φιλάδελφος
philádelphos
G5361 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having affection or fondness toward one's brother or fellow member of a close group; expressing the character of brotherly love or fraternity. In extended contexts, indicates a warm, familial bond of solidarity and care, not limited to literal siblings but also to members of a community regarded as brothers or close kin.
Semantic Range
having brotherly affection, fraternal, showing love toward a fellow member, affectionate toward a brother or peer, fostering a familial bond
Root / Etymology
From φίλος ('loving, fond of, friendly') and ἀδελφός ('brother'), combining to mean 'loving as brothers.' The formation is transparent and derives directly from the elements expressing affection and kinship.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The adjective φιλάδελφος is attested from the Hellenistic period, primarily in moral or communal exhortations. In the New Testament, it appears as a virtue encouraged among communities (e.g., 1 Peter 3:8), where the 'brotherly' aspect expands from blood relations to fellow members of the Israelite or emerging Christian community. The concept parallels Greco-Roman ideals of civic friendship (philia) but with a heightened sense of communal solidarity. English translations such as 'brotherly love' or 'fraternal' convey the central meaning, but may not always reflect the wider semantic range, since φιλάδελφος can apply to any tightly knit group, not only biological siblings. Compared to related terms (e.g., ἀγαπητός, 'beloved'), φιλάδελφος emphasizes the familial and mutual aspect of affection. In the Septuagint, the root appears mainly in descriptions of kin relations. It differs from φιλάνθρωπος ('benevolent, loving humanity'), which is more general, and from ἀγαπητός, which emphasizes belovedness rather than familial affection.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from φίλος and ἀδελφός; fond of brethren, i.e. fraternal:--love as brethren.
Root Family
φιλάδελφος (philadelphos) — to love, to be fond of, brother
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5361-01 |
φιλάδελφοι | philadelphoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
brotherly | brother-loving ones | brother-loving ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5361-01 |
1 Peter 3:8 | φιλάδελφοι | philadelphoi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
brotherly | brother-loving ones | brother-loving ones |