ἀδελφός

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 (1 Mos 4,2, al.).

2. Of a neighbour (3 Mos 19,17).

3. Of a member of the same nation (2 Mos 2,14, 5 Mos 15,3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Matt 1,2, al.; 2. Matt 7,3 3. Rom 9,3) and also,

4. of a fellow-Christian: 1 Kor 1,1, ApG 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 (Matt 12,46-49; 13,55; 28,10, Mark 3,31-34, Luk 8,19-21, Joh 2,12; 7,3, 5, 10; 20,17, ApG 1,14, 1 Kor 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.)