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Bible Verses About Siblings

“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.

The 15 verses, in full text

01 · King James Version

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

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02 · King James Version

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:19

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03 · King James Version

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Proverbs 16:28

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04 · King James Version

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Proverbs 18:19

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05 · King James Version

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew 12:50

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06 · King James Version

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

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07 · King James Version

Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 13:1

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08 · King James Version

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:

1 Peter 1:22

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09 · King James Version

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

1 Peter 2:17

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10 · King James Version

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

1 John 2:10

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11 · King James Version

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:14

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12 · King James Version

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?

1 John 3:17

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13 · King James Version

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?

1 John 4:20

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14 · King James Version

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalms 133:1

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15 · King James Version

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:10

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When to read these verses

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.

How to use this list

Copy the verse that names your situation and put it where the relationship lives — a shared note, a printed card, a text with one sentence of your own under it. The list reads differently as the relationship moves, which is why it stays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Bible verse about siblings?
Genesis 4:9 is the one most readers land on: "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 is the usual second: "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." The full list of fifteen is on this page — there is no single required verse, and different seasons call for different texts.
Do these verses apply to siblings today, or only to their original culture?
The verses on this page are presented as they read — in context, without retrofitting. The underlying principles (covenant faithfulness, self-giving love, honesty, honor) are stated by the texts themselves as broadly applicable, while some first-century household details obviously require translation across cultures. Reading the full verse text, rather than a phrase pulled loose, is the built-in safeguard.
Where in the Bible does it talk about siblings?
The verses on this page come from 9 books of the Bible — most notably Genesis, Proverbs, Matthew and 6 more — spanning both Old and New Testaments. The distribution itself is worth noticing: Scripture addresses siblings in more than one voice, which is why the page shows whole verses rather than a single proof text.
How do I use a list of verses about siblings?
Read the list once slowly, then keep the one verse that fits your situation close — the copy button places it wherever you will actually see it. Every card can be switched to the World English Bible for modern wording, and the random verse tool at the top of the page can draw one verse from this theme at a time if the whole list is more than today needs.

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