What does ἀδελφός · ἀδελφή mean in the Bible?
ἀδελφός · ἀδελφή is a Greek phrase meaning "a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like )".
Greek · G80, G79
ἀδελφός
A brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like ) · a sister (naturally or ecclesiastically)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἀδελφόςG80a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like )
Pronunciationadelphós
Brother encompasses literal kinship, fellow-nationals, neighbors, and crucially, fellow-Christians in Christian community.
Open lexicon entry →ἀδελφήG79a sister (naturally or ecclesiastically)
Pronunciationadelphḗ
Open lexicon entry →What does ἀδελφός (adelphós) mean in the Bible?
ἀδελφός · ἀδελφή is a Greek phrase meaning "a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like )".
Full entry for ἀδελφός (G80, G79) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G80, G79?
G80, G79 is connected to 342 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like )
Source Gloss
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like )
Extended definition
:--brother.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 10 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns10Aligned forms342Case patternVocative (111)Number patternPlural (221)
Nominative · Singular · MasculineMatt 5:23 · Matt 10:2 · Matt 10:21 · Matt 12:50 · Matt 18:15 · Matt 18:21 · Matt 22:24 · Mark 3:35 · Mark 6:3 · Mark 12:19 · Mark 13:12 · Luke 15:27 · Luke 15:32 · Luke 17:3 · Luke 20:28 · John 1:4043×
Nominative · Plural · MasculineMatt 12:46 · Matt 12:47 · Matt 12:48 · Matt 12:49 · Matt 13:55 · Matt 22:25 · Matt 23:8 · Mark 3:31 · Mark 3:32 · Mark 3:33 · Mark 3:34 · Mark 12:20 · Luke 8:19 · Luke 8:20 · Luke 8:21 · Luke 20:2939×
Genitive · Plural · MasculineMatt 20:24 · Matt 25:40 · Luke 21:16 · Acts 1:15 · Acts 3:22 · Acts 7:37 · Acts 10:23 · Acts 14:2 · Acts 15:33 · Acts 15:40 · Acts 16:2 · Acts 28:21 · Rom 9:3 · 1 Cor 16:11 · 1 Cor 16:12 · Phil 1:1421×
Genitive · Singular · MasculineMatt 7:3 · Matt 7:5 · Matt 14:3 · Mark 6:17 · Mark 6:18 · Luke 3:1 · Luke 3:19 · Luke 6:41 · Luke 6:42 · John 11:19 · 1 Cor 6:5 · 1 Cor 6:6 · 1 Cor 16:12 · 2 Thess 3:6 · Jas 4:11 · 1 Pet 5:1217×
Dative · Plural · MasculineMatt 28:10 · Acts 1:14 · Acts 7:13 · Acts 11:29 · Acts 12:17 · Acts 15:3 · Acts 15:22 · Acts 15:23 · Acts 18:18 · Rom 8:29 · 1 Cor 15:6 · Eph 6:23 · Col 1:2 · 1 Thess 5:27 · 1 Tim 4:6 · Heb 2:1217×
Dative · Singular · MasculineMatt 5:22 · Matt 5:24 · Matt 7:4 · Matt 18:35 · Matt 22:24 · Matt 22:25 · Mark 12:19 · Luke 6:42 · Luke 12:13 · Luke 20:28 · Rom 14:13 · 1 Cor 7:14 · Col 4:914×
Accusative · Singular · MasculineMatt 4:18 · Matt 4:21 · Matt 10:21 · Matt 17:1 · Matt 18:15 · Mark 1:16 · Mark 1:19 · Mark 3:17 · Mark 5:37 · Mark 13:12 · Luke 6:14 · John 1:41 · Acts 12:2 · Rom 14:10 · 1 Cor 8:13 · 2 Cor 2:1341×
Accusative · Plural · MasculineMatt 1:2 · Matt 1:11 · Matt 4:18 · Matt 4:21 · Matt 5:47 · Matt 19:29 · Mark 10:29 · Mark 10:30 · Luke 14:12 · Luke 14:26 · Luke 16:28 · Luke 18:29 · Luke 22:32 · John 20:17 · John 21:23 · Acts 7:2339×
Vocative · Plural · MasculineActs 1:16 · Acts 2:29 · Acts 2:37 · Acts 3:17 · Acts 6:3 · Acts 7:2 · Acts 13:15 · Acts 13:26 · Acts 13:38 · Acts 15:7 · Acts 15:13 · Acts 22:1 · Acts 23:1 · Acts 23:5 · Acts 23:6 · Acts 28:17105×
Vocative · Singular · MasculineLuke 6:42 · Acts 9:17 · Acts 21:20 · Acts 22:13 · Phlm 1:7 · Phlm 1:206×
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
New Testament Witnesses
Family member within a shared household.
Word Origins
ἀδελφός is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The church is to function relationally as a redeemed family, not a detached institution.1 Timothy 5:1-2