Lexical Summary
ach: brother, brothers, relatives
Original Word:אָח
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:ach
Pronunciation:ahkh
Phonetic Spelling:(awkh)
KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other
NASB:brother, brothers, relatives, kinsmen, brother's, brethren, another
Word Origin:[a primitive word]
1. a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like H0001))
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
another, brotherly; kindred, like, other
A primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like'ab)) -- another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW'ab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitiona brother
NASB Translationalike (1), another (16), brethren (17), brother (218), brother with his brothers (1), brother's (21), brotherhood (1), brothers (195), brothers' (1), companions (1), countryman (10), countryman's (2), countrymen (10), fellow (2), fellow countryman (3), fellow countrymen (2), fellows (1), kinsman (3), kinsmen (27), nephew* (2), other (7), relative (7), relatives (80).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. , , , etc. see .
I.630 (Phoenician , Arabic
(construct
etc.), Sabean (suffix ) CISiv.1,17 and 24 and others, Ethiopic
Assyriana—u compare DlW, Aramaic ,
; Palmyreme, Nabataean suffix , ); — absoluteGenesis 24:29 + (Ezekiel 18:10 strike out Co compare ; Ew Sm ; Dl BaEz x defends as =one compare Assyriana—u) never with article; cstrGenesis 10:21 +; suffixGenesis 4:9 +;Genesis 4:9 +;Genesis 4:2 +;Jeremiah 34:9 3t. etc.; pluralGenesis 13:8 +; so readHosea 13:15 see DeCompl. Var. 23 compare below ; constructNumbers 27:10 +; suffixGenesis 19:7 +;1 Samuel 20:29 + (but1 Samuel 30:23 We for );Genesis 37:13 +;Genesis 44:14 #NAME?
brother, born of same mother (& father)Genesis 4:2,8,9,10,11;Genesis 27:6,11;Genesis 44:20;Genesis 49:5; compareGenesis 28:2;Genesis 29:10 (twice in verse) +Exodus 4:14 + often; also of half-brotherGenesis 20:5,13,16 (on pa-rentage compareGenesis 20:12)Genesis 37:2,4,5 +,2 Samuel 13:4,7,8 +.
= relative; Lot, of AbrahamGenesis 13:8;Genesis 14:12,14,16; Jacob, of LabanGenesis 29:12,15 (nephew); hence of kinship in wider sense; member of same tribeNumbers 16:10;Numbers 18:2,6;2 Samuel 19:13; of same peopleExodus 2:11 (twice in verse);Exodus 4:18;Deuteronomy 15:12;Judges 14:3;Isaiah 66:20;Nehemiah 5:1,5,8 see especiallyLeviticus 19:17 compareLeviticus 19:18 (ex-tended to include sojournerLeviticus 19:34); of Israel & Judah2 Samuel 19:42; Israel & EdomNumbers 20:14; compare of IshmaelGenesis 16:12;Genesis 25:18; of friend2 Samuel 1:26;1 Kings 9:13;1 Kings 20:32,33 of alliesAmos 1:9.
Job 30:29 ("" i.e. by reason of his crying, compare Di;Proverbs 18:9 .
in phraseone . . . anotherGenesis 9:5;Joel 2:8; Ze Joel 7:10; Genesis 13:11 25t +Exodus 32:27 (where also same phrase with & — see these words — & also , ; for development of idiom compareDeuteronomy 15:2;Isaiah 19:2;Jeremiah 34:14 (compare15) 17Ezekiel 38:21;Haggai 2:22; usually of men; of faces of golden cherubimExodus 25:20;Exodus 37:9; of scales of crocodileJob 41:9. (fire-pot. see below II. .)
(assumed as √ of following; compare Biblical Hebrew ).
Topical Lexicon
Range of Meaning and Frequencyאָח occurs roughly 630 times in the Old Testament and designates:
• A male born of the same parents or the same father (Genesis 4:2,Genesis 37:4).
• A half-brother or step-brother (Judges 8:19).
• A close relative or kinsman (Genesis 13:8;Leviticus 25:25).
• A compatriot within the covenant community (Deuteronomy 15:2;Psalm 133:1).
• An ally or friendly counterpart outside Israel (1 Kings 9:13;Amos 1:9).
