Proverbs 18:24 — Word Study
WLCאִ֣ישׁ רֵ֭עִים לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ וְיֵ֥שׁ אֹ֝הֵ֗ב דָּבֵ֥ק מֵאָֽח׃
BSAA manʼîysh [with many acquaintances] of many companionsrêaʻ [who may bring destruction] may come to ruinrâʻaʻ [be shattered or broken] but there isyêsh [exists, is present] a friendʼâhab [lover, one who shows affection] who stays closerdâbêq [cleaves, clings, in a more intimate relationship] than a brotherʼâch [male sibling, close relative]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אִ֣ישׁ | a person of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| רֵ֭עִים | companions | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ | [is] to be broken | Preposition, verb hithpael infinitive construct common |
| וְיֵ֥שׁ | and there | Conjunction |
| אֹ֝הֵ֗ב | [is one who] loves | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| דָּבֵ֥ק | cleaving | Adj |
| מֵאָֽח׃ | more than a brother | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. |
| KJV | A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. |
| ASV | He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. |
| YLT | A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother! |
| WEB | A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| BBE | There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother. |
Where they part company is אֹ֝הֵ֗ב — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence contrasts two main ideas: the danger of having many companions versus the reliability of a true friend.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָהֵב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 18:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom on Relationshipsgenerated
Proverbs 18:24 reflects on the importance of friendships versus mere acquaintances. It emphasizes that while many companions may lead to downfall, a true friend offers a bond that surpasses familial ties. This verse encourages the reader to value deep relationships over superficial ones, a theme echoed throughout Proverbs.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 17:17 | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. |
| 2 | Proverbs 27:9 | Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 19:4–5 | Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 30:26–31 | When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 9:1–13 | Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אִישׁ, 'ishgenerated
The Hebrew word אִישׁ ('ish) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence, highlighting the human condition in contrast to the divine.
In this verse, it introduces the subject, a man who has many companions, setting the stage for the contrast between superficial relationships and deeper connections.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb הִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ, to be broken, governs the main clause, with a contrasting phrase following it. The structure highlights the contrast between the potential ruin from many companions and the steadfastness of a true friend.
The sentence flows from the subject, אִישׁ, man, through to the predicates, illustrating a clear contrast in relationships.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint does not provide a direct translation for this verse, but the absence of a corresponding Greek term for אֹ֝הֵ֗ב indicates a focus on the concept of friendship rather than romantic love, which may influence the interpretation of relationships in the Greek context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 18:24 teaches that having many friends can lead to trouble, but a true friend is more reliable than a brother. This highlights the importance of valuing deep relationships over many superficial ones.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It emphasizes that while having many companions can lead to ruin, a true friend is more dependable and valuable.
It suggests that a true friend can have a closer bond than a biological brother, highlighting the significance of chosen relationships.
Companions refer to acquaintances or friends who may not have a deep or lasting connection.
This phrase indicates that true friendship can offer a level of support and loyalty that surpasses familial ties.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I define true friendship in my life?
- What qualities do I value most in my friends?
- Have I experienced the difference between acquaintances and true friends?
- In what ways can I strengthen my friendships to make them more meaningful?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on the nature of friendship and its significance in the context of faith, drawing from this verse to illustrate the value of true companionship.
A lovable man to society, etc. The believing people from the Gentiles are more loved by the Lord than the Jewish people continuing in unbelief, among whom he was born according to the flesh.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 18:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA man [that hath] friends must show himself friendly,.... Friendship ought to be mutual and reciprocal, as between David and Jonathan; a man that receives friendship ought to return it, or otherwise
Read John Gill on Proverbs 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA man that hath friends, Heb. a man of friends; either, 1. Who desires the friendship of others. Or, 2. Who professeth friendship to others. That sticketh closer to him that desires and needs his help; who is more hearty in the performance of all friendly offices.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.Ver. 24. A man that hath friends, &c.] For Cos amoris amor, Love is the whetstone, or loadstone rather, of love. Marce, ut ameris, ama. Love is a coin that must be returned in kind. And there is a friend, &c.] Such a friend is as one’ s own soul, a piece so just cut for him, as answers him rightly in every joint. This is a rare happiness. Martial.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(24) A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.—Rather, a man of many friends will suffer loss, for he will impoverish himself by constant hospitality, and in trouble they will desert him (Psalms 41:9); but “there is a friend,” one in a thousand, “that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Comp. Proverbs 17:17.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 24. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly] Love begets love; and love requires love as its recompense. If a man do not maintain a friendly carriage, he cannot expect to retain his friends. Friendship is a good plant; but it requires cultivation to make it grow. There is a kind of factitious friendship in the world, that, to show one's self friendly in it, is very expensive, and in every way utterly unprofitable: it is maintained by expensive parties, feasts, c., where the table groans with dainties, and where the conversation is either jejune and insipid, or calumnious backbiting, talebearing, and scandal, being the general topics of the different squads in company. There…
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. A man that hath friends] Lit. a man of friends, i.e. one who makes many friends, R.V.; makes them too easily and indiscriminately. must shew himself friendly] Rather, doeth it to his own destruction, R.V. He will be ruined by extravagance and “evil communications.” and] Rather, but, in contrast to the many lightly-made friends. a friend] Heb. a lover. It is a stronger word than that translated “friends” in the first clause of the verse; and is used of Abraham when he is called, “the friend of God” (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; comp. 1 Samuel 18:1; 2 Samuel 1:26). See Proverbs 17:17. Here again is a proverb which only reaches its goal in Him, who says to His disciples, “I have called…
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBetter, “A man of many companions is so to his own destruction, but there is a friend (the true, loving friend) etc.” It is not the multitude of so called friends that helps us. They may only embarrass and perplex.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 18 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Tyndale line
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction: but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man that hath friends, ought to shew him selfe friendly: for a friend is neerer then a brother.
