4. Use of the Term, "Brother"

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible By: James M. Freeman

• 1 min. read • grade level: 8

In chapter Genesis11:31 Lot is said to be the nephew, not the brother, of Abram. In like manner Jacob told Rachel (Gen. 29:12¹²And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. (Genesis 29:12)) that he was her father’s brother; whereas, according to Genesis 28:5⁵And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. (Genesis 28:5), he was the son of her father’s sister; that is, her father’s nephew. This elastic use of the word brother is quite common in the East, however strange it may seem to us; yet we have a usage somewhat similar in the application of the term to persons not in any way related to us. We call fellow countrymen, or fellow craftsmen, or fellow churchmen, brothers. The Orientals apply the term to their kinsmen of whatever relation.