In the context of the Bible, the term "kin" refers to one's family or relatives, encompassing both immediate family members and extended family. The concept of kinship is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative and plays a significant role in the social, legal, and spiritual aspects of life as depicted in the Scriptures.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, kinship is foundational to the structure of Israelite society. The Hebrew word often translated as "kin" or "kinsman" is "go'el," which carries the connotation of a close relative with specific familial responsibilities. This is particularly evident in the laws concerning the "kinsman-redeemer," a role that involves redeeming a relative from slavery, repurchasing family land, or marrying a widow to preserve the family line. The Book of Ruth provides a poignant example of this concept, where Boaz acts as Ruth's kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 3:9-13).

The importance of kinship is also reflected in the genealogies found throughout the Old Testament, which emphasize the continuity of family lines and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific familial relationships. For instance, the genealogies in Genesis trace the lineage from Adam to the patriarchs, underscoring the covenantal relationship between God and His chosen people.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of kinship extends beyond biological ties to include spiritual relationships within the body of Christ. Jesus Himself redefines kinship in a spiritual sense when He states, "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:50). This redefinition emphasizes the spiritual family formed by faith in Christ, transcending traditional family boundaries.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this spiritual kinship in his epistles, where he frequently refers to fellow believers as "brothers" and "sisters," highlighting the unity and familial bond within the Christian community (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 1:10).

Legal and Social Implications

Kinship in biblical times also had significant legal and social implications. The Mosaic Law contains numerous provisions related to family responsibilities and the protection of kin. For example, the law of levirate marriage required a man to marry his deceased brother's widow to produce offspring in the brother's name (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). This law ensured the preservation of family inheritance and the care of widows within the community.

Additionally, the concept of kinship influenced the distribution of land and property. The Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25, mandated the return of land to its original family owners every fifty years, reinforcing the importance of maintaining family heritage and preventing the permanent loss of property.

Spiritual Significance

The spiritual significance of kinship is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, Christ redeems humanity from the bondage of sin and restores the broken relationship between God and His people. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, believers are adopted into the family of God, becoming co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

In summary, the concept of kin in the Bible encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, reflecting God's design for family, community, and redemption. The biblical narrative consistently highlights the importance of kinship in fulfilling God's purposes and establishing His covenantal promises throughout history.1. (n.) A diminutive suffix; as, manikin; lambkin.

2. (n.) A primitive Chinese instrument of the cittern kind, with from five to twenty-five silken strings.

3. (n.) Relationship, consanguinity, or affinity; connection by birth or marriage; kindred; near connection or alliance, as of those having common descent.

4. (n.) Relatives; persons of the same family or race.

5. (a.) of the same nature or kind; kinder.

KIN

See KINDRED.

KIN, NEXT OF

See KINSMAN.

2794. kindunos -- danger
... danger. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kindunos Phonetic Spelling:
(kin'-doo-nos) Short Definition: danger, peril, risk Definition: danger ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2794.htm - 6k

2792. kinamomon -- cinnamon.
... Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kinamomon Phonetic Spelling:
(kin-am'-o-mon) Short Definition: cinnamon Definition: (a Semitic word) cinnamon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2792.htm - 6k

2795. kineo -- to move
... to move. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kineo Phonetic Spelling:
(kin-eh'-o) Short Definition: I move, stir, excite Definition: I set in motion, ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2795.htm - 6k

2793. kinduneuo -- to be in danger
... to be in danger. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kinduneuo Phonetic Spelling:
(kin-doon-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I am in danger Definition: I am in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2793.htm - 6k

3749. ostrakinos -- earthen
... earthen. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ostrakinos Phonetic Spelling:
(os-tra'-kin-os) Short Definition: made of earth Definition: made of clay ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3749.htm - 7k

36. agenes -- unborn, of no family, ignoble
... base things. From a (as negative particle) and genos; properly, without kin, ie
(of unknown descent, and by implication) ignoble -- base things. see GREEK a. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/36.htm - 6k

