The daughter of one's parents, or of either mother or father. The relationship with a sister is a close one, especially with an unmarried sister.
The relationship with a sister was a close one
Ezekiel 44:25 See also Leviticus 21:1–3; Numbers 6:6–7; Job 1:1–4
A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so,
A brother had some measure of responsibility for his sister
Song of Solomon 8:8–9 See also Genesis 24:28–60; 2 Samuel 13:19–20
We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
Sexual relationships with sisters
Marrying a sister was permissible in pre-Mosaic times
Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father — though not the daughter of my mother — and she became my wife.
Sexual relationships with a sister were later forbidden in Mosaic law
Leviticus 18:9 See also Leviticus 18:11–13, Leviticus 18:18, Leviticus 20:17; Deuteronomy 27:22; Ezekiel 22:11
You must not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
Rape
Genesis 34:1–31 Dinah's rape was avenged by her brothers; 2 Samuel 13:1–19 Tamar was raped by her half-brother; 2 Samuel 13:23–36 Absalom avenged Tamar's rape.
Sometimes the wives of the patriarchs posed as their sisters
Genesis 20:13 See also Genesis 12:10–20, Genesis 20:1–7, Genesis 26:1–10
So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
Examples of the behaviour of sisters
Jealousy
Genesis 30:1 See also Genesis 30:7–8
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
Criticism
Luke 10:38–42 See also Numbers 12:1–15
As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Kindness and concern
2 Chronicles 22:11 parallel 2 Kings 11:2 See also Exodus 2:1–8; Job 42:11; John 11:1–3, John 11:17–32
But Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.
Sisters-in-law
Marriage to a sister-in-law was allowed in specific circumstances
Deuteronomy 25:5–10 See also Genesis 38:6–11
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,” his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.” And his family name in Israel will be called “The House of the Unsandaled.”
Sexual relationships with sisters-in-law were forbidden under normal circumstances
Leviticus 18:16 See also Leviticus 20:21; Mark 6:17–20; Luke 3:19–20
You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.
Sister used as a term of affection
By a husband
Song of Solomon 4:9–10 See also Song of Solomon 4:12, Song of Solomon 5:1–2
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck. How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.
In the church
Romans 16:1 See also 1 Timothy 5:1–2; Philemon 1:1–2; James 2:15–17; 2 John 1:13
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
The metaphorical use of sister
Of death
If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? Will it go down to the gates of Sheol? Will we go down together into the dust?”
Of wisdom
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman, that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
Of nations
Jeremiah 3:6–10 See also Ezekiel 16:44–63, Ezekiel 23:1–49
Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.
Sister as a theological term
Describing the relationship of believers to Jesus Christ
Matthew 12:46–50 parallel Mark 3:31–35
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” But Jesus replied, “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.”
Jesus Christ requires his followers to put him before family ties
Luke 14:26 See also Matthew 19:29 parallel Mark 10:29–30
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be My disciple.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.