 See also Ge 37:3-4,12-33; Ge 38:6-10; Jdg 9:1-5; 2Ch 21:4
Application of the term “brothers”
To siblings Ge 42:32 See also Ge 16:9-12; Ge 25:18; Jdg 16:31; 1Sa 17:17-22; 1Sa 22:1; 2Ch 21:13; Ne 1:2; Ne 5:14; Job 19:17; Job 42:11; Pr 17:17; Mt 10:21 pp Mk 13:12 pp Lk 21:16; Mt 13:55 pp Mk 6:3; Jn 7:3-5
To relatives Ru 4:3 See also Nu 36:2; Pr 27:10
To members of the same tribe 2Sa 19:11-12 See also Nu 8:26
To Israelites Dt 3:18 See also Dt 10:9; Dt 17:15; Jdg 20:23; 2Sa 19:41; 1Ch 13:2; Jer 7:15
To descendants of a common ancestor Nu 20:14 See also Dt 2:4; Dt 23:7
To equals and fellow-citizens Lev 19:17 See also Dt 1:16; Dt 15:3; Dt 22:1; Dt 23:19; 2Sa 2:26; Mt 5:22-24; Mt 7:3-5 pp Lk 6:41-42
Love for God must exceed love for brothers
Lk 14:26 See also Dt 33:9; Mt 19:29 pp Mk 10:29-30 pp Lk 18:29-30
Jesus Christ calls his disciples his “brothers”
Mt 12:49-50 pp Mk 3:34-35 pp Lk 8:21 See also Mt 25:34-40; Mt 28:10; Jn 20:17; Heb 2:11
The fraternal relationship among God’s people
Fellow Christians called brothers Mt 23:8 See also Ac 15:23; Ac 28:14; 1Co 5:11; 2Co 1:1; 2Co 9:3; 2Co 11:9; 2Co 12:18; 2Th 2:13; Phm 1
Believers urged to love each other 1Th 4:10 See also Ro 12:10; Jas 2:14-17; 1Pe 2:17; 2Pe 1:5-9
The church referred to as “the brothers” Ac 14:2 See also Ac 9:30; Ac 11:1,29; Ac 15:3; Ac 16:2; Ac 17:14; Ac 21:17
Brother as an honorific term
Equals called “brothers” Ge 29:4 See also 1Sa 30:22-23; 2Sa 1:26; 2Sa 20:9; 1Ki 13:29-30; Ac 1:16; Ac 2:37; Ac 3:17; Ac 7:2; Ac 22:1; Ac 28:17
Fellow Christians called “brothers” 1Co 1:10 See also Ac 9:17; Ac 22:13; Ro 8:12; Ro 11:25; 1Co 2:1; 1Co 7:24; 2Co 8:1; Gal 4:31; 1Th 2:14; Heb 3:1; Jas 1:16; Jas 5:10