Definition:
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 (Gen.4:2, al.). 2) Of a neighbour (Lev.19:17). 3) Of a member of the same nation (Exo.2:14, Deu.15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mat.1:2, al; 2. Mat.7:3; 3. Rom.9:3) and also, 4) of a fellow-Christian: 1Co.1:1, Act.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 (Mat.12:46-49 13:55 28:10, Mrk.3:31-34, Luk.8:19-21, Jhn.2:12 7:3, 5 10 20:17, Act.1:14, 1Co.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.) (AS)
Definition:
ἀδελφός [ᾰ], (ἀ-
copulative, δελφύς, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; compare ἀγάστωρ) properly,
son of the same mother:
I) as
substantive, ἀδελφός, ὁ,
vocative ἄδελφ;
Epic dialect,
Ionic dialect, and Lyric poetry ἀδελφεός (
genitive -ειοῦ in [
Refs 8th c.BC+]:—
brother, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀδελφοί
brother and sister, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; so of the Ptolemies, θεοὶ ἀδελφοί[
Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ἀπ᾽ ἀμφοτέρων ἀδελφεός[
LXX+5th c.BC+]
I.2)
kinsman,[
LXX];
tribesman, Ex.[
Refs]
I.3)
colleague, associate, [
Refs];
member of a college, [
Refs]
I.4) term of address, used by kings, [
LXX+2nd c.BC+], etc:—as a term of affection, applicable by wife to husband, [
LXX+2nd c.BC+]
I.5)
brother (as a fellow Christian), [
NT]; of other religious communities, e.g. Serapeum, [
Refs 2nd c.BC+]
I.6)
metaphorically, of things,
fellow, ἀνὴρ τῷ ἀ. προσκολληθήσεται, of Leviathan's scales, [
LXX]
II)
adjective, ἀδελφός, ή, όν,
brotherly or
sisterly, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; φύσιν ἀ. ἔχοντες, of Hephaistos and Athena, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2) generally, of anything double,
twin, in pairs, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]:—also,
akin, cognate, μαθήματα[
Refs 5th c.BC+]