[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/brethren.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / brethren

[← B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/B/)

# brethren

«brethren» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **Fellow members of a church or religious group, used to…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (plural; old plural of brother)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (church, Bible) Fellow members of a church or religious group, used to address them in old or formal language ("Dearly beloved brethren"). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#m1)

2) (old-fashioned) Brothers. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#m2)

3) Members of the same group or profession. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and 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. In the primary 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

- And he said: 'I seek my brethren. (Torah GEN.37.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x1)
- And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew him not. (Torah GEN.42.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x2)
- Simeon and Levi are brethren; weapons of violence their kinship. (Torah GEN.49.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x3)
- and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan; (Writings NEH.10.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x4)
- And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen. (Writings 1CH.26.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x5)
- The third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve; (Writings 1CH.25.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x6)
- The preacher began, "My dear brethren." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x7)
- In the Bible, Joseph forgave his brethren. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x8)
- The monks prayed with their brethren every morning. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x9)
- He greeted his brethren at the church meeting. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x10)
- The farmers helped their brethren in the next valley. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x11)
- The old hymn calls all Christians brethren. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x12)
- The judge was respected by her legal brethren. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/#x13)

### 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 the corpora

- [And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.239/)
- [And he said: Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.242/)
- [And he said: 'I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.485/)
- [Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.805/)
- [Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain; and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountain of Gilead.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.962/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «brethren» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/brethren/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.