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Brother

This word has different meanings in the Bible:

  1. In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19).

  2. A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19).

  3. Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt. 5:47; Acts 3:22; Heb. 7:5).

  4. A disciple or follower (Matt. 25:40; Hebrews 2:11-12).

  5. One of the same faith (Amos 1:9; Acts 9:30; 11:29; 1 Cor. 5:11); whence the early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as brethren.

  6. A colleague in office (Ezra 3:2; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1).

  7. A fellow-man (Gen. 9:5; 19:7; Matt. 5:22-24; 7:5; Hebrews 2:17).

  8. One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2 Sam. 1:26; Acts 6:3; 1 Thess. 5:1).

The brethren of Jesus (Matt. 1:25; 12:46, 50; Mark 3:31-32; Gal. 1:19; 1 Cor. 9:5, etc.) were probably the younger children of Joseph and Mary. Some have supposed that they may have been the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and others that they were the children of Mary, the Virgin's sister, and wife of Cleophas. The first interpretation, however, is the most natural.