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Original Word:ἀδελφός
Part of Speech:Noun, Masculine
Transliteration:adelphos
Pronunciation:ah-del-FOS
Phonetic Spelling:(ad-el-fos')
KJV: brother
NASB:brethren, brother, brothers, brother's, believing husband
Word Origin:[fromG1 (α - Alpha) (as a connective particle) and delphus "the womb"]

1. a brother
2. (of faith) a brother in our Lord, Jesus
{literally or figuratively; near or remote; much like G1}

brother.

Froma (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much likea) -- brother.

see GREEKa

see GREEKa

Word Origin
fromalpha (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).

STRONGS NT 80: ἀδελφός

ἀδελφός,(οῦ,ὁ (fromἆ copulative andδελφύς,from the same womb; cf.ἀγάστωρ) (fromHomer 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 (butWH only in marginal reading);f;Mark 6:3 (in the last two passages also sisters);Luke 8:19;John 2:12;John 7:3;Acts 1:14;Galatians 1:19;1 Corinthians 9:5, are neither sons of Joseph by a wife married before Mary (which is the account in the Apocryphal Gospels (cf. Thilo, Cod. Apocr. N. T. i. 362f)), nor cousins, the children of Alphaeus or Cleophas (i. e. Clopas) and Mary a sister of the mother of Jesus (the current opinion among the doctors of the church sinceJerome andAugustine (cf.Lightfoot's Commentary on Galatians, diss. ii.)), according to that use of language by whichἀδελφός like the Hebrewאָח denotes any blood-relation or kinsman (Genesis 14:16;1 Samuel 20:29;2 Kings 10:13;1 Chronicles 23:2, etc.), but own brothers, born after Jesus, is clear principally fromMatthew 1:25 (only inRG);Luke 2:7 — where, had Mary borne no other children after Jesus, instead ofυἱόνπρωτότοκον, the expressionυἱόνμονογενῆ would have been used, as well as fromActs 1:14, cf.John 7:5, where the Lord's brethren are distinguished from the apostles. See further on this point underἸάκωβος, 3. (Cf.B. D. under the word; Andrews, Life of our Lord, pp. 104-116; Bib. Sacr. for 1864, pp. 855-869; for 1869, pp. 745-758; Laurent, N. T. Studien, pp. 153-193; McClellan, note onMatthew 13:55.)

2. according to a Hebrew use ofאָח (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 theσπέρμαἈβραάμ,υἱοίἸσραήλ, cf.Acts 13:26; (inDeuteronomy 15:3 opposed toὁἀλλότριος, cf.Acts 17:15;Acts 15:12;Philo de septen. § 9 at the beginning)) are calledἀδελφοί:Matthew 5:47;Acts 3:22 (Deuteronomy 18:15);;Romans 9:3; in address,Acts 2:29;Acts 3:17;Acts 23:1;Hebrews 7:5.

3. just as inLeviticus 19:17 the wordאָח is used interchangeably withרֵַעַ (but, asLeviticus 19:16, 18 show, in speaking of Israelites), so in the sayings of Christ,Matthew 5:22, 24;Matthew 7:3ff,ἀδελφός is used forὁπλησίον to denote (as appears fromLuke 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);;Galatians 1:2;1 Corinthians 5:11;Philippians 1:14, etc.; in courteous address,Romans 1:13;Romans 7:1;1 Corinthians 1:10;1 John 2:7Rec., and often elsewhere; yet in the phraseology of John it has reference to the new life unto which men are begotten again by the efficiency of a common father, even God:1 John 2:9ff;; etc., cf.1 John 5:1.

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 heavenlyδόξα (which see, III. 4 b.) which he enjoys:Romans 8:29.

Literal Kinship

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 inHebrews 2 placePsalm 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.
2. Pastoral care: Cultivate familial affection—hospitality, material assistance, patient instruction, and corrective discipline—all practiced as among brothers and sisters.
3. Missions and mercy: Ground cross-cultural generosity inRomans 15:30, where Paul beseeches, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ…to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
4. Apologetics: Point doubters to the historical transformation of diverse peoples into one brotherhood as evidence of the gospel’s power.

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.

Αδελφε αδελφέ Ἀδελφέ αδελφοι αδελφοί ἀδελφοί ἀδελφοὶ αδελφοις αδελφοίς ἀδελφοῖς αδελφον αδελφόν ἀδελφόν ἀδελφὸν αδελφος αδελφός ἀδελφός ἀδελφὸς αδελφου αδελφού αδελφόυ ἀδελφοῦ αδελφους αδελφούς άδελφους ἀδελφούς ἀδελφοὺς αδελφω αδελφώ ἀδελφῷ αδελφων αδελφών ἀδελφῶν Adelphe Adelphé adelpho adelphō adelphoi adelphoí adelphoì adelphôi adelphō̂i adelphois adelphoîs adelphon adelphón adelphòn adelphôn adelphōn adelphō̂n adelphos adelphós adelphòs adelphou adelphoû adelphous adelphoús adelphoùsInterlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts

Matthew 1:2N-AMP
GRK:καὶ τοὺςἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ
NAS: the father of Judahand his brothers.
KJV: and hisbrethren;
INT: and thebrothers of him

Matthew 1:11N-AMP
GRK:καὶ τοὺςἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ
NAS: of Jeconiahand his brothers, at the time
KJV: hisbrethren, about the time
INT: and thebrothers of him at [the time]

