And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:9
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?”
— Genesis 4:9
The first family in the Bible is also its first crime scene, and yet the New Testament's favorite word for believers is "brethren." These verses work for both senses of the bond. The fifteen verses below are the Bible's direct address to that situation, shown in full KJV text from Genesis 4:9 to Romans 12:10.
Quick answer: The best-known verse about siblings here is Genesis 4:9: "And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?" Proverbs 6:19 follows close behind: "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Both are public-domain translations, shown in full on the cards below with a modern-English toggle.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:9
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 6:19
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
Proverbs 16:28
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
Proverbs 18:19
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Matthew 12:50
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Let brotherly love continue.
Let brotherly love continue.
Hebrews 13:1
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,
1 Peter 1:22
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
1 Peter 2:17
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.
1 John 2:10
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.
1 John 3:14
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
1 John 3:17
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1 John 4:20
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
A Song of Ascents. By David. See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
Psalms 133:1
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor prefer one another,
Romans 12:10
Read these before the hard conversation rather than after — the Bible's relationship material works best as preventive care. They are also read in reconciliation seasons, where the forgiveness page pairs naturally with this one.
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