And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Parallel translations
- WEB Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers!
- BSB Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
- NKJV And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
- NASB And looking around at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
- NLT Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Looking at those seated around him, Jesus declares them his mother and brothers. It matters because it includes ordinary disciples in his own family.
Overview
With a sweeping look, Jesus identifies his gathered followers as his true family. This astonishing statement elevates discipleship above natural kinship in the kingdom of God. It assures believers that union with Christ brings them into the intimate household of God, sharing in his family by grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 12:49–50And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
- Luke 11:27–28And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
- Rom 8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
- Matt 25:40–45And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- Matt 28:10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
- Heb 2:11–12For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
- Song 4:9–10Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
- Ps 22:22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
- John 20:17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
- Song 5:1–2I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 3:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.