ἀδελφός, -οῦ, ὁ

(ἀ- copul. δελφύς, womb),

in cl. a brother, born of the same parent or parents. [In LXX (Hort, Ja. 102f.), for אָח ;]

__1. lit. of a brother (Gen.4:2, al.).

__2. Of a neighbour (Lev.19:17).

__3. Of a member of the same nation (Exo.2:14, Deu.15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mat.1:2, al.; 2. Mat.7:3; 3. Rom.9:3) and also,

__4. of a fellow-Christian: 1Co.1:1, Act.9:30. This usage finds illustration in π. where ἀ. is used of members of a pagan religious community (M, Th. I, 1:4; MM, VGT, see word). The ἀδελφοὶ τ. Κυρίου (Mat.12:46-49 13:55 28:10, Mrk.3:31-34, Luk.8:19-21, Jhn.2:12 7:3, 5 10 20:17, Act.1:14, 1Co.9:5) may have been sons of Joseph and Mary (Mayor, Ja. Intr. viff.; DB, i, 320ff.) or of Joseph by a former marriage (Lft. Gal. 252ff.; DCG, i, 232ff.), but the view of Jerome, which makes ἀ. equivalent to ἀνεψιός, is inconsistent with Greek usage. (Cremer, 66.)

(AS)

a brother