Bible Dictionary
SISTER
A sister is a female blood relative, half-sister, or female member of a family or clan. Scripture also uses the term figuratively for fellow believers, related kingdoms or cities, paired objects, and a beloved bride.
Definition
A sister is a female relative, whether sharing both parents or one parent, and may also mean a female member of a family, clan, or nation. Scripture extends the term figuratively to related kingdoms, cities, paired objects, virtues, a church, fellow believers, and a beloved bride.
Biblical Usage
The New Testament uses “sister” for physical kinship and for female fellow-members in Christ. The Old Testament also applies it to Israel and Judah, related cities, paired curtains or wings, wisdom, and a spouse as a term of endearment.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>sis'-ter ('achoth): Used repeatedly in the Old Testament of a female</p><p>(1) having the same parents as another; or</p><p>(2) having one parent in common, with another, half-sister (Ge 20:12; Le 18:9), and also</p><p>(3) of a female belonging to the same family or clan as another, so a kinswoman (Ge 24:60; Job 42:11);</p><p>(4) also of a woman of the same country (Nu 25:18).</p><p>(5) Figuratively, the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, are sisters (Eze 23:7).</p><p>(6) Confederate cities are conceived of as sisters (Eze 16:45).</p><p>(7) 'Achoth is used of objects which go in pairs, as curtains, each `coupled to its sister' (Ex 26:3,6), and of wings in pairs (Eze 1:9; 3:13);</p><p>(8) of virtues or conditions, with which one is closely related: "Say unto wisdom, thou art my sister" (Pr 7:4; compare Job 17:14);</p><p>(9) of a lover concerning his spouse, as a term of endearment (So 4:9 f; 5:1 f; 8:8).</p><p>In the New Testament, adelphe, used</p><p>(1) in sense of physical or blood kinship (Mt 12:50; 13:56; 19:29; Lu 10:39 f; 14:26; Joh 11:1 ff; 19:25; Ac 23:16);</p><p>(2) of fellow-members in Christ: "Phoebe, our sister" (Ro 16:1; see also 1Co 7:15; 1Ti 5:1; Jas 2:15);</p><p>(3) possibly, of a church, "thy elect sister" (2 Joh 1:13).</p><p>See RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY.</p><p>Edward Bagby Pollard</p>