"a sister; near kinswoman, or female relative, a female member of the Christian community"
Definition and meaning
a sister; near kinswoman, or female relative, a female member of the Christian community
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀδελφή
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of adelphe (G79) across the King James Bible.
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
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.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
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Common questions
Strong's G79 (adelphe) is a Greek word that means: a sister; near kinswoman, or female relative, a female member of the Christian community It appears 24 times in the King James Bible.
The word adelphe (G79) appears 24 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G79 is adelphe, a Greek word defined as: a sister; near kinswoman, or female relative, a female member of the Christian community. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
adelphe is a Greek word found in the New Testament.