ἀδελφή

ἀδελφή, ῆς, ἡ (Aeschyl.+)

① a female who comes from the same womb as the reference pers., sister lit. Mt 19:29; Mk 10:29f; Lk 10:39f; 14:26; J 11:1, 3, 5, 28, 39; 19:25; Ro 16:15; 1 Ti 5:2. Of Jesus’ sisters (s. on ἀδελφός 1) Mt 13:56; Mk 3:32; 6:3. Paul’s sister Ac 23:16.

② a pers. or thing viewed as a sister in relation to another entity, sister metaph.

ⓐ of a female who shares beliefs of the reference person or of others in a community of faith, sister. Used by Jesus of a spiritual, rather than a natural relationship Mt 12:50; Mk 3:35. Sim. ἀγαπᾶν ὡς ἀ. Hv 1, 1, 1; ἐντρέπεσθαι ὡς ἀ. v 1, 1, 7. Of relationship in community: sister in the faith (as Hebr. אָחוֹת; sister=countrywoman Num 25:18; s. ἀδελφός 2 and cp. PGM 4, 1135–37 χαίρετε, οἷς τὸ χαίρειν ἐν εὐλογίᾳ δίδοται, ἀδελφοῖς καὶ ἀδελφαῖς, ὁσίοις καὶ ὁσίαις) Ro 16:1; 1 Cor 7:15; 9:5; Phlm 2; Js 2:15; IPol 5:1; 2 Cl 12:5; Hv 2, 2, 3; 2, 3, 1; Ox 3525, 15. In address w. ἀδελφοί 2 Cl 19:1; 20:2.

ⓑ of a close relationship of similar communities (OGI 536, 5) 2J 13 (s. κυρία). Hm 9:9 v.l. (for θυγάτηρ).

ⓒ of a condition or circumstance, grief: ἀδελφή ἐστιν τῆς διψυχίας is a sister of doubt Hm 10, 1, 1f (Alcaeus 142 Diehl [364 L.-P.]: poverty and helplessness as sisters; Paroem. Gr. Append. 3, 12 ἡ μωρία ἀ. πονηρίας; Pla., Rep. 3, 404b; Cebes 16, 2 ἐγκράτεια and καρτερία as ἀδελφαί; Herm. Wr. 9, 1c ἡ νόησις ἀ. τοῦ λόγου).—DELG s.v. ἀδελφός. M-M. TW.