Bible Strands
Matthew 12:46
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator sets the scene: Jesus is mid-speech to crowds (immediately after his warning about the wicked generation in 12:45) when his mother and brothers appear outside seeking him. The verse is a narrative pivot, not dialogue.
The words — ἰδοὺ (idou, "behold") is a narrative interjection that halts the reader's attention and marks a scene change; it signals that what follows is not a continuation but a new demand on Jesus' attention.
The thread — John 7:3 shows the same brothers pressing Jesus to redirect his mission; Matthew 13:55 identifies them by name as the carpenter's household. The pattern is consistent: family members appear at moments when Jesus' public ministry is underway, and the tension is between domestic claim and his task.
Why it lands — The verse poses a question without answering it: does the person outside outrank the crowds inside? The reader is left holding the tension until 12:50, where Jesus redefines the category entirely.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Cross-references
- Matthew 13:55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
- John 2:12 After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.
- John 7:3 So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
- Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
- John 7:5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.
- Luke 8:19 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd.
- Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
- Acts 1:14 With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
- Galatians 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
- Luke 2:48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”