In the context of the Bible, the term "relative" refers to individuals connected by blood, marriage, or kinship. The concept of family and kinship is deeply rooted in biblical narratives and laws, reflecting the importance of familial relationships in ancient Israelite society and the broader biblical worldview.

Old Testament Context

The Hebrew word often translated as "relative" is "qarob," which means "near" or "kinsman." Relatives played a crucial role in the social and legal structures of ancient Israel. The family unit was the primary social structure, and extended families often lived together or in close proximity, forming clans and tribes.

One of the most significant roles of a relative in the Old Testament is that of the "kinsman-redeemer" (Hebrew: "goel"). This role is exemplified in the Book of Ruth, where Boaz acts as a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth, a Moabite widow. The kinsman-redeemer had the responsibility to redeem a relative in serious difficulty, such as buying back family land sold due to poverty or marrying a widow to preserve the family line (Ruth 3:9-13).

The importance of relatives is also evident in the laws concerning inheritance and property. For example, the Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25, ensured that land sold due to economic hardship would be returned to the original family, preserving the inheritance within the clan.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "syngenēs" is used to denote relatives. Jesus' teachings often challenged traditional family ties, emphasizing spiritual kinship over biological relationships. In Matthew 12:48-50 , Jesus redefines family by stating, "Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?" Pointing to His disciples, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

Despite this redefinition, the New Testament also upholds the importance of caring for one's relatives. In 1 Timothy 5:8 , Paul writes, "If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This underscores the expectation that believers should care for their family members, reflecting the continuity of familial responsibility from the Old Testament.

Genealogies and Lineage

Genealogies in the Bible highlight the significance of lineage and family connections. The genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 trace His lineage through significant biblical figures, underscoring His rightful place in the Davidic line and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The concept of relatives in the Bible extends beyond mere biological connections to encompass spiritual kinship within the community of believers. The early church is depicted as a family of faith, where believers are called "brothers" and "sisters" in Christ, emphasizing unity and mutual care within the body of Christ.

In summary, the biblical understanding of relatives encompasses both the traditional family unit and the broader spiritual family of believers, reflecting the multifaceted nature of kinship in the biblical narrative.1. (a.) Having relation or reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject.

2. (a.) Arising from relation; resulting from connection with, or reference to, something else; not absolute.

3. (a.) Indicating or expressing relation; referring to an antecedent; as, a relative pronoun.

4. (a.) Characterizing or pertaining to chords and keys, which, by reason of the identify of some of their tones, admit of a natural transition from one to the other.

5. (n.) One who, or that which, relates to, or is considered in its relation to, something else; a relative object or term; one of two object or term; one of two objects directly connected by any relation.

6. (n.) A person connected by blood or affinity; strictly, one allied by blood; a relation; a kinsman or kinswoman.

7. (n.) A relative pronoun; a word which relates to, or represents, another word or phrase, called its antecedent; as, the relatives who, which, that.

4773. suggenes -- congenital, hence akin to, subst. a kinsman ...
... a kinsman, relative. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: suggenes Phonetic
Spelling: (soong-ghen-ace') Short Definition: akin, a relative Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4773.htm - 7k

4773a. suggenes -- congenital, hence akin to, subst. a kinsman ...
... 4773, 4773a. suggenes. 4773b . congenital, hence akin to, subst. a kinsman,
relative. Transliteration: suggenes Short Definition: relatives. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4773a.htm - 5k

4773b. suggenis -- a kinswoman
... a kinswoman. Transliteration: suggenis Short Definition: relative. Word Origin fem.
from suggenes Definition a kinswoman NASB Word Usage relative (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4773b.htm - 5k

3634. hoios -- what sort or manner of
... what sort or manner of. Part of Speech: Correlative Pronoun, Relative Pronoun
Transliteration: hoios Phonetic Spelling: (hoy'-os) Short Definition: of what kind ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3634.htm - 7k

