Such an amazing word to dive in today. A word that appears more than 300 times in New Testament and more than 600 times in Septuagint translation of the Old testament. [1]

The Greek word “αδελφός” (adelphos, pronunciation: [2]) is compound derived from the prefix α- and the noun “δελφύς” (delphys, definition: uterus) [3]

Now the interesting thing is the meaning of the prefix α- in this specific word.

In Greek language we have the α- privative prefix (definition: not, without) which expresses negation or absence to the word that is combined with [4] e.g a-mnesia, a-typical.

We have also the less common use of α- copulative prefix (definition: same) which is expressing unity [5] to the word that is combined with e.g α-δελφός (adelphos ).

Thus, adelphos is literally the one who is born from the same uterus.

But what about the spiritual adelphos? The one who is not our actual sibling, but we still call him our brother in Christ? What is this common “uterus” that gives us the chance to be reborn?

Let me know of your thoughts by leaving a comment.

[1]https://revbible.com/Wordstudy/Adelphos/bb

[2]https://youtu.be/Q4mgNHL0TSk?is=FFMID3r6i7pojqCK

[3]https://el.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CE%B4%CE%B5%CE%BB%CF%86%CF%8C%CF%82#%CE%91%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%B1_%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AC_(grc)

[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_privative

[5]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copulative_a