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While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Matthew 12:46 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.
  • BSB While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.
  • NKJV While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.
  • NASB While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.
  • NLT As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

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

While Jesus is teaching, his mother and brothers stand outside wanting to speak with him.

Overview

This scene introduces a lesson about Jesus' true family. The reference to his brothers reflects his natural kin according to the flesh. The setting prepares for Jesus' redefinition of kinship around obedience to God.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 24

  • Matt 13:55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
  • John 2:12After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
  • John 7:5For neither did his brethren believe in him.
  • John 7:3His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
  • Mark 3:31–35There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
  • Luke 8:19–21Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
  • Mark 6:3Is 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.
  • Gal 1:19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
  • Acts 1:14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
  • Luke 2:48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
  • 1 Cor 9:5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
  • Luke 8:10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
  • John 7:10But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
  • Mark 2:21No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
  • John 2:5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
  • Luke 2:33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
  • Luke 2:51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
  • John 2:1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
  • Matt 2:11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
  • Matt 2:20Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
  • Matt 1:18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
  • Matt 2:13–14And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • John 19:25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
  • Luke 1:43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Matthew videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Matthew 12:46YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MatthewMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'

How Matthew 12:46 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.