brother

Everyday

1. A brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as you. tree →
2. A half-brother shares one parent; a stepbrother is the son of your stepparent. tree →
3. A brother can be a close male friend or a member of a group, like a monk. tree →

In the lessons

a person in the story; ages, shares and comparisons; phrases «big brother», «little brother», «older brother», «brothers and sisters» (siblings), «brotherhood»

Examples

• Her brother is 3 years older. tree →
• She gave 4 candies to her brother. tree →
• Tom has 2 brothers and 1 sister. tree →
• Her brother has twice as many cards. tree →
• My little brother is learning to walk. tree →
• Do you have any brothers or sisters? tree →
• My big brother walks me to school. tree →
• The two brothers built a tree house. tree →
• My half-brother lives with his dad. tree →
• The brothers shared the cake equally. tree →
• "Where are your brothers?" asked he. tree →

Note

A person; look at the comparison words around it. Trap: «Tom has 2 brothers» means the family has 3 boys (Tom counts too). Brothers and sisters together are «siblings».

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah brother means a sibling, but also a close relative or fellow Israelite. Many stories, like Cain and Abel and Joseph, are about brothers. In Chronicles a brother is often named in long lists of families, to say who belonged to whom.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the stories of brothers as lessons about jealousy and peace, and asks "Am I my brother's keeper?" as a question about everyone's duty to others. The rabbis found that the family lists in Chronicles show that every person's name and family mattered.

Examples

• And again she bore his brother Abel. (Torah GEN.4.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Cain spoke unto Abel his brother. (Torah GEN.4.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man; (Torah GEN.43.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri; (Writings 1CH.11.38, JPS 1917) tree →
• Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite; (Writings 1CH.11.45, JPS 1917) tree →
• The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. (Writings 1CH.24.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A person; look at the comparison words around it. Trap: «Tom has 2 brothers» means the family has 3 boys (Tom counts too). Brothers and sisters together are «siblings».

Meaning