Strictly literal
A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
A man with friends—to show himself friendly, || And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.
From the Latin
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
Simplified
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of the verse, maintaining the same core message about the nature of friendships and the potential pitfalls of having many companions.
אִ֣ישׁ רֵ֭עִים לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ וְיֵ֥שׁ אֹ֝הֵ֗ב דָּבֵ֥ק מֵאָֽח׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 18:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
376 'iysh eesh
contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root
meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male
person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and
in such cases frequently not expressed in
translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +
champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,
husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),
him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,
person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.
Compare 802.
see HEBREW for 0582
see HEBREW for 0802
אִישׁ (ish) — man.
: man
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.
: husband
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.
: anyone/someone
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'
רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow
base
H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow
7453 rea` ray'-ah
or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less
close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,
neighbour, X (an-)other.
see HEBREW for 0reya2
see HEBREW for 07462
רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.
1) friend, companion, fellow, another person
1a) friend, intimate
1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)
1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
רָעַע (ra`a`) is a Hebrew verb with meanings related to being evil or breaking. It encompasses a range of concepts from moral wickedness to physical shattering. The entries indicate that it can refer to causing harm or injury, as well as being displeasing or sad. There is a notable distinction in the lexicons regarding its use in ethical contexts versus physical breaking.
[רָעַע] 98 vb. denom. be evil, bad
Qal
be displeasing
be sad
be injurious, evil
be evil, wicked, ethically
Niph. suffer hurt
Hiph. 70
do an injury, hurt
do evil, wickedly
base
[רָעַע] vb. break
Qal
trans. can one break iron, iron out of the north ?
intrans. break = be broken
Hithpō‛. the earth is broken asunder
base
H7489a רָעַע vb. denom. be evil, bad H7489b רָעַע break
7489 ra`a` raw-ah'
a primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking
to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing,
i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally):--afflict,
associate selves (by mistake for 7462), break (down, in
pieces), + displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat,
man), show self friendly (by mistake for 7462), do harm, (do)
hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish,
still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse.
see HEBREW for 07462
see HEBREW for 07462
רָעַע (ra.a) — be evil.
1) to be bad, be evil
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to be displeasing
1a2) to be sad
1a3) to be injurious, be evil
1a4) to be wicked, be evil (ethically)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to do an injury or hurt
1b2) to do evil or wickedly
1b3) mischief (participle)
רָעַע (ra.a) — to shatter.
1) to break, shatter
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to break
1a2) broken (participle)
1a3) to be broken
1b) (Hithpolel) to be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder
Prep | V-r-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hithpael infinitive construct commonHR/Vtcc
bro'-k'-n: Occurs both as past participle of the verb translated "to break" and as an adjective, the former use will be dealt with here only so far as verbs occur which are thus translated but do not present the non-participial forms. Such are: meroach = "bruised," "emasculated" (Le 21:20); chathath = "to frustrate," hence, "to break down" either by violence or by confusion and fear (1Sa 2:10; Jer 48:20,39); dakhah = "to collapse" (Ps 44:19; 51:8); ratsats = "to crack in pieces" "crush" (Ec 12:6); kathath = "to bruise or violently strike," "break in pieces" (Isa…
יֵשׁ (yesh) refers to being, substance, or existence. It is used to assert existence, functioning as a copula for the verb 'to be' in various forms. The word can mean 'there is' or 'there are,' and its Aramaic equivalent is אִיתַי (itay).
