In the context of the Bible, the term "aunt" refers to the sister of one's father or mother. While the specific term "aunt" is not frequently mentioned in the Scriptures, the role and presence of aunts can be inferred through various familial relationships and genealogies.

Biblical References and Context

1. Levitical Law and Family Relations: The Mosaic Law provides insight into the familial structures and the importance of maintaining proper relationships within the family. Leviticus 18:12 states, "You must not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative." This verse highlights the recognition of the aunt's role within the family and the boundaries set to preserve family integrity.

2. Genealogical Records: Aunts are often mentioned indirectly through genealogical records. For example, in the genealogies of the tribes of Israel, the sisters of patriarchs, who would be aunts to their children, are sometimes listed. These records underscore the importance of family lineage and the interconnectedness of family members.

3. Role in Family Life: While the Bible does not provide extensive narratives about aunts, it is understood that, like other family members, aunts would have played a significant role in the upbringing and nurturing of children within the extended family. The cultural context of ancient Israel placed a high value on family and community, suggesting that aunts would have been involved in the social and spiritual education of their nieces and nephews.

4. Symbolic and Spiritual Implications: The family unit in biblical times was a microcosm of the larger community of Israel. Aunts, as part of this unit, contributed to the spiritual and moral upbringing of the next generation. The respect and honor given to family members, including aunts, are reflected in the broader biblical command to "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12), which extends to other family members.

5. New Testament Considerations: In the New Testament, the emphasis on the family of believers expands the concept of family beyond blood relations. While specific mentions of aunts are absent, the principles of love, care, and mutual respect within the Christian community can be applied to all familial relationships, including those with aunts.

Cultural and Historical Insights

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, extended families often lived in close proximity, and aunts would have been integral to the daily life and functioning of the family. They could serve as secondary maternal figures, especially in times when the mother was unavailable or when additional support was needed.

Conclusion

The role of an aunt, while not extensively detailed in the Bible, is understood through the broader context of family and community life in biblical times. Aunts, like other family members, were vital to the social and spiritual fabric of the family, contributing to the upbringing and moral guidance of the younger generation.1. (n.) The sister of one's father or mother; -- correlative to nephew or niece. Also applied to an uncle's wife.

2. (n.) An old woman; and old gossip.

3. (n.) A bawd, or a prostitute.

AUNT

ant dodhah, ("loving"): A father's sister (Exodus 6:20); an uncle's wife (Leviticus 18:14; Leviticus 20:20). See RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY.

1733. dodah -- aunt
dodah or dodah. 1732, 1733. dodah or dodah. 1734 . aunt. Transliteration: dodah
or dodah Phonetic Spelling: (do-daw') Short Definition: aunt. Word Origin fem ...
/hebrew/1733.htm - 6k

Letter xiii. To Castorina, his Maternal Aunt.
... The Letters of St. Jerome. Letter XIII. To Castorina, His Maternal Aunt. An interesting
letter, as throwing some light on Jerome's family relations. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xiii to castorina his.htm

Valentinian a Son of Constantius and Placidia, Aunt of Theodosius ...
... Book VII. Chapter XXIV."Valentinian a Son of Constantius and Placidia, Aunt
of Theodosius, is proclaimed Emperor. After the usurper's ...
/.../chapter xxiv valentinian a son of.htm

Consecration.
... A wealthy aunt, having lost all her children and being very lonely, thought to fill
the vacancy in her heart and home by adopting a little child. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter v consecration.htm

A Downward Step.
... "Shall we live with Aunt Emma again?". ... Calling for his aunt, who had reared him,
he moved forward as if to speak to her, but instead he bit off her ear. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter vii a downward step.htm

God Heals a Blind Girl
... GOD HEALS A BLIND GIRL. One day we went to visit Ruth's aunt. While ... again. Ruth
was at the home of her aunt when she received this letter. ...
/.../touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/god heals a blind girl.htm

The Right to My Own Time
... here she was, wandering along beside Mrs. Ning as if she had all the time in the
world, listening intently to a tale about Mrs. Ning's third aunt's cousin, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 6 the right to.htm

Early School Days
... that of a sadly neglected child. Still the busy aunt took little notice
either of him or of her own boys. In his heart John was ...
/.../byrum/how john became a man/chapter iv early school days.htm

When Diamond Went Home to Breakfast, He Found his Father and ...
... "Well, listen then. His aunt wants the boy to go down and see her.". "And ...
"What are you doing here?". "I am come to see my aunt. But ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 9 when diamond went.htm

Conversion
... In 1848, Clara's sister Ann went to Michigan to teach, making her home with the
Aunt Post who had been so dear to the children of the Swain family. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hoskins/clara a swain md/conversion.htm

Chapter twenty-four
... In the spirit of her new life she insisted upon helping in the housework at her
aunt's, and in a short time demonstrated her ability as a cook so clearly that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-four.htm

Aunt (3 Occurrences)
...AUNT. ant dodhah, ("loving"): A father's sister (Exodus 6:20); an uncle's wife
(Leviticus 18:14; Leviticus 20:20). ...Aunt (3 Occurrences). ...
/a/aunt.htm - 7k

Uncle (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The brother of one's father or mother; also applied to an aunt's husband; --
the correlative of aunt in sex, and of nephew and niece in relationship. ...
/u/uncle.htm - 11k

Jehoash (28 Occurrences)
... While yet an infant, he was saved from the general massacre of the family by his
aunt Jehosheba, and was apparently the only surviving descendant of Solomon (2 ...
/j/jehoash.htm - 32k

Austere (2 Occurrences)

/a/austere.htm - 8k

Uncover (35 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:14 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother,
you shall not approach his wife: she is your aunt. ...
/u/uncover.htm - 18k

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... 20). It may be noted that she is said to have been the grand-aunt of Dido,
the founder of Carthage. Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n ...
/j/jezebel.htm - 26k

Joash (49 Occurrences)
... on Athaliah's usurpation of the throne, she massacred the royal princes, Jehoash
was saved from her unnatural fury by the action of his aunt Jehosheba, the ...
/j/joash.htm - 41k

Dishonor (47 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Leviticus 18:14 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's
brother, you shall not approach his wife: she is your aunt. (See NIV). ...
/d/dishonor.htm - 19k

Merab (4 Occurrences)
... It is possible that Merab died comparatively young, and that her children were left
in the care of their aunt, especially when it is said she herself had none ...
/m/merab.htm - 11k

Maiden (40 Occurrences)
... 6. (a.) Never having been married; not having had sexual intercourse; virgin; --
said usually of the woman, but sometimes of the man; as, a maiden aunt. ...
/m/maiden.htm - 24k

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