brethren

noun (plural; old plural of brother)

«brethren» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

(church, Bible) Fellow members of a church or religious group, used to address them in old or formal language ("Dearly beloved brethren"). tree →
(old-fashioned) Brothers. tree →
Members of the same group or profession. tree →

In the lessons

Met in the Bible, old hymns, church services and history. It tells the reader the speaker sees others as family in faith. Some church groups call themselves Brethren. Phrases: dearly beloved brethren, brethren in Christ.

Examples

The preacher began, "My dear brethren." tree →
In the Bible, Joseph forgave his brethren. tree →
The monks prayed with their brethren every morning. tree →
He greeted his brethren at the church meeting. tree →
The farmers helped their brethren in the next valley. tree →
The old hymn calls all Christians brethren. tree →
The judge was respected by her legal brethren. tree →

Note

An old plural of brother, now used mostly in church or formal speech. Ordinary plural today: brothers. It can include women in church use (like "brothers and sisters"). Pronounced BRETH-ren.

In Jewish tradition

"Brethren" is the old plural of brother. In the Torah it means brothers, but also relatives and fellow Israelites. In Chronicles and Nehemiah it also means fellow members of the same tribe or group, such as Levites and priests serving together.

Interpretation. Tradition reads "brethren" as a reminder that all Israelites are one family and must care for each other. In Chronicles the "brethren" are the kinsmen who served together in the Temple, which the tradition reads as showing shared work for God.

Examples

And he said: 'I seek my brethren. (Torah GEN.37.16, JPS 1917) tree →
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew him not. (Torah GEN.42.8, JPS 1917) tree →
Simeon and Levi are brethren; weapons of violence their kinship. (Torah GEN.49.5, JPS 1917) tree →
and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan; (Writings NEH.10.11, JPS 1917) tree →
And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen. (Writings 1CH.26.9, JPS 1917) tree →
The third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve; (Writings 1CH.25.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

An old plural of brother, now used mostly in church or formal speech. Ordinary plural today: brothers. It can include women in church use (like "brothers and sisters"). Pronounced BRETH-ren.

Early Modern English

Meaning

Brothers, or relatives. tree →

Then and now

Today we say brothers; "brethren" is old or used in church. The sentences use the old word for brothers.

Examples

And he said: 'I seek my brethren. (Torah GEN.37.16, JPS 1917) tree →
Immortal fame!" when he himself fell down, and lay quietly among his slain brethren. (Tanglewood Tales) tree →
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew him not. (Torah GEN.42.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: brothers; kinsmen.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «brethren» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«brethren» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «brethren» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«brethren» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «brethren» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«brethren» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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