Siblings

Siblings are brothers and sisters. A brother is born for adversity and brethren are to dwell together in unity; sibling rivalry runs from Cain and Abel to Joseph and his brothers, and Jacob with Esau and Joseph with his brothers were reconciled.

Unity and love

• Psalm 133:1
  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
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• Proverbs 17:17
  A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
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• 1 Peter 3:8
  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
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Rivalry

• Genesis 4:8-9
  ⁸And 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 slew him.Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
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• Genesis 27:41
  And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
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• Genesis 37:3-4
  ³Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. ⁴And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
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• Luke 15:28-30
  ²⁸And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
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• Luke 10:40
  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”
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Offense and forgiveness

• Proverbs 18:19
  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
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• Matthew 18:21-22
  ²¹Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ²²Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
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Reconciliation

• Genesis 33:4
  And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
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• Genesis 45:4-5
  ⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.
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• Genesis 50:19-21
  ¹⁹And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. ²¹Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.
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Brothers and sisters in Scripture

• Exodus 4:14
  And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
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• John 11:1-5
  ¹Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ²(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.) ³Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” ⁴When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ⁵Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
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See also

• Family
• Children
• Jacob
• Joseph, son of Jacob
• Forgiveness

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.