יֵשׁ 137 subst. being, substance, existence
substance
elsewhere (prop. as a subst. in in the st. c.), it asserts existence, and so corresponds to the verb substantive, is (are, was, were, will be), lit. the being, presence of …
base
H3426 יֵשׁ subst. being, substance, existence . substance
. elsewhere (prop. as a subst. in in the st. c.), it asserts existence, and so corresponds to the verb substantive, is (are, was, were, will be), lit. the being, presence of …
3426 yesh yaysh
perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist;
entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive
verb (1961); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to
be, as may suit the connection):--(there) are, (he, it, shall,
there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had,
hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is,
substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt,
wouldest.
see HEBREW for 01961
יֵשׁ (yesh) — there.
1) being, existence, substance, there is or are
1a) substance
1b) existence
1c) there is or are
Aramaic equivalent: i.tay (אִיתַי "there is" H0383)
Conj | Part — ConjunctionHC/Acbsa
The Hebrew word אָהֵב (*'ahab*) means 'to love' and encompasses various forms of affection, including human love for others, love for God, and even appetites for things like food and wisdom. It can also refer to friendship and divine love towards humanity, particularly Israel. The entries indicate that it can function in different grammatical forms, such as participles for 'lovely' or 'loveable'.
אָהֵב 216 vb. love
Qal
human love to human object
less oft. of appetite
love to God
esp. Pt.
of divine love
Niph. Pt. pl. lovely, loveable
Pi.
friends
lovers
base
H157 אָהֵב love
157 'ahab aw-hab'
or raheb {aw-habe'}; a primitive root; to have affection for
(sexually or otherwise):--(be-)love(-d, -ly, -r), like,
friend.
אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: lover.
: lover
1) to love
1a) (Qal)
1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual
1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom
1a3) human love for or to God
1a4) act of being a friend
1a4a) lover (participle)
1a4b) friend (participle)
1a5) God's love toward man
1a5a) to individual men
1a5b) to people Israel
1a5c) to righteousness
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) lovely (participle)
1b2) loveable (participle)
1c) (Piel)
1c1) friends
1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers)
2) to like
Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: friend.
: friend
1) to love
1a) (Qal)
1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual
1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom
1a3) human love for or to God
1a4) act of being a friend
1a4a) lover (participle)
1a4b) friend (participle)
1a5) God's love toward man
1a5a) to individual men
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
luvz (Ps 45:1, title).
See PSALMS.
דָּבֵק (dabeq) means clinging or cleaving to something. It is derived from the root word meaning to adhere or stick closer. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to attachment and joining.
דָּבֵק adj. clinging, cleaving (to)
base
H1695 דָּבֵק clinging, cleaving (to)
1695 dabeq daw-bake'
from 1692; adhering:--cleave, joining, stick closer.
see HEBREW for 01692
דָּבֵק (da.veq) — cleaving.
clinging, adhering to
Adj — AdjHAamsa
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
bruth'-er ('ach; adelphos = kin by birth, from the same parents or parent): Used extensively in both Old Testament and New Testament of other relations and relationships, and expanding under Christ's teaching to include the universal brotherhood of man. Chiefly employed in the natural sense, as of Cain and Abel (Ge 4:8); of Joseph and his brethren (Ge 42:3); of Peter and Andrew, of James and John (Mt 10:2). Of other relationships:
(1) Abram's nephew, Lot, is termed "brother" (Ge 14:14);
(2) Moses' fellow-countrymen are "brethren" (Ex 2:11; Ac 3:22; compare
Brother
(1.) In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19).
(2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19).
(3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt. 5:47; Acts 3:22; Heb. 7:5).
The Hebrew word is used in various senses in the Old Testament, as, Any kinsman, and not a mere brother; e.g. nephew, (Genesis 13:8; 14:16) husband, (Solomon 4:9) One of the same tribe. (2 Samuel 19:13) Of the same people, (Exodus 2:11) or even of a cognate people. (Numbers 20:14) An ally. (Amos 1:9) Any friend, (Job 5:15) One of the same office. (1 Kings 9:13) A fellow man. (Leviticus 19:17) Metaphorically of any similarity, as in (
Signifies in Scripture the son of the same parent or parents, Mt 1:2 Lu 6:14; a cousin or near kinsman, Ge 13:8 14:16 Joh 7:3 Ac 1:14; one of the same stock or country, Mt 5:47 Ac 3:22 Heb 7:5; a fellow-man, and equal, Mt 5:23 7:3; one beloved, 2Sa 1:26; Christians, as sons of God, Ac 9:30 11:29. In