Foundational Narratives of Brotherhood
Cain and Abel introduce the theme of fraternal responsibility and sin (Genesis 4). Joseph’s experience with his brothers highlights both betrayal and reconciliation (Genesis 37–50). Jacob and Esau illustrate rivalry that is later mirrored in the nations of Israel and Edom (Genesis 25–33;Obadiah 10). These narratives establish the moral contours of brotherly obligation culminating inPsalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”.
Extended Kinship and Tribal Solidarity
In patriarchal culture a “brother” could be a broader family member: Abram calls Lot “brother” to end strife (Genesis 13:8). Moses defends “one of his brothers, an Israelite” (Exodus 2:11), signifying covenant unity over Egyptian privilege. The term binds the twelve tribes—“you may not put a foreigner over you, but one of your own brothers” (Deuteronomy 17:15). Tribal differentiation never negates Israel’s core identity as a family descended from Jacob.
Covenant and Legal Obligations Toward a Brother
1. Economic relief: canceling debts in the sabbatical year (Deuteronomy 15:1-11); no interest on loans to a brother (Deuteronomy 23:19).
2. Property redemption: “If your brother becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest kinsman is to redeem what his brother has sold” (Leviticus 25:25).
3. Levirate duty: preserving a brother’s name and inheritance (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).
4. Judicial equity: equal standards for every brother (Deuteronomy 1:16).
5. Protection of life: the near-kinsman avenger (Numbers 35:19).
Ethical Demands and Warnings
Leviticus 19:17 links brotherly love with holiness: “You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart.” Hatred leads to murder (Genesis 4;1 John 3:15), while forgiveness restores covenant harmony (Genesis 50:17-21). Proverbs warns against betraying a friend “who is like your own soul” (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24).
Political and Diplomatic Use
Kings address one another as “brother” to signal parity and goodwill (1 Kings 20:32-33). Hiram calls Solomon “my brother” (1 Kings 9:13), reflecting treaty language yet contrasting with covenant brotherhood, as foreign alliances sometimes drew Israel into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-8).
Prophetic and Messianic Dimensions
Moses foretells: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers” (Deuteronomy 18:15). The New Testament identifies this Prophet with Jesus Christ (Acts 3:22). Isaiah broadens the family image: returning exiles will bring “your brothers from all the nations” (Isaiah 66:20). Brotherhood thus frames both anticipation of Messiah and eschatological restoration.
Spiritual Lessons for New Covenant Believers
The Old Testament vision of brotherhood undergirds the apostolic call to love the brethren (Hebrews 13:1;1 Peter 1:22). The redeemed community, whether Jew or Gentile, inherits Israel’s family language (Romans 8:29). Ministry today expresses this heritage by:
• Pursuing reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24).
• Bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
• Guarding against partiality and exploitation within the household of faith (James 2:1-9).
Key Theological Insights
1. Brotherhood is rooted in divine creation and covenant, not mere biology.
2. Sin distorts fraternal bonds; redemption restores them.
3. Ethical commands toward a brother reflect God’s character of justice and mercy.
4. The promised “Prophet from among your brothers” fulfills and elevates the theme in Christ, the firstborn among many brothers.