3793. ochlos -- a crowd, multitude, the common people
... cause of the singular. That also is the only passage where the relative
is used" (, 1390).]. Word Origin a prim. word Definition a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3793.htm - 8k

3739. hos, he, ho -- usually rel. who, which, that, also ...
... who, which, that, also demonstrative this, that. Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun
Transliteration: hos, he, ho Phonetic Spelling: (hos) Short Definition: who ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3739.htm - 7k

4434. ptochos -- (of one who crouches and cowers, hence) beggarly ...
... of pipto); a beggar (as cringing), ie Pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public
mendicancy, although also used in a qualified or relative sense; whereas ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4434.htm - 8k

3755. hotou -- while
... hotou. 3756 . while. Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun Transliteration: hotou Phonetic
Spelling: (hot'-oo) Short Definition: until Definition: until. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3755.htm - 6k

3746. hosper -- whomsoever.
... Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun Transliteration: hosper Phonetic Spelling:
(hos'-per) Short Definition: the very one who Definition: the very one who. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3746.htm - 6k

2267. Herodion -- Herodion, a Christian at Rome
... Transliteration: Herodion Phonetic Spelling: (hay-ro-dee'-ohn) Short Definition:
Herodion Definition: Herodion, a Christian in Rome, a relative of Paul. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2267.htm - 6k

6394. Pildash -- a relative of Abraham
... 6393, 6394. Pildash. 6395 . a relative of Abraham. Transliteration: Pildash
Phonetic Spelling: (pil-dawsh') Short Definition: Pildash. ...
/hebrew/6394.htm - 5k

7055. Qemuel -- a relative of Abraham, also two Israelites
... 7054, 7055. Qemuel. 7056 . a relative of Abraham, also two Israelites.
Transliteration: Qemuel Phonetic Spelling: (kem-oo-ale') Short Definition: Kemuel. ...
/hebrew/7055.htm - 6k

1350. gaal -- to redeem, act as kinsman
... root Definition to redeem, act as kinsman NASB Word Usage avenger (13), bought back
(1), buy back (1), claim (1), close relative (3), closest relative (3 ...
/hebrew/1350.htm - 6k

7607. sheer -- flesh
... 7606, 7607. sheer. 7608 . flesh. Transliteration: sheer Phonetic Spelling:
(sheh-ayr') Short Definition: relative. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/7607.htm - 6k

7138. qarob -- near
... Word Origin from qarab Definition near NASB Word Usage about (1), close (2), close
relative (1), closer (1), draws near (1), hand (1), kinsmen (1), lately (1 ...
/hebrew/7138.htm - 6k

4967. Methushael -- "man of God," a descendant of Cain
... Methusael. From math and 'el, with the relative interposed; man who (is) of God;
Methusael, an antediluvian patriarch -- Methusael. see HEBREW math. ...
/hebrew/4967.htm - 6k

834. asher -- who, which, that
... A primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that;
also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order ...
/hebrew/834.htm - 7k

1768. di -- who, which, that, because
... as, but, forasmuch, now, of, seeing, than, that,. (Aramaic) apparently for da';
that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in ...
/hebrew/1768.htm - 6k

3777. Kesed -- a son of Nahor
... Onesed. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; Kesed, a relative of Abraham --
Onesed. 3776, 3777. Kesed. 3778 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3777.htm - 5k

5237. nokri -- foreign, alien
... From neker (second form); strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign,
non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful) -- alien, foreigner ...
/hebrew/5237.htm - 6k

Appendix (F). On the Relative Antiquity of the Codex Vaticanus (B) ...
... APPENDIX (F). On the Relative antiquity of the CODEX VATICANUS (B), and the CODEX
SINAITICUS ({HEBREW LETTER ALEF}). (Referred to at p.70.) ...
/.../appendix f on the relative.htm

