adelphe denotes a female sibling and, in some passages, a woman included in a community of believers.

The term most often identifies female siblings within households and family lists. Several passages also use it for women addressed or named within a believing community, while sayings about doing God’s will extend sibling language to those defined by that shared obedience.

1. Female sibling in household and family relations · dominant

   The nominative and genitive forms identify women through family relationships: John 11:1 names Mary and Martha as sisters, and Acts 23:16 identifies a man as the son of Paul’s sister. In Mark 10:29 the APB renders a list of relatives and possessions left behind, including “sisters,” while John 19:25 identifies Jesus’ mother’s sister.

   John 11:1Acts 23:16Luke 10:39Mark 10:29Matthew 13:56John 19:25
2. Woman named or addressed within the believing community · common

   In Romans 16:1 the accusative singular occurs as Phoebe is commended in connection with an assembly, and Philemon 1:2 addresses Apphia alongside Archippus and the assembly. In 1 Timothy 5:2 the plural occurs in an instruction to treat younger women as sisters, and James 2:15 pairs a brother or sister in a case of need.

   Romans 16:1Philemon 1:21 Timothy 5:2James 2:151 Corinthians 7:151 Corinthians 9:5
3. Sibling language for those who do God’s will · occasional

   In Mark 3:35, the nominative singular stands in the statement that whoever does God’s will is Jesus’ brother, sister, and mother. Matthew 12:50 presents the same family-language grouping for the person who does the Father’s will.

   Mark 3:35Matthew 12:50

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term as “sister” or “sisters” in family lists, household relationships, and community settings. In the sayings of Mark 3:35 and Matthew 12:50, it retains sibling language within the three-part expression “brother and sister and mother”.