Matthew 13:55

KJV

Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

KJV (with Strong's)

Is {G2076} not {G3756} this {G3778} the carpenter's {G5045} son {G5207}? is {G3004} not {G3780} his {G846} mother {G3384} called {G3004} Mary {G3137}? and {G2532} his {G846} brethren {G80}, James {G2385}, and {G2532} Joses {G2500}, and {G2532} Simon {G4613}, and {G2532} Judas {G2455}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Miryam? and his brothers Ya`akov, Yosef, Shim`on and Y'hudah?

Berean Standard Bible

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

American Standard Version

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:55 captures the profound astonishment and subsequent skepticism of the people in Jesus' hometown, Nazareth. Having just witnessed His unparalleled wisdom and mighty works, they struggled to reconcile the divine authority He displayed with His familiar, humble origins as the "carpenter's son" and a member of a well-known local family. Their familiarity bred contempt, leading them to stumble over His identity rather than embracing His miraculous presence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' return to His hometown of Nazareth, as recorded in [Matthew 13:53](/matthew/13-53 "Matthew 13:53 - Jesus Departs from the Parables"). Having just concluded His extensive teaching on the parables of the kingdom, Jesus enters the synagogue and teaches, prompting the people's initial astonishment at His wisdom and miracles ([Matthew 13:54](/matthew/13-54 "Matthew 13:54 - Jesus Teaches in Nazareth")). However, this astonishment quickly devolves into offense and rejection, as detailed in the subsequent verses ([Matthew 13:56-57](/matthew/13-56-57 "Matthew 13:56-57 - Jesus Rejected in His Hometown")), demonstrating the tragic outcome of their inability to see past His human origins.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Nazareth was a small, unassuming village in Galilee, largely overlooked in Jewish society. The people's question, "Is not this the carpenter's son?", reflects their intimate knowledge of Jesus' upbringing within a common, working-class family. In Jewish culture, one's family and place of origin were central to identity and social standing. The expectation for a Messiah often leaned towards a figure of political or religious prominence, perhaps from Jerusalem or Bethlehem, rather than a humble craftsman from an obscure Galilean town. This cultural lens made it difficult for them to accept divine authority emanating from someone so familiar and seemingly ordinary.
* **Key Themes:** This passage powerfully illustrates several key themes. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Familiarity and Unbelief**, showing how preconceived notions and intimate knowledge of someone's past can become a significant barrier to faith. The people of Nazareth judged Jesus based on His human family and humble background, echoing the skepticism found in [John 1:46](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Can Anything Good Come from Nazareth?"). Secondly, the verse underscores **Jesus' Genuine Humanity and Humble Origins**. He was indeed "the carpenter's son," implying a life of manual labor, a fact also noted in [Mark 6:3](/mark/6-3 "Mark 6:3 - Jesus the Carpenter"), where He Himself is called "the carpenter." This humble background was a stumbling block for many who expected a Messiah of royal or priestly prominence. Lastly, the explicit mention of Jesus' mother, Mary, and His four named brethren (James, Joses, Simon, and Judas) provides crucial insight into **The Identity of Jesus' Immediate Family**. The Greek word for "brethren" (ἀδελφοί, _adelphoi_) here most naturally refers to biological siblings, children of Mary and Joseph born after Jesus, a view supported by other New Testament references to Jesus' brothers, such as [John 7:5](/john/7-5 "John 7:5 - Jesus' Brothers Did Not Believe") and [Galatians 1:19](/galatians/1-19 "Galatians 1:19 - James, the Lord's Brother").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **carpenter's (Greek, _téktōn'_):** G5045. This term refers to an artificer or craftsman, specifically one who works with wood. It denotes a skilled laborer, suggesting that Joseph, and likely Jesus Himself, engaged in a common and honorable, yet not prestigious, trade. This detail grounds Jesus firmly in the everyday reality of His community.
* **son (Greek, _huiós'_):** G5207. While broadly used for various forms of kinship, in this context, in conjunction with "carpenter's" and the subsequent mention of Mary and brothers, it clearly denotes a direct, biological son. The people are identifying Jesus by His known paternal lineage.
* **brethren (Greek, _adelphós'_):** G80. This word means "brother" and can refer to literal siblings, fellow countrymen, or spiritual brothers. However, the specific naming of four individuals (James, Joses, Simon, and Judas) immediately following the mention of "his mother called Mary" strongly indicates biological brothers, children born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus. This is the most natural and widely accepted interpretation in this context.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Is not this the carpenter's son?":** This rhetorical question expresses the people's incredulity and their deep familiarity with Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, and his trade. It highlights their inability to reconcile the profound wisdom and power they witnessed with the humble, known origins of a local craftsman's son.
* **"is not his mother called Mary?":** This further grounds Jesus in their familiar reality, emphasizing His known maternal lineage and family. It reinforces their perception of Him as an ordinary person from their community, making it difficult for them to accept His extraordinary claims or divine authority.
* **"and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?":** This clause explicitly names four male siblings, solidifying the idea that Jesus had a conventional family known to the community. This detail underscores the depth of their familiarity and, consequently, the basis of their offense, as they could not fathom someone so ordinary being the Messiah.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 13:55 employs several literary devices to convey the people's astonishment and skepticism. The verse opens with two **Rhetorical Questions** ("Is not this...?") which are not seeking information but rather expressing incredulity and challenging Jesus' authority based on His known, humble origins. There is a profound **Irony** at play: the very familiarity and humanity that God chose for His Son's incarnation became a stumbling block for the people, blinding them to the divine wisdom and power manifest before them because it did not fit their preconceived expectations of the Messiah. Furthermore, the explicit **Listing** or **Enumeration** of Jesus' brothers (James, Joses, Simon, Judas) adds specificity and reinforces the community's intimate knowledge of His family, thereby highlighting the deeply personal and local nature of their skepticism and rejection.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage powerfully illustrates the human tendency to limit God based on our own expectations, preconceived notions, or familiarity. It underscores the profound truth of the Incarnation – that God became man, dwelling among us in humble, ordinary circumstances. This challenges our often-grandiose notions of divine power and glory, demonstrating that God's greatest works are frequently manifested in unexpected ways, through seemingly unassuming vessels. The people's offense highlights a persistent spiritual blindness that prioritizes external appearances and human origins over divine truth and spiritual discernment.
* [Isaiah 53:2-3](/isaiah/53-2-3 "Isaiah 53:2-3 - The Suffering Servant's Humble Appearance")
* [1 Corinthians 1:26-29](/1_corinthians/1-26-29 "1 Corinthians 1:26-29 - God Chooses the Lowly")
* [John 6:42](/john/6-42 "John 6:42 - The Jews Question Jesus' Origins")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 13:55 serves as a potent reminder for believers today not to judge individuals, or even God's work, based on outward appearances, humble beginnings, or prior familiarity. God often chooses the unassuming, the unexpected, and the seemingly ordinary to accomplish His greatest and most profound purposes. Our own preconceived notions, cultural biases, or past experiences can become significant barriers, blinding us to the truth and preventing us from recognizing divine activity right before our eyes. True faith looks beyond the superficial and embraces the divine power and wisdom that emanates from God, regardless of the vessel or the context. We are called to humility and openness, ready to receive truth and grace even when it comes from sources we might initially dismiss.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What preconceived notions or expectations might be hindering my recognition of God's work in my life or in the world around me?**
* **How does Jesus' humble background and the people's reaction challenge my understanding of power, wisdom, and divine presence?**
* **In what ways might familiarity with spiritual truths, church leaders, or even God Himself lead to a lack of awe or a critical spirit in my own life?**