What Occurred Relative to the Same Subject in the Preparatory ...
... 7. What occurred relative to the same subject in the Preparatory Convention.
To these it is also necessary to add a report which ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/7 what occurred relative to.htm

Relative Magnitude of Sins of the Heart and Actual Sins.
... Book XII. 7. Relative Magnitude of Sins of the Heart and Actual Sins. But we
may also learn from this, that in respect of the reasonings ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/7 relative magnitude of sins.htm

Letter xv. Social and Relative Duties.
... LETTERS, &c. LETTER XV. Social and Relative Duties. "All things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." MATT.7:12. ...
/.../letter xv social and relative.htm

Gregory Proceeds to Discuss the Relative Force of the Unnameable ...
... Section 3. Gregory proceeds to discuss the relative force of the unnameable name
of the Holy Trinity and the mutual relation of the Persons, and moreover the ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 3 gregory proceeds to.htm

The Letter of the Synod, Relative to Its Decisions: and the ...
... Book I. Chapter IX."The Letter of the Synod, relative to its Decisions: and
the Condemnation of Arius and those who agreed with him. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter ix the letter of the.htm

The Relative Positions of the Pleroma the Region of Achamoth, and ...
... Chapter XXIII."The Relative Positions of the Pleroma The Region of Achamoth,
and the Creation of the Demiurge. The Addition of ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xxiii the relative positions of.htm

In Relative Things that are Reciprocal, Names are Sometimes ...
... Book V. Chapter 12."In Relative Things that are Reciprocal, Names are Sometimes
Wanting. 13. Neither ought it to influence us"since ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 12 in relative things that.htm

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's ...
... SERMON XVIII. Balak's inquiries relative to the service of God, and Balaam's
answer, briefly considered. Micah vi.6, 7, 8. "Wherewith ...
/.../sermon xviii balaks inquiries relative.htm

Occasion of Writing. Relative Position of Jews and Gentiles ...
... Chapter I."Occasion of Writing. Relative Position of Jews and Gentiles
Illustrated. [1126] It happened very recently a dispute ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter i occasion of writing relative.htm

Relative (33 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Having relation or reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection;
pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject. ...
/r/relative.htm - 16k

Goel
... The Jewish law gave the right of redeeming and repurchasing, as well as of avenging
blood, to the next relative, who was accordingly called by this name. ...
/g/goel.htm - 11k

Alexander (5 Occurrences)
... Alexander. Man-defender. (1.) A relative of Annas the high priest, present when
Peter and John were examined before the Sanhedrim (Acts 4:6). ...
/a/alexander.htm - 32k

Kinsman (29 Occurrences)
... of the go'-el, the one who had a right to "redeem"; referring to the custom of avenging
the blood of a slain kinsman; hence, a blood relative (Numbers 5:8 Ruth ...
/k/kinsman.htm - 19k

Key (8 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position;
a cotter; a forelock. 11. (n.) A bar, pin or wedge ...
/k/key.htm - 14k

Kinswoman (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A female relative. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. KINSMAN; KINSWOMAN. kinz'-man, kinz'-woom-an: Most ...
/k/kinswoman.htm - 10k

Jethro (10 Occurrences)
... But while it is possible that chothen may be used in the wider sense of a wife's
relative, it is nowhere translated "brother-in-law" except in Judges 1:16 ...
/j/jethro.htm - 17k

Who (41846 Occurrences)
... 1. (object.) Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; --
used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. ...
/w/who.htm - 7k

What (14976 Occurrences)
... 5. (pron., a., & adv.) As a relative pronoun. 6. (pron., a., & adv.) Used
substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent ...
/w/what.htm - 8k

Which (32437 Occurrences)
... he asked which route he should take; which is best, to live or to die? See the Note
under What, pron., 1. 3. (pron.) A relative pronoun, used esp. ...
/w/which.htm - 7k

Is truth relative? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong to have a relationship with a close relative? | GotQuestions.org

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Relative: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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