79. adelphé
Lexical Summary
adelphé: Sister

Original Word: ἀδελφή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: adelphé
Pronunciation: ah-del-FAY
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-el-fay')
KJV: sister
NASB: sister, sisters, believing
Word Origin: [feminine of G80 (ἀδελφός - brethren)]

1. a sister
2. (of faith) a sister in our Lord, Jesus

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
sister.

Fem of adephos; a sister (naturally or ecclesiastically) -- sister.

see GREEK adephos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
fem. from adelphos
Definition
sister
NASB Translation
believing (1), sister (16), sisters (8).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 79: ἀδελφή

ἀδελφή, (ῆς, (see ἀδελφός) (from Aeschylus down), sister;

1. a full, own sister (i. e. by birth): Matthew 19:29; Luke 10:39; John 11:1, 3, 5; John 19:25; Romans 16:15, etc.; respecting the sisters of Christ, mentioned in Matthew 13:56; Mark 6:3, see ἀδελφός, 1.

2. one connected by the tie of the Christian religion: 1 Corinthians 7:15; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Philemon 1:2 L T Tr WH; James 2:15; with a subjective genitive, a Christian woman especially dear to one, Romans 16:1.

Topical Lexicon
Familial Usage in the Gospel Narratives

Matthew 13:56 and Mark 6:3 record townspeople remarking, “And are not all His sisters here with us?” affirming that Jesus grew up within an ordinary household that included ἀδελφαί. Mark 3:32 echoes the same family circle when Mary arrives with the brothers and sisters of Jesus. These references ground the incarnation in tangible, verifiable family relationships, underscoring the genuine humanity of Christ.

The Lord’s Compassion for Sisters

John’s account of Lazarus centers on his sisters: “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one You love is sick’” (John 11:3). John 11:5 adds, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Their grief moves Jesus to tears and to the raising of Lazarus, showing His deep personal concern for women within the covenant community.

Spiritual Sisterhood Among Disciples

When Jesus says, “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50; cf. Mark 3:35), ἀδελφή gains a spiritual dimension. Within the church, believing women are sisters by new birth, united by faith rather than bloodline, a theme Paul adopts in pastoral counsel: “Treat… younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Timothy 5:2).

The Cost and Reward of Discipleship

Jesus promises that whoever leaves “brothers or sisters… for My name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:29–30). Luke 14:26 likewise places “sisters” among the ties a disciple must subordinate to loyalty to Christ. The term therefore marks both earthly sacrifice and the multiplied spiritual family received in return.

Sisters Active in Early-Church Ministry

Phoebe is commended as “our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea” (Romans 16:1). Nereus’s unnamed sister is greeted in Romans 16:15, and Apphia is addressed as “our sister” in Philemon 1:2. These salutations reveal women recognized for service, hospitality, and support of apostolic labor.

Ethical Mandates Toward Needy Sisters

James confronts empty religion: “If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food… what good is it?” (James 2:15–16). Practical love toward vulnerable sisters is a non-negotiable evidence of living faith.

Apostolic Rights and Restraint

Paul observes that he and Barnabas refrain from taking along “a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers” (1 Corinthians 9:5), using ἀδελφή to denote Christian women who would travel as spouses. The verse balances legitimate liberty with personal self-denial for gospel advance.

Providence and Protection

Acts 23:16 notes that “the son of Paul’s sister” uncovered a plot against Paul, illustrating how God can employ extended family—biological sisters and their households—for His protective purposes.

Final Greetings and Household Faithfulness

2 John concludes, “The children of your elect sister greet you” (2 John 1:13), reminding readers that entire families, including believing sisters, stood firm together in the truth.

Doctrinal and Practical Significance

• ἀδελφή affirms both biological and spiritual kinship, rooting Christ’s incarnation in real family and expanding that concept to the redeemed community.
• The term highlights women’s dignity, Christ’s affection for them, and their indispensable roles in hospitality, diaconal service, and gospel partnership.
• Ethical commands toward sisters safeguard purity, provision, and honor within the church.
• Discipleship may require relinquishing natural sisters, yet yields a larger spiritual sisterhood in the household of God.

Forms and Transliterations
αδελφαι αδελφαί ἀδελφαί ἀδελφαὶ αδελφας αδελφάς ἀδελφάς ἀδελφὰς αδελφη αδελφή ἀδελφή ἀδελφὴ ἀδελφῇ αδελφην αδελφήν ἀδελφὴν αδελφης αδελφής ἀδελφῆς αδελφιδέ αδελφιδοί αδελφιδόν αδελφιδός αδελφιδού αδελφιδώ adelphai adelphaí adelphaì adelphas adelphás adelphàs adelphe adelphē adelphḗ adelphḕ adelphêi adelphē̂i adelphen adelphēn adelphḕn adelphes adelphês adelphēs adelphē̂s
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 12:50 N-NFS
GRK: ἀδελφὸς καὶ ἀδελφὴ καὶ μήτηρ
NAS: he is My brother and sister and mother.
KJV: brother, and sister, and mother.
INT: brother and sister and mother

