^8:19Now Jesus’⁶² mother and his brothers⁶³ came to him, but⁶⁴ they could not get near him because of the crowd. ^8:20So⁶⁵ he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” ^8:21But he replied⁶⁶ to them, “My mother and my brothers are those⁶⁷ who hear the word of God and do it.”⁶⁸

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Footnotes

62 Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
63 The issue of whether Jesus had brothers (siblings) has had a long history in the church. Epiphanius, in the 4th century, argued that Mary was a perpetual virgin and had no offspring other than Jesus. Others argued that these brothers were really cousins. Nothing in the text suggests any of this. See also John 7:3.
64 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
65 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the sequence of events.
66 Grk “answering, he said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “he replied.”
67 There is some discussion about the grammar of this verse in Greek. If “these” is the subject, then it reads, “These are my mother and brothers, those who.” If “these” is a nominative absolute, which is slightly more likely, then the verse more literally reads, “So my mother and brothers, they are those who.” The sense in either case is the same.
68 Hearing and doing the word of God is another important NT theme: Luke 6:47–49; Jas 1:22–25.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then his mother and brothers came to him, but they could not meet with him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”

Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now his mother and brothers came to him, and they were not able to meet with him because of the crowd. And it was reported to him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.” But he answered and said to them, “These are my mother and my brothers—the ones who hear the word of God and do it.

KJV 1900King James Version

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

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