King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Complete Jewish Bible:
Pointing to his talmidim, he said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers!
Berean Standard Bible:
Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
American Standard Version:
And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren!
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G2532} he stretched forth{G1614} his{G846} hand{G5495} toward{G1909} his{G846} disciples{G3101}, and said{G2036}, Behold{G2400} my{G3450} mother{G3384} and{G2532} my{G3450} brethren{G80}!
Cross-References (KJV):
Mark 3:34
- And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
John 20:17
- Jesus 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.
John 20:20
- And when he had so said, he shewed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
John 17:20
- ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 17:8
- For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
John 17:9
- I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Matthew 28:7
- And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Matthew 12:49
Matthew 12:49 is a verse that captures a profound moment in the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament. In this passage, Jesus is teaching or speaking to a crowd when he is informed that his mother and brothers are outside, seeking to speak with him. Instead of immediately excusing himself to attend to his family, Jesus uses this opportunity to teach an important spiritual principle.
The historical context of this verse is set during the ministry of Jesus in Galilee, where he was actively preaching, teaching, and performing miracles. Family ties held significant importance in the Jewish culture of the time, and blood relations were a central aspect of one's identity and social standing.
By stretching out his hand toward his disciples and declaring, "Behold my mother and my brethren!" Jesus redefines the concept of family. He emphasizes that spiritual kinship, based on obedience to God and commitment to His will, transcends biological relationships. In essence, Jesus is saying that those who do the will of God are part of an expanded family of faith. This declaration aligns with his broader teachings on the Kingdom of God, where traditional social structures are reimagined, and relationships are redefined by spiritual, rather than biological, connections.
The themes of this verse include the priority of God's kingdom, the redefinition of family, and the call to discipleship. Jesus challenges his followers to prioritize their spiritual family and to understand that their commitment to God's will should take precedence over earthly family ties. This teaching would have been radical for its time and continues to speak to the nature of Christian community and the call to follow Jesus above all else.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G1614
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐκτείνω
Transliteration: ekteínō
Pronunciation: ek-ti'-no
Description: from ἐκ and teino (to stretch); to extend:--cast, put forth, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G5495
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χείρ
Transliteration: cheír
Pronunciation: khire
Description: perhaps from the base of χειμών in the sense of its congener the base of χάσμα (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument):--hand. - Strong's Number: G1909
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπί
Transliteration: epí
Pronunciation: ep-ee'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively). - Strong's Number: G3101
There are 252 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μαθητής
Transliteration: mathētḗs
Pronunciation: math-ay-tes'
Description: from μανθάνω; a learner, i.e. pupil:--disciple. - Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G2400
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἰδού
Transliteration: idoú
Pronunciation: id-oo'
Description: second person singular imperative middle voice of εἴδω; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see. - Strong's Number: G3450
There are 471 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μοῦ
Transliteration: moû
Pronunciation: moo
Description: the simpler form of ἐμοῦ; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my. - Strong's Number: G3384
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μήτηρ
Transliteration: mḗtēr
Pronunciation: may'-tare
Description: apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote):--mother. - Strong's Number: G80
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀδελφός
Transliteration: adelphós
Pronunciation: ad-el-fos'
Description: from Α (as a connective particle) and (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like Α):--brother.