Matthew 13:56 N-NFP
GRK: καὶ αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ οὐχὶ
NAS: And His sisters, are they not all
KJV: And his sisters, are they not
INT: and the sisters of him not

Matthew 19:29 N-AFP
GRK: ἀδελφοὺς ἢ ἀδελφὰς ἢ πατέρα
NAS: brothers or sisters or father
KJV: brethren, or sisters, or father,
INT: brothers or sisters or father

Mark 3:32 Noun-NFP
GRK: καὶ αἱ ἀδελφαί σου ἔξω
INT: and the sister of you outside

Mark 3:35 N-NFS
GRK: μου καὶ ἀδελφὴ καὶ μήτηρ
NAS: he is My brother and sister and mother.
KJV: and my sister, and mother.
INT: of me and sister and mother

Mark 6:3 N-NFP
GRK: εἰσὶν αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ ὧδε
NAS: and Simon? Are not His sisters here
KJV: not his sisters here with
INT: are the sisters of him here

Mark 10:29 N-AFP
GRK: ἀδελφοὺς ἢ ἀδελφὰς ἢ μητέρα
NAS: brothers or sisters or mother
KJV: brethren, or sisters, or father,
INT: brothers or sisters or mother

Mark 10:30 N-AFP
GRK: ἀδελφοὺς καὶ ἀδελφὰς καὶ μητέρας
NAS: and brothers and sisters and mothers
KJV: brethren, and sisters, and mothers,
INT: brothers and sisters and mothers

Luke 10:39 N-NFS
GRK: τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαριάμ
NAS: She had a sister called Mary,
KJV: she had a sister called Mary,
INT: to this she had a sister called Mary

Luke 10:40 N-NFS
GRK: ὅτι ἡ ἀδελφή μου μόνην
NAS: do You not care that my sister has left
KJV: that my sister hath left me
INT: that the sister of me alone

Luke 14:26 N-AFP
GRK: καὶ τὰς ἀδελφάς ἔτι τε
NAS: and brothers and sisters, yes,
KJV: brethren, and sisters, yea, and
INT: and the sisters yes and

John 11:1 N-GFS
GRK: Μάρθας τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτῆς
NAS: of Mary and her sister Martha.
KJV: and her sister Martha.
INT: Martha the sister of her

John 11:3 N-NFP
GRK: οὖν αἱ ἀδελφαὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν
NAS: So the sisters sent
KJV: Therefore his sisters sent unto
INT: therefore the sisters to him

John 11:5 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτῆς καὶ
NAS: Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
KJV: and her sister, and Lazarus.
INT: and the sister of her and

John 11:28 N-AFS
GRK: Μαριὰμ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτῆς λάθρᾳ
NAS: Mary her sister, saying
KJV: Mary her sister secretly, saying,
INT: Mary the sister of her secretly

John 11:39 N-NFS
GRK: αὐτῷ ἡ ἀδελφὴ τοῦ τετελευτηκότος
NAS: Martha, the sister of the deceased,
KJV: Martha, the sister of him that was dead,
INT: to him the sister of him who has died

John 19:25 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ ἡ ἀδελφὴ τῆς μητρὸς
NAS: and His mother's sister, Mary
KJV: his mother's sister, Mary the [wife]
INT: and the sister of the mother

Acts 23:16 N-GFS
GRK: υἱὸς τῆς ἀδελφῆς Παύλου τὴν
NAS: of Paul's sister heard
KJV: And when Paul's sister's son heard
INT: son of the sister of Paul the

Romans 16:1 N-AFS
GRK: Φοίβην τὴν ἀδελφὴν ἡμῶν οὖσαν
NAS: I commend to you our sister Phoebe,
KJV: Phebe our sister, which is a servant
INT: Phoebe the sister of us being

Romans 16:15 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: Nereus and his sister, and Olympas,
KJV: and his sister, and Olympas,
INT: and the sister of him and

1 Corinthians 7:15 N-NFS
GRK: ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ ἐν τοῖς
NAS: or the sister is not under bondage
KJV: A brother or a sister is not
INT: or the sister in

1 Corinthians 9:5 N-AFS
GRK: ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν
NAS: to take along a believing wife,
KJV: to lead about a sister, a wife,
INT: have we authority a sister a wife to take about

1 Timothy 5:2 N-AFP
GRK: νεωτέρας ὡς ἀδελφὰς ἐν πάσῃ
NAS: women as sisters, in all
KJV: the younger as sisters, with all
INT: younger as sisters with all

Philemon 1:2 N-DFS
GRK: Ἀπφίᾳ τῇ ἀδελφῇ καὶ Ἀρχίππῳ
NAS: and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus
INT: to Apphia our sister and to Archippus

James 2:15 N-NFS
GRK: ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἀδελφὴ γυμνοὶ ὑπάρχωσιν
NAS: or sister is without clothing
KJV: a brother or sister be naked,
INT: a brother or a sister naked be

Strong's Greek 79
26 Occurrences


ἀδελφαὶ — 4 Occ.
ἀδελφὰς — 5 Occ.
ἀδελφὴ — 9 Occ.
ἀδελφὴν — 5 Occ.
ἀδελφῆς — 3 Occ.

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