Mark 3:33
New International Version
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

New Living Translation
Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

English Standard Version
And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

Berean Standard Bible
But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

Berean Literal Bible
And He answering them says, "Who are My mother and My brothers?"

King James Bible
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

New King James Version
But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”

New American Standard Bible
Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

NASB 1995
Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

NASB 1977
And answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

Amplified Bible
And He replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

Christian Standard Bible
He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

American Standard Version
And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?

Contemporary English Version
Jesus asked, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?"

English Revised Version
And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He replied to them, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"

International Standard Version
He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"

Majority Standard Bible
But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

NET Bible
He answered them and said, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"

New Heart English Bible
And he answered them, saying, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

Weymouth New Testament
"Who are my mother and my brothers?" He replied.

World English Bible
He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”

Berean Literal Bible
And He answering them says, "Who are My mother and My brothers?"

Young's Literal Translation
And he answered them, saying, 'Who is my mother, or my brethren?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, and my brethren?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And answering them, he said: Who is my mother and my brethren?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And responding to them, he said, “Who is my mother and my brothers?”

New American Bible
But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and [my] brothers?”

New Revised Standard Version
And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he answered and said to them, Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he answered and said to them, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he answered them and said: "Who is my mother, or my brothers?

Godbey New Testament
And He responding to them, says, Who is my mother and my brothers?

Haweis New Testament
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother or my brethren?

Mace New Testament
He answer'd, who is my mother? who are my brothers?

Weymouth New Testament
"Who are my mother and my brothers?" He replied.

Worrell New Testament
And, answering them, He saith, "Who is My mother, and My brothers?"

Worsley New Testament
And He answered them, and said, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
32and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.” 33But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!…

Cross References
Matthew 12:48
But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”

Luke 8:21
But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

John 15:14
You are My friends if you do what I command you.

Matthew 10:37
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— / children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Galatians 3:26-28
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. / For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. / There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:19
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,

Hebrews 2:11
For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

1 John 3:1-2
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. / Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Deuteronomy 33:9
He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.

Psalm 27:10
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

Jeremiah 31:1
“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.”

Hosea 1:10
Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’


Treasury of Scripture

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brothers?

Who.

Deuteronomy 33:9
Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.

Luke 2:49
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

John 2:4
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

or.

Mark 3:21
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Mark 6:3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

John 7:3-5
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest…

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Mother
Mark 3
1. Jesus heals the withered hand,
10. and many other infirmities;
11. rebukes the unclean spirit;
13. chooses his twelve apostles;
22. convinces the blasphemy of casting out demons by Beelzebub;
31. and shows who are his brother, sister, and mother.














Who are My mother and My brothers?
Who
The word "who" in this context is a question that invites reflection and introspection. In the Greek, "τίς" (tis) is used, which is an interrogative pronoun. This question is not merely seeking information but is designed to provoke thought and challenge the assumptions of those listening. Jesus often used questions to lead His audience to deeper spiritual truths, encouraging them to look beyond the surface and consider the spiritual implications of their relationships and priorities.

are
The verb "are" in Greek is "εἰσί" (eisi), which is the present indicative form of "to be." This indicates a state of being or existence. Jesus is not questioning the physical reality of His family but is pointing to a deeper, spiritual reality. The use of "are" suggests a present and ongoing state, emphasizing that the true family of Jesus is defined by spiritual kinship rather than mere biological ties.

My
The possessive pronoun "My" signifies ownership and personal relationship. In Greek, "μου" (mou) is used, indicating a close, personal connection. Jesus is redefining the concept of family, suggesting that those who do the will of God are as intimately connected to Him as His biological family. This redefinition challenges the traditional Jewish understanding of family and community, emphasizing spiritual bonds over blood relations.

mother
The term "mother" in Greek is "μήτηρ" (mētēr). In Jewish culture, the mother held a significant role in the family, often seen as the heart of the household. By questioning the identity of His mother, Jesus is not dismissing His earthly family but is elevating the spiritual family. This statement would have been radical in a society that placed great importance on familial ties, highlighting the transformative nature of the Kingdom of God.

and
The conjunction "and" in Greek is "καί" (kai), which is used to connect words or phrases of equal importance. Here, it links "mother" and "brothers," indicating that both are part of the familial unit Jesus is addressing. This conjunction serves to unify the concept of family, whether biological or spiritual, under the new covenant Jesus is establishing.

My brothers
The phrase "My brothers" in Greek is "ἀδελφοί μου" (adelphoi mou). The term "brothers" can refer to both literal siblings and spiritual brethren. In the context of Jesus' ministry, "brothers" extends to all who follow Him and do the will of God. This inclusive language breaks down barriers of ethnicity, social status, and gender, inviting all believers into a familial relationship with Christ. Historically, this would have been a radical departure from the exclusive nature of Jewish kinship, emphasizing the universal call of the Gospel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[Jesus] replied,
ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“Who
Τίς (Tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

are
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

mother
μήτηρ (mētēr)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3384: A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

brothers?”
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.


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