2796. kinesis -- a moving
... a moving. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kinesis Phonetic Spelling:
(kin'-ay-sis) Short Definition: a moving, stirring Definition: a moving ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2796.htm - 5k

316. anagkaios -- necessary
... necessary, needful. From anagke; necessary; by implication, close (of kin) -- near,
necessary, necessity, needful. see GREEK anagke. (anankaia) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/316.htm - 7k

4773. suggenes -- congenital, hence akin to, subst. a kinsman ...
... relative, kinsman, cousin From sun and genos; a relative (by blood); by extension,
a fellow countryman -- cousin, kin(-sfolk, -sman). see GREEK sun. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4773.htm - 7k

1085. genos -- family, offspring
... From ginomai; "kin" (abstract or concrete, literal or figurative, individual or
collective) -- born, country(-man), diversity, generation, kind(-red), nation ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1085.htm - 6k

1353. geullah -- redemption, perhaps kin
... geullah. 1354 . redemption, perhaps kin. Transliteration: geullah Phonetic Spelling:
(gheh-ool-law') Short Definition: redemption. Word Origin pass. part. ...
/hebrew/1353.htm - 6k

7138. qarob -- near
... 2), who is near (1). allied, approach, at hand, any of kin, that is near
of kin, neighbor, that is next,. Or qarob {kaw-robe'}; from ...
/hebrew/7138.htm - 6k

7607. sheer -- flesh
... relatives (1). body, flesh, food, near kinsman near nigh of kin. From sha'ar;
flesh (as swelling out), as living or for food; generally ...
/hebrew/7607.htm - 6k

3672. Kinaroth -- a city in Galilee, also a lake near the city
... a city in Galilee, also a lake near the city. Transliteration: Kinaroth or Kinnereth
Phonetic Spelling: (kin-ner-oth') Short Definition: Chinnereth. ...
/hebrew/3672.htm - 6k

1320. basar -- flesh
... person (1). body, fat, lean fleshed, kin, mankind, nakedness, self, skin.
From basar; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body ...
/hebrew/1320.htm - 6k

3666. kinah -- a bundle, pack
... 3665, 3666. kinah. 3667 . a bundle, pack. Transliteration: kinah Phonetic
Spelling: (kin-aw') Short Definition: bundle. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3666.htm - 6k

5635. saraph -- burn
... Word Origin the same as saraph, qv. burn A primitive root; to cremate, ie To be
(near) of kin (such being privileged to kindle the pyre) -- burn. 5634, 5635. ...
/hebrew/5635.htm - 5k

7075. qinyan -- something gotten or acquired, acquisition
... 7074, 7075. qinyan. 7076 . something gotten or acquired, acquisition.
Transliteration: qinyan Phonetic Spelling: (kin-yawn') Short Definition: goods. ...
/hebrew/7075.htm - 6k

3658. kinnor -- a lyre
... 3657, 3658. kinnor. 3659 . a lyre. Transliteration: kinnor Phonetic
Spelling: (kin-nore') Short Definition: lyre. Word Origin of ...
/hebrew/3658.htm - 5k

7068. qinah -- ardor, zeal, jealousy
... 7067, 7068. qinah. 7069 . ardor, zeal, jealousy. Transliteration: qinah
Phonetic Spelling: (kin-aw') Short Definition: jealousy. ...
/hebrew/7068.htm - 6k

Of the Coming of Elias Before the Judgment, that the Jews May be ...
... before the great and signal day of the Lord come: and he shall turn the heart of
the father to the son, and the heart of a man to his next of kin, lest I come ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 29 of the coming of.htm

That in the Time of this Work a Perfect Soul Hath no Special ...
... I SAY not that in this work he shall have a special beholding to any man in this
life, whether that he be friend or foe, kin or stranger; for that may not be ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the five and.htm

The Fourfold Message.
... picture. This serving King is nearest of kin to us! ... experience. And so He is kin
to us, both in lineage and in experience, in blood and in spirit. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the fourfold message.htm

