004 Use of the Term Brother

Use of the Term Brother Genesis 14:16. And also brought again his brother Lot. In chapter Genesis 11:31 Lot is said to be the nephew, not the brother, of Abram. In like manner Jacob told Rachel (Genesis 29:12) that he was her father’s brother; whereas, according to Genesis 28:5, he was the son of her father’s sister; that is, her father’s nephew. This elastic use of the word brother is quite common in the East, however strange it may seem to us; yet we have a usage somewhat similar in the application of the term to persons not in any way related to us. We call fellow countrymen, or fellow craftsmen, or fellow churchmen, brothers. The Orientals apply the term to their kinsmen of whatever relation.