ἀδελφός, -οῦ, ὁ
(< ἀ- copul., δελφύς, womb),
in cl., a brother, born of the same parent or parents. [In LXX (Hort, Ja., 102 f.), for אָח;]
1. lit. of a brother (Ge 4:2, al.).
2. Of a neighbour (Le 19:17).
3. Of a member of the same nation (Ex 2:14, De 15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mt 1:2, al.; 2. Mt 7:3; 3. Ro 9:3) and also,
4. of a fellow-Christian: I Co 1:1, Ac 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, s.v.). The ἀδελφοὶ τ. Κυρίου (Mt 12:46-4913:5528:10, Mk 3:31-34, Lk 8:19-21, Jo 2:127:3, 51020:17, Ac 1:14, I Co 9:5) may have been sons of Joseph and Mary (Mayor, Ja., Intr. viff.; DB, i, 320 ff.) or of Joseph by a former marriage (Lft., Gal., 252ff.; DCG, i, 232 ff.), but the view of Jerome, which makes ἀ. equivalent to ἀνεψιός, is inconsistent with Greek usage. (Cremer, 66.)