Title: Regarding the Word "Brethren" in the Torah Question: The Torah says: I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." deut.18: 18. I have 4 questions regarding the verse deut.18: 18. Which English translated Bible of catholic Christians and non-catholic Christians have the correct translation of the verse deut.18: 18 as above? Where else in the Old or the New Testament the word "brethren" is used in the same meaning? (Gospel, chapter and verse number required and also detail explanation of the story behind the verse) . Following are the verses where the word "brethren" is used. Can you please explain the full story behind these verses? And he (Ishmael) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.' (Genesis 16:12) And he (Ishmael) died in the presence of all his brethren. (Genesis 25:18) If the Old Testament used the word "brethren" to represent that the children of Ishmael are brothers of children of Isaac then how does the Old or the New Testament addresses the children of Isaac (Jews) as their own? (Gospel, chapter and verse number required and also detail explanation of the story behind the verse) Answer: You write: Which English Translated Bible of Catholic Christians and Non-Catholic Christians have the Correct Translation of the verse Deut.18: 18 as above? I am unclear as to what you mean by "correct translation." If you are requesting that I give you a synopsis regarding the accuracy of the translations, then I can only offer my apologies for being unable to do such a task. A person with a thorough understanding of ancient Hebrew would probably be better suited at answering such a question. However, I would propose that most translations correspond quite closely to one another. Below are some translations of Deuteronomy 18:18, from various Bibles of Catholic and Protestant denominations. Catholic I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. ( New American Bible ) I will raise them up a prophet out of the midst of their brethren like to thee: and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. ( Douay-Rheims Bible ) prophetam suscitabo eis de medio fratrum suorum similem tui et ponam verba mea in ore eius loqueturque ad eos omnia quae praecepero illi ( Latin Vulgate ) Protestant I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. ( King James Version ) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. ( New International Version ) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. ( Revised Standard Version ) The above translations are the best and most widely used translations in both denominations, respectively. I included the Latin Vulgate because it is historically a very important version, for Catholics especially. You write: Where else in the Old or the New Testament the word "brethren" is used in the same meaning? (Gospel, Chapter and verse number required and also detail explanation of the story behind the verse) "Brethren" or brothers, is used quite inclusively for people who are not necessarily born of the same womb. Sometimes, "the word furnishes no certain indication of the exact nature of the relationship." 1 This is no different in the language of the Bible. "...'brethren' (or 'brother') is applied to step-brothers as well as to brothers by blood, and in Scriptural, and Semitic use generally, is often loosely extended to all near, or even distant, relatives..." 2 To illustrate better how we use this even today in the English language, the American Heritage Dictionary defines "brother" as such: -A male having the same parents as another or one parent in common with another. -pl. often brethren- One who shares a common ancestry, allegiance, character, or purpose with another or others, especially: A kinsman. A fellow man. A fellow member, as of a fraternity, trade union, or panel of judges on a court. A close male friend; a comrade. Some examples from the Bible that support this rendering are: And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. (Genesis 13:8) And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. ( Genesis 14:14-16 ) And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. ( Leviticus 10:1-4 ) Considering that the verses I've provided are somewhat self-explanatory and vary in situation, I don't think it is necessary to get into the details of the accounts. Their explanations are beyond the scope of relevance. The examples are many and one can easily ascertain that the word "brethren" is not being used to indicate sibling (i.e. sharing one or both parents). For example, Lot was Abraham's nephew, yet because of language usage the Bible calls them "brothers." Now, the usage in Deuteronomy 18:18 is quite clear in its application that it refers to a group of people other than the Children of Israel (Israelites). The prophet Moses was speaking directly to the community/collectivity known as the Israelites and he is letting them know that a prophet will rise, related to them, but not of them. Rather, this Prophet will be from a "brotherly" nation to the Israelites. This can be clearly appreciated when we realize that Moses is speaking to all the Israelites, through their representatives, as an entity and telling them about the future Prophet rising from their relatives. Hence, the Prophet that will come will be outside the community of Israelites. You write: Following are the verses where the word "brethren" is used. Can you please explain the full story behind these verses? And he (Ishmael) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.' (Genesis 16:12). 'And he (Ishmael) died in the presence of all his brethren (Genesis 25:18) According to my understanding this is a description of Ismai'l and his generations. All the lawlessness, impatience and all the savage characteristics have been attributed to him and his progeny to show that he was of the "flesh" unlike Isaac. The last part of Genesis 16:12 only states that he will be living amongst his people. We can ascertain that this is directly referring to the prophet Ismai'l and "his brethren." The context states clearly that Ismai'l will live amongst his relatives. Had the verse mentioned the Ishmaelites (i.e. the people as a whole or collectivity) then we'd know that their brethren would be some other group. In other words if the verse said, "and the Ishmaelites shall dwell amongst their brethren," we can clearly see that it's not saying that the Ishmaelites are going to live amongst themselves but rather that they will dwell amongst their relatives (e.g. the Israelites). As for Genesis 25:18, it indicates that Ismai'l's life ended around his people. Once again, in the same context as in the previous, Ismai'l is being directly referenced; hence we know that it's his relatives that he will live amongst. However, this can be translated as "settled" amongst his relatives. You write: If the Old Testament used the word "brethren" to represent that the children of Ishmael are brothers of children of Isaac then how does the Old or the New Testament addresses the children of Isaac (Jews) as their own? (Gospel, Chapter and verse number required and also detail explanation of the story behind the verse) As has been explained the term "brethren" can be used for many situations. Thus, you can appreciate that the same word was used for the children of Isaac. What makes the distinction between whether one is talking about a sibling or not, is who the addressees are and what their backgrounds are. Also, the Children of Israel were differentiated by that very name. Jews were addressed as such, however all other people who were non-Jews were referred to as Goyim (i.e. Gentile, nation, heathen). And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. ( Ezekiel 4:13 ) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ( Matthew 10:5:6 ) I hope I have clarified the issue God knows best Ronnie Hassan June 1, 2003 1 www.newadvent.org 2 Ibid.