Select Scripture Index
Genesis 4:8-11; 13:8; 27:41; 37:4; 44:33
Exodus 2:11; 4:14; 32:27
Leviticus 19:17; 25:25, 35
Numbers 32:6
Deuteronomy 15:2-12; 17:15; 18:15-18; 22:1; 25:5
Joshua 22:3
2 Samuel 1:26; 19:12
1 Kings 9:13; 20:33
Job 6:15
Psalm 22:22; 133:1
Proverbs 17:17; 18:19
Isaiah 66:20
Jeremiah 34:9
Obadiah 10
Amos 1:9
Forms and Transliterations
אֲחִ֖י אֲחִ֡י אֲחִ֣י אֲחִ֣י ׀ אֲחִ֤י אֲחִ֥י אֲחִֽי־ אֲחִי֙ אֲחִיהֶ֛ם אֲחִיהֶ֥ם אֲחִיהֶם֙ אֲחִיכֶ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֖ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֲחִיכֶ֤ם אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אֲחִיכֶֽם׃ אֲחִיכֶם֒ אֲחִיכֶם֙ אֲחֵ֖י אֲחֵ֣י אֲחֵ֤י אֲחֵ֥י אֲחֵ֧י אֲחֵֽי־ אֲחֵי֙ אֲחֵי־ אֲחֵיהֶ֑ם אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם אֲחֵיהֶ֛ם אֲחֵיהֶ֜ם אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם ׀ אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ אֲחֵיהֶם֙ אֲחֵיהֶם֮ אֲחֵיכֶ֑ם אֲחֵיכֶ֔ם אֲחֵיכֶ֕ם אֲחֵיכֶ֖ם אֲחֵיכֶ֗ם אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם אֲחֵיכֶ֥ם אֲחֵיכֶ֨ם אֲחֵיכֶֽם׃ אֲחֵיכֶם֙ אֶחָ֑י אֶחָ֑יו אֶחָ֔יו אֶחָ֖יו אֶחָ֗יו אֶחָ֛יו אֶחָ֜יו אֶחָ֥יו אֶחָ֧יו אֶחָ֨יו אֶחָֽיו׃ אֶחָיו֒ אֶחָיו֙ אַ֝חִ֗ים אַ֭חַי אַחִ֑ים אַחִ֖ים אַחִ֜ים אַחִ֞ים אַחִ֣ים אַחִ֧ים ׀ אַחִֽים׃ אַחִים֮ אַחֵ֑ינוּ אַחֵ֖ינוּ אַחֵ֙ינוּ֙ אַחֵ֜ינוּ אַחֵ֣ינוּ אַחֵ֧ינוּ אַחֵ֨ינוּ אַחֵינוּ֩ אַחֶ֑יךָ אַחֶ֔יהָ אַחֶ֔יךָ אַחֶ֖יךָ אַחֶ֗יךָ אַחֶ֙יהָ֙ אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ אַחֶ֛יךָ אַחֶ֣יךָ אַחֶ֤יךָ אַחֶ֥יךָ אַחֶ֧יךָ אַחֶיךָ֩ אַחַ֖י אַחַ֗יִךְ אַחַ֣י אַחַ֥י אַחַ֧י אַחַי֙ אָ֔ח אָ֖ח אָ֗ח אָ֥ח אָ֨ח אָ֭ח אָֽח׃ אָח֙ אָחִ֑י אָחִ֑יו אָחִ֑יךָ אָחִ֔י אָחִ֔יו אָחִ֔יךְ אָחִ֔יךָ אָחִ֔ינוּ אָחִ֕י אָחִ֖י אָחִ֖יהָ אָחִ֖יהוּ אָחִ֖יו אָחִ֖יךָ אָחִ֖ינוּ אָחִ֗י אָחִ֗יהָ אָחִ֗יו אָחִ֗יךָ אָחִ֙יהָ֙ אָחִ֙יךָ֙ אָחִ֛יו אָחִ֛יךָ אָחִ֜יו אָחִ֜יךָ אָחִ֣י אָחִ֣יו אָחִ֣יךְ אָחִ֣יךָ אָחִ֤יו אָחִ֥י אָחִ֥יו אָחִ֥יךָ אָחִ֥ינוּ אָחִ֨יו אָחִ֨ינוּ אָחִֽי׃ אָחִֽיהָ׃ אָחִֽיו׃ אָחִֽיךָ׃ אָחִי֙ אָחִיו֙ אָחִיו֮ אָחִיךְ֮ אָחִיךָ֒ אָחִינוּ֒ אח אח׃ אחי אחי־ אחי׃ אחיה אחיה׃ אחיהו אחיהם אחיהם׃ אחיו אחיו׃ אחיך אחיך׃ אחיכם אחיכם׃ אחים אחים׃ אחינו בְּאֶחָ֑יו