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ψευδάδελφος

pseudádelphos

G5569 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Person who claims the status of a (spiritual, religious, or social) brother or associate but whose conduct or beliefs reveal this claim to be insincere or false; in literary contexts, especially within early Christian communities, one whose allegiance or membership is only apparent and not genuine. Refers to individuals presenting themselves as part of a group (especially a faith community) without true participation or loyalty.

Semantic Range

person feigning kinship or association; pretended associate; spurious member of a group or community, especially within religious assemblies; false or deceitful brother

Root / Etymology

Formed from ψευδής ('false', 'untrue') and ἀδελφός ('brother'); a compound meaning 'false brother.' Both elements are well-attested independently in classical and Koine Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term ψευδάδελφος is a Koine period compound, first attested in Hellenistic Greek literature and most notably used in the Pauline epistles (e.g., Galatians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 11:26) to designate individuals within the nascent assemblies who professed to be 'brothers' (i.e., participants or members in the community of faith) yet whose motives or loyalties were suspect. The usage presupposes the concept of brotherhood as a social, religious, or ideological bond, common in Mediterranean and Hellenistic associations. In the New Testament context, it particularly denotes those who infiltrate or associate with assemblies for divisive or deceptive purposes, but it avoids suggesting outright external opposition; the danger is internal and pretends to be within the group. Standard English translations typically render this as 'false brethren' or 'false brothers,' but the phrase suggests a performative aspect: the individual is not a brother in truth but only in appearance or claim. The term is rare outside Christian literature but aligns with the pattern of pejorative compounds (ψευδο-) for denoting deceit or falsehood in person or doctrine (cf. ψευδοπροφήτης 'false prophet').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ψευδής and ἀδελφός; a spurious brother, i.e. pretended associate:--false brethren.

Root Family

ψευδ- (pseudádelphos) — to lie, to deceive, to speak falsely

Root ψευδ- to lie, to feign, to be false; sibling, fellow member
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G5571 ψευδής deceitful ones
G5574 ψεύδομαι you lied
G5579 ψεῦδος to falsehood
G5581 ψευδώνυμος of a falsely named one
G5582 ψεῦσμα to a fabrication

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5569-01 ψευδαδέλφοις pseudadelphois N DAT M PL false brethren to false brothers among false brothers 1
G5569-02 ψευδαδέλφους pseudadelphous N ACC M PL false brethren false brothers false brothers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5569-01 2 Corinthians 11:26 ψευδαδέλφοις pseudadelphois N DAT M PL false brethren to false brothers among false brothers
G5569-02 Galatians 2:4 ψευδαδέλφους pseudadelphous N ACC M PL false brethren false brothers false brothers
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