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ἀδελφός

adelphós

G80 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A male sibling, one born of the same father or mother; in a broader sense, a member of the same family, clan, community, or group. In extended usage, the term includes close associates, fellow members of a social, religious, or ethnic group, and sometimes co-believers or colleagues. Contextually, can refer to literal brothers, kin, compatriots, associates, or figurative 'brothers' in a spiritual or communal sense.

Semantic Range

male sibling, kinsman, member of the same ethnic or familial group, compatriot, fellow member of a religious community, companion, fellow believer

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ἀ- (a, copulative prefix, 'together') and δελφύς (delphýs, 'womb'), thus originally signifying 'one born from the same womb.' Cognate with other Indo-European terms for sibling, but the specific form is uniquely Greek; the precise etymological development of δελφύς outside Greek is debated.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀδελφός referred primarily to a literal brother, but by the Hellenistic period also extended to broader usages such as members of the same ethnos or polis, comrades in society, or companions in arms. In the Septuagint, ἀδελφός frequently translates the Hebrew אָח (ach), which can mean biological brother, kin, or compatriot, and carries those broader senses into Koine usage. In the New Testament and other early Judean, Israelite, and Christian writings, ἀδελφός is often used metaphorically for fellow Israelites, Judeans, or members of the same religious community, sometimes translated as 'brother,' though English usage does not always capture the communal/social sense. The figurative use is especially prominent in addressing or referring to members of a young religious community or assembly. The feminine is ἀδελφή (adelphē, 'sister'). English translation as 'brother' is often too restrictive to capture broader connotations of shared identity and solidarity present in original contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "brother" 342 occurrences

'Brother' is the natural, widely used English equivalent for ἀδελφός and matches the overwhelming majority of existing renderings (singular and plural). It covers literal male sibling, kinsman, fellow countryman, and figurative members of a religious or social group (fellow believers or associates). Using 'brother' as the base term ensures consistent, natural-sounding translations across all forms; plural and possessive forms will be generated by inflection rules as needed.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"brother's" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a connective particle) and (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like Α):--brother.

Root Family

ἀδελφός (adelphos) — born from the same womb, sibling, associate

Root ἀδελφ- born from the same womb, sibling, associate

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G80-03 ἀδελφοὶ adelphoi N NOM M PL brothers brothers brothers 145
G80-05 ἀδελφὸν adelphon N ACC M SG brother a brother brother 62
G80-06 ἀδελφός adelphos N NOM M SG brother brother brother 43
G80-08 ἀδελφοὺς adelphous N ACC M PL brothers brothers brothers 39
G80-07 ἀδελφοῦ adelphou N GEN M SG brother's of a brother of a brother 17
G80-04 ἀδελφοῖς adelphois N DAT M PL brothers to brothers to brothers 17
G80-02 ἀδελφῷ adelpho N DAT M SG brother to a brother brother 14
G80-01 ἀδελφέ adelphe N VOC M SG brother sister brother 6

Occurrences in Scripture

343 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G80-08 Matthew 1:2 ἀδελφοὺς adelphous N ACC M PL brethren brothers brothers
G80-08 Matthew 1:11 ἀδελφοὺς adelphous N ACC M PL brethren brothers brothers
G80-08 Matthew 4:18 ἀδελφούς adelphous N ACC M PL brothers brothers brothers
G80-05 Matthew 4:18 ἀδελφὸν adelphon N ACC M SG brother a brother brother
G80-08 Matthew 4:21 ἀδελφούς adelphous N ACC M PL brothers brothers brothers
G80-05 Matthew 4:21 ἀδελφὸν adelphon N ACC M SG brother a brother his brother
G80-02 Matthew 5:22 ἀδελφῷ adelpho N DAT M SG brother to a brother brother
G80-02 Matthew 5:22 ἀδελφῷ adelpho-2 N DAT M SG brother to a brother brother
G80-06 Matthew 5:23 ἀδελφός adelphos N NOM M SG brother brother brother
G80-02 Matthew 5:24 ἀδελφῷ adelpho N DAT M SG brother to a brother brother
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