NOTE ON THE WORD "Αδελφος."
I have attempted to ascertain the primary signification of the word "αδελφος," for the purpose of laying down a rule for its right interpretation in the sacred scriptures. If I have succeeded, we may be enabled to understand rightly one or two disputed passages in the New Testament, of which I hope to treat in a subsequent number.
Thus says Scapula on the word:
"Αδελφος, frater propriè, frater uterinus; fit enim a dictione δελφυς, uterus; et α significante ομου, pro ομοδελφος."
His etymology, as far as it goes, is quite correct: but still, we must trace its different parts up to the fountain-head, in order to understand the word aright. Let us then first take away its prefix α, and its constructive affix ος, and the remaining δελφ will be found to be a compound word, derived from the Sanscrit language, proving its identity therewith by means of the intermediate Semitic dialects.
Chaldee dul, situla, urna, a vessel for holding liquor. Arabic dal, a fat woman. These primary steps lead us to a passage in Isaiah li. 1., "the hole of the pit:" where the idea (not the word) is contained, and forms a connecting link between the Chaldee and Sanscrit; where, by taking t for d (a letter of the same organ), we have Sanscrit tal, a hole, pit, cause, origin, &c.; talla, a young woman, reservoir, pit, &c.; Greek (from the Syriac) ταλιθα, a damsel, Mark v. 41.; and by affixing the Sanscrit pha, or pa, fruitfulness, nourishment, drink, &c., we get talpa, a wife, bed, &c. Hebrew dalaph, stillavit. Syriac dalpha, conjunctio venerea. Delilah, a proper name, Judges xvi. 4. We thus ascertain that δελ-φ relates to the fruit or fruitfulness, &c. of the womb: and by putting the constructive affix υς = the Sanscrit as or us, we have δελφυς, uterus, &c.
We now come to the most important part of the compound αδελφος, viz. the Sanscrit ā = ομου, simul, at the same time; and we find that this ā refers us to "a limit conclusive" (to that place, to that time), and also to a "limit inceptive" (from THAT place, from that time); consequently, the primary meaning of α-δελ-φ-ος, is what Scapula has defined it to be, "frater uterinus," a brother to, or from the SAME womb.
My deduction from hence is, that where the context, or history, does not point us to a more general sense of the word, i.e. to relatives such as cousins, or to the whole human race adopting the same term; correct criticism seems to demand the signification of the word in its primary meaning.
T. R. BROWN.
Vicarage, Southwick, near Oundle.