בְּאֶחָ֔יו בְּאָחִ֔יו בְּאָחִ֖יו בְּאָחִ֙יךָ֙ בְּאָחִ֛יו בְּאָחִ֣יךָ בְּאָחִ֥יהוּ בְּאָחִ֥יו בְּאָחִיו֙ בְאָחִֽיו׃ בְאָחִיו֙ באחיהו באחיו באחיו׃ באחיך הַאַֽחֵיכֶ֗ם האחיכם וְ֠אֶחָיו וְֽאֶחָ֡יו וְֽאֶחָ֧יו וְאֶחָ֔יו וְאֶחָ֕יו וְאֶחָ֖יו וְאֶחָ֗יו וְאֶחָ֣יו וְאֶחָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֨יו וְאֶחָֽיו׃ וְאֶחָיו֙ וְאַחִ֛ים וְאַחֶ֑יךָ וְאַחֶ֔יךָ וְאַחֶ֖יךָ וְאַחַ֔י וְאַחַ֜י וְאַחַ֣י וְאַחַי֙ וְאָ֥ח וְאָחִ֔יו וְאָחִ֣יו וְאָחִ֥ינוּ וְאָחִ֨יו וְכַ֣אֲחֵיכֶ֔ם וְלַאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם וְלַאֲחֵיהֶ֥ם וַאֲחִ֣י וַאֲחִיהֶ֥ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֑ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֔ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֗ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֞ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֣ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֨ם וַאֲחֵיהֶם֙ וַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם וַאֲחֵיכֶם֙ וָאָ֣ח וּבְאַ֨חֵיכֶ֤ם וּבְאָחִ֑יו וּלְאֶחָ֑יו וּלְאֶחָ֕יו וּלְאָחִ֖יו וּלְאָחִ֖יךָ וּלְאָחִֽיו׃ ואח ואחי ואחיהם ואחיו ואחיו׃ ואחיך ואחיכם ואחים ואחינו ובאחיו ובאחיכם וכאחיכם ולאחיהם ולאחיו ולאחיו׃ ולאחיך כְּאֶחָ֑יו כְּאָ֣ח כְּאָחִ֔יו כְּאָחִֽיו׃ כאח כאחיו כאחיו׃ לְאֶחָ֑י לְאֶחָ֑יו לְאֶחָ֖יו לְאֶחָֽיו׃ לְאֶחָיו֙ לְאֶחָיו׃ לְאַחֶ֔יךָ לְאַחֶ֙יךָ֙ לְאַחֶֽיךָ׃ לְאָ֗ח לְאָחִ֑יו לְאָחִ֔י לְאָחִ֔יךְ לְאָחִ֔יךָ לְאָחִ֖יהָ לְאָחִ֖יו לְאָחִ֖ינוּ לְאָחִ֥יו לְאָחִ֧יךָ לְאָחִֽיו׃ לְאָחִֽיךָ׃ לְאָחִיו֙ לַֽאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם לַֽאֲחֵיכֶם֮ לַאֲחֵ֥י לַאֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ לַאֲחֵיהֶם֙ לַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם לַאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם לָהֶ֖ם לאח לאחי לאחיה לאחיהם לאחיהם׃ לאחיו לאחיו׃ לאחיך לאחיך׃ לאחיכם לאחינו להם מֵֽאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם מֵֽאֶחָ֔יו מֵאֲחֵ֣י מֵאֲחֵ֥י מֵאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם מֵאֲחֵיכֶ֑ם מֵאֲחֵיכֶ֣ם ׀ מֵאֶחָ֑יו מֵאֶחָ֖יו מֵאֶחָ֜יו מֵאֶחָֽיו׃ מֵאֶחָיו֙ מֵאַחֶ֕יךָ מֵאַחֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵאַחַ֛י