How under Eli's Government of the Israelites Booz Married Ruth ...
... 2. When Ruth was come with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, Booz, who was near of
kin to Elimelech, entertained her; and when Naomi was so called by her fellow ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how under elis.htm

Whether the Degrees of Consanguinity that are an Impediment to ...
... Therefore the Church cannot by its ordinance permit or forbid certain people
to marry, any more than she can make them to be kin or not kin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the degrees of consanguinity.htm

The Judges Said: Convertibility Translates the Person whom it ...
... But if you say that he first appeared in his evil nature to his own kin, [1593]
then without doubt you give the proof that he comes of a good nature. ...
/.../16 the judges said convertibility.htm

The Kinsman-Redeemer
... 50:34. Among the remarkable provisions of the Mosaic law there were some
very peculiar ones affecting the next-of-kin. The nearest ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the kinsman-redeemer.htm

The Master Rejected: the Servants Sent Forth
... And they were offended at Him.4. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without
honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the master rejected the servants.htm

Jesus Recognised by all the Race.
... And all these recognized Him as some one kin to themselves, bound by closest
spirit-ties, to whom they were drawn by the strong cords of His common kinship ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/jesus recognised by all the.htm

"How Bright These Glorious Spirits Shine. "
... ga ne jin. 4 Oon je moo je ge da a wug Wah buh mah waud e newh; Kah zhe
guk kin, ta be kuk kin, Min wuh uh mah zoo wug. 5 Je sus ...
/.../a collection of gospel hymns in ojibway and english/nuhguhmoowin 11 c m how.htm

Kin (18 Occurrences)
... 5. (a.) of the same nature or kind; kinder. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. KIN.
See KINDRED. KIN, NEXT OF. See KINSMAN. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/k/kin.htm - 12k

Kinsman (29 Occurrences)
... The goel among the Hebrews was the nearest male blood relation alive. Certain
important obligations devolved upon him toward his next of kin. ...
/k/kinsman.htm - 19k

Kinswoman (4 Occurrences)
... rendered "acquaintance." Also qarobh, one near, rendered "kinsman" (Psalm 38:11);
probably better, "neighbor." Once, she'-er, "flesh kin," rendered "kinsman ...
/k/kinswoman.htm - 10k

Boaz (25 Occurrences)
... He praised her virtue, and promised to take charge of her if her dead husband's
next-of-kin failed to do so. He laid her case before ...
/b/boaz.htm - 19k

Chinnereth (4 Occurrences)
...kin'-e-reth, kin'-e-roth (kinnereth (Deuteronomy 3:17 Joshua 19:35, etc.)), (kinaroth;
Codex Vaticanus, Kenereth, Codex Alexandrinus, Cheneroth (Joshua 11:2 ...
/c/chinnereth.htm - 9k

Burial (25 Occurrences)
... New Testament to entaphidsai): I. IMMEDIATE BURIAL CONSIDERED URGENT 1. Reasons
for This 2. The Burial of Jesus 3. The Usual Time 4. Duties of Next of Kin II. ...
/b/burial.htm - 42k

Kine (24 Occurrences)
... kou, kin (baqar (compare Arabic baqar, "cow"); `eghlath baqar (Isaiah 7:21); parah
(compare Arabic furar, "young of a sheep, goat, or cow"); paroth `aloth (1 ...
/k/kine.htm - 16k

Kindred (41 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Relationship by birth or marriage; consanguinity; affinity; kin. ... KINDRED.
kin'-dred: Several words are rendered "kindred" in the King James Version. ...
/k/kindred.htm - 21k

Nearest (22 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 21:2 except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for
his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother; (See ...
/n/nearest.htm - 13k

Jachin (8 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JACHIN. ja'-kin (yakhin, "he will establish"):
(1) The 4th son of Simeon (Genesis 46:10 Exodus 6:15 Numbers 26:12). ...
/j/jachin.htm - 12k

What does it mean to say that God is my portion? | GotQuestions.org

What is a levirate marriage? | GotQuestions.org

What are some English words that have changed in meaning since the translation of the KJV? | GotQuestions.org

Kin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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