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Brother in Hebrew
"Brother" in Hebrew is אח which is used over 600 times in the Old Testament. In its narrow sense, the word is used to denote common male offspring from a common father (אב) and mother (אם). 

In a wider sense the word "brother" in Hebrew includes more remote relations from a common father (cf. Gen. 13:18, 29:15, etc.); all the children of Israel (Det. 3:18; Ex. 2:11, etc.) and even other nation relationships with Israel (cf. Num.20:14, Amos 1:1, etc.).

Noteworthy Usage In Old Testament
Some interesting usages of this word and its derivatives:
  • First Occurrence: Genesis 4:2 "And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground."
  • The first murder recorded in the Bible is brother against brother: Genesis 4:8 "Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him."
  • Hated towards one's brother is prohibited: Leviticus 19:17 "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him."
  • Care of one's brother is commanded, including not charging interest to a brother: Deuteronomy 23:19 "You shall not charge interest to your brother -- interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest."
  • Last Occurrence: Malachi 2:10 "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?"

Mnemonics to Remember "Brother" in Hebrew
Find a "sound-alike" for the word אח. For me an English "sound-alike" is "ack!"  So I picture in my imagination my brother holding Bill the Cat saying, "Ack!"  Find your own unique "sound-alike" for this word and then associate the English "sound-alike" to the Hebrew definition.

Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary Helps
To learn more Hebrew vocabulary and grammar quickly and easily, visit us on the web at Biblical Hebrew Made Easy! To see more works by author Blair Kasfeldt, visit his website, Boost Your Memory!

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