מֵאָ֥ח מֵאָֽח׃ מֵאָחִ֖יךָ מֵאָחִֽיו׃ מאח מאח׃ מאחי מאחיהם מאחיו מאחיו׃ מאחיך מאחיכם ’a·ḥa·yiḵ ’a·ḥay ’ă·ḥê ’ă·ḥê- ’a·ḥe·hā ’ă·ḥê·hem ’a·ḥe·ḵā ’ă·ḥê·ḵem ’a·ḥê·nū ’ă·ḥî ’ā·ḥî ’ă·ḥî- ’ā·ḥî·hā ’ă·ḥî·hem ’ā·ḥî·hū ’ā·ḥî·ḵā ’ă·ḥî·ḵem ’ā·ḥî·nū ’ā·ḥîḵ ’a·ḥîm ’ā·ḥîw ’āḥ ’aḥay ’aḥayiḵ ’ăḥê ’ăḥê- ’aḥehā ’ăḥêhem ’aḥeḵā ’ăḥêḵem ’aḥênū ’ăḥî ’āḥî ’ăḥî- ’āḥîhā ’ăḥîhem ’āḥîhū ’āḥîḵ ’āḥîḵā ’ăḥîḵem ’aḥîm ’āḥînū ’āḥîw ’e·ḥāw ’e·ḥāy ’eḥāw ’eḥāy ach aChai aChayich aChei aCheicha acheiChem aCheiha acheiHem aCheinu aChi aChich aChicha achiChem aChiha achiHem aChihu aChim aChinu aChiv bə’āḥîhū bə’āḥîḵā bə’āḥîw ḇə’āḥîw bə’eḥāw bə·’ā·ḥî·hū bə·’ā·ḥî·ḵā bə·’ā·ḥîw ḇə·’ā·ḥîw bə·’e·ḥāw beaChicha beaChihu beaChiv beeChav eChai eChav ha’aḥêḵem ha·’a·ḥê·ḵem haacheiChem kə’āḥ kə’āḥîw kə’eḥāw kə·’ā·ḥîw kə·’āḥ kə·’e·ḥāw keAch keaChiv keeChav la’ăḥê la’ăḥêhem la’ăḥêḵem la·’ă·ḥê la·’ă·ḥê·hem la·’ă·ḥê·ḵem lā·hem laaChei laacheiChem laacheiHem laHem lāhem lə’āḥ lə’aḥeḵā lə’āḥî lə’āḥîhā lə’āḥîḵ lə’āḥîḵā lə’āḥînū lə’āḥîw lə’eḥāw lə’eḥāy lə·’a·ḥe·ḵā lə·’ā·ḥî lə·’ā·ḥî·hā lə·’ā·ḥî·ḵā lə·’ā·ḥî·nū lə·’ā·ḥîḵ lə·’ā·ḥîw lə·’āḥ lə·’e·ḥāw lə·’e·ḥāy leAch leaCheicha leaChi leaChich leaChicha leaChiha leaChinu leaChiv leeChai leeChav mê’āḥ mê’aḥay mê’ăḥê mê’ăḥêhem mê’aḥeḵā mê’ăḥêḵem mê’āḥîḵā mê’āḥîw mê’eḥāw mê·’a·ḥay mê·’ă·ḥê mê·’ă·ḥê·hem mê·’a·ḥe·ḵā mê·’ă·ḥê·ḵem mê·’ā·ḥî·ḵā mê·’ā·ḥîw mê·’āḥ mê·’e·ḥāw meAch meaChai meaChei meaCheicha meacheiChem meacheiHem meaChicha meaChiv meeChav ū·ḇə·’a·ḥê·ḵem ū·ḇə·’ā·ḥîw ū·lə·’ā·ḥî·ḵā ū·lə·’ā·ḥîw ū·lə·’e·ḥāw ūḇə’aḥêḵem ūḇə’āḥîw ūlə’āḥîḵā ūlə’āḥîw ūlə’eḥāw uleaChicha uleaChiv uleeChav uveAcheiChem uveaChiv vaAch vaacheiChem vaacheiHem vaaChi vaachiHem veAch veaChai veaCheicha veaChim veaChinu veaChiv veChaacheiChem veeChav velaacheiHem wā’āḥ wa’ăḥêhem wa’ăḥêḵem wa’ăḥî wa’ăḥîhem wa·’ă·ḥê·hem wa·’ă·ḥê·ḵem wa·’ă·ḥî wa·’ă·ḥî·hem wā·’āḥ wə’āḥ wə’aḥay wə’aḥeḵā wə’aḥîm wə’āḥînū wə’āḥîw wə’eḥāw wə·’a·ḥay wə·’a·ḥe·ḵā wə·’ā·ḥî·nū wə·’a·ḥîm wə·’ā·ḥîw wə·’āḥ wə·’e·ḥāw wə·ḵa·’ă·ḥê·ḵem wə·la·’ă·ḥê·hem wəḵa’ăḥêḵem wəla’ăḥêhem
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