Matthew 4:18N-AMP
GRK:εἶδεν δύοἀδελφούς Σίμωνα τὸν
NAS: twobrothers, Simon
KJV: saw twobrethren, Simon called
INT: he saw twobrothers Simon who

Matthew 4:18N-AMS
GRK:Ἀνδρέαν τὸνἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ βάλλοντας
NAS: and Andrewhis brother, casting
KJV: Andrew hisbrother, casting a net
INT: Andrew thebrother of him casting

Matthew 4:21N-AMP
GRK:ἄλλους δύοἀδελφούς Ἰάκωβον τὸν
NAS: otherbrothers, James
KJV: other twobrethren, James [the son] of
INT: others twobrothers James the [son]

Matthew 4:21N-AMS
GRK:Ἰωάννην τὸνἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν
NAS: and Johnhis brother, in the boat
KJV: John hisbrother, in a ship
INT: John thebrother of him in

Matthew 5:22N-DMS
GRK:ὀργιζόμενος τῷἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ἔνοχος
NAS: who is angrywith his brother shall be guilty
KJV: with hisbrother without a cause
INT: is angry with thebrother of him liable

Matthew 5:22N-DMS
GRK:εἴπῃ τῷἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ Ῥακά
NAS: saysto his brother, You good-for-nothing,'
KJV: to hisbrother, Raca,
INT: shall say tobrother of him Raca

Matthew 5:23N-NMS
GRK:ὅτι ὁἀδελφός σου ἔχει
NAS: rememberthat your brother has
KJV: that thybrother hath ought
INT: that thebrother of you has

Matthew 5:24N-DMS
GRK:διαλλάγηθι τῷἀδελφῷ σου καὶ
NAS: be reconciledto your brother, and then
KJV: be reconciled to thybrother, and then
INT: be reconciled tobrother of you and

Matthew 5:47N-AMP
GRK:ἀσπάσησθε τοὺςἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν μόνον
NAS: onlyyour brothers, what
KJV: ye salute yourbrethren only, what
INT: you greet thebrothers of you only

Matthew 7:3N-GMS
GRK:ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦἀδελφοῦ σου τὴν
NAS: at the speckthat is in your brother's eye,
KJV: that is in thybrother's eye, but
INT: eye thebrother of you

Matthew 7:4N-DMS
GRK:ἐρεῖς τῷἀδελφῷ σου Ἄφες
NAS: can you sayto your brother, 'Let
KJV: to thybrother, Let
INT: will you say to thebrother of you Allow

Matthew 7:5N-GMS
GRK:ὀφθαλμοῦ τοῦἀδελφοῦ σου
NAS: the speckout of your brother's eye.
KJV: out of thybrother's eye.
INT: eye of thebrother of you

Matthew 10:2N-NMS
GRK:Ἀνδρέας ὁἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: and Andrewhis brother; and James
KJV: Andrew hisbrother; James [the son] of
INT: Andrew thebrother of him and

Matthew 10:2N-NMS
GRK:Ἰωάννης ὁἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ
NAS: and Johnhis brother;
KJV: John hisbrother;
INT: John thebrother of him

Matthew 10:21N-NMS
GRK:παραδώσει δὲἀδελφὸς ἀδελφὸν εἰς
NAS:Brother will betray brother
KJV: Andthe brother shall deliver up
INT: will deliver up moreoverbrother brother to

Matthew 10:21N-AMS
GRK:δὲ ἀδελφὸςἀδελφὸν εἰς θάνατον
NAS: will betraybrother to death,
KJV: shall deliver upthe brother to
INT: moreover brotherbrother to death

Matthew 12:46N-NMP
GRK:καὶ οἱἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἱστήκεισαν
NAS: His motherand brothers were standing
KJV: and hisbrethren stood without,
INT: and thebrothers of him were standing

Matthew 12:47Noun-NMP
GRK:καὶ οἱἀδελφοί σου ἔξω
INT: and thebrothers of you outside

Matthew 12:48N-NMP
GRK:εἰσὶν οἱἀδελφοί μου
NAS: is My mother and whoare My brothers?
KJV: are mybrethren?
INT: are thebrothers of me

Matthew 12:49N-NMP
GRK:καὶ οἱἀδελφοί μου
NAS: Behold My motherand My brothers!
KJV: and mybrethren!
INT: and thebrothers of me

Matthew 12:50N-NMS
GRK:αὐτός μουἀδελφὸς καὶ ἀδελφὴ
NAS: who is in heaven,he is My brother and sister
KJV: is mybrother, and sister,
INT: he mybrother and sister

Matthew 13:55N-NMP
GRK:καὶ οἱἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ Ἰάκωβος
NAS: Mary,and His brothers, James
KJV: and hisbrethren, James, and
INT: and thebrothers of him James

Matthew 14:3N-GMS
GRK:Φιλίππου τοῦἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ
NAS: the wifeof his brother Philip.
KJV: sake, hisbrother Philip's wife.
INT: of Philip thebrother of him

Strong's Greek 80
343 Occurrences

Ἀδελφέ — 6 Occ.
ἀδελφῷ — 14 Occ.
ἀδελφῶν — 21 Occ.
ἀδελφοὶ — 145 Occ.
ἀδελφοῖς — 17 Occ.
ἀδελφὸν — 41 Occ.
ἀδελφός — 43 Occ.
ἀδελφοῦ — 17 Occ.
ἀδελφοὺς — 39 Occ.