### FAQ
**Did Jesus have biological brothers and sisters?**

Answer: Yes, the most natural reading of Matthew 13:55 and other New Testament passages strongly indicates that Jesus had biological brothers and sisters. This verse explicitly names four brothers: James, Joses, Simon, and Judas. [Mark 6:3](/mark/6-3 "Mark 6:3 - Jesus the Carpenter") also mentions these brothers and unnamed sisters. While the Greek word for "brother" (ἀδελφός, _adelphos_) can sometimes refer to cousins or close relatives, the specific naming of individuals alongside "his mother called Mary" in this context makes the interpretation of biological siblings the most straightforward and widely accepted among biblical scholars. Further support comes from passages like [John 7:5](/john/7-5 "John 7:5 - Jesus' Brothers Did Not Believe"), which states Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him, and [Galatians 1:19](/galatians/1-19 "Galatians 1:19 - James, the Lord's Brother"), which refers to James as "the Lord's brother."

**Why were the people of Nazareth offended by Jesus?**

Answer: Their offense stemmed primarily from their deep familiarity with Jesus' humble origins and family. They knew Him as "the carpenter's son" and were acquainted with His mother, brothers, and sisters ([Matthew 13:55-56](/matthew/13-55-56 "Matthew 13:55-56 - The People of Nazareth Offended")). They could not reconcile the profound wisdom and miraculous power He displayed with His ordinary upbringing in their obscure town. Their expectations of a Messiah did not align with a local craftsman from Nazareth, leading to the proverb Jesus Himself quoted: "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home" ([Matthew 13:57](/matthew/13-57 "Matthew 13:57 - Jesus Rejected in His Hometown")). Their familiarity bred contempt, preventing them from recognizing the divine presence in their midst.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:55, far from being a mere biographical detail, profoundly underscores the Christ-centered narrative of God's redemptive plan. The people's incredulity at Jesus' humble origins as "the carpenter's son" highlights the radical nature of the Incarnation. The Son of God, who existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6-7 "Philippians 2:6-7 - Christ's Humiliation")). His willingness to be born into a common family, to grow up in an obscure village, and to be known as a humble laborer, is central to His identification with humanity and His mission to redeem it. This rejection by His own people in Nazareth foreshadows His broader rejection by Israel, yet it is precisely through this path of humility and suffering that He becomes the cornerstone, the one rejected by the builders who becomes the head of the corner ([Psalm 118:22](/psalm/118-22 "Psalm 118:22 - The Stone the Builders Rejected")). His humble background, far from disqualifying Him, affirms His role as the Suffering Servant prophesied in [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"), who had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him. Ultimately, the people's inability to see beyond His human form and familiar origins reveals the spiritual blindness that required the ultimate revelation of the Son of God through His death and resurrection, leading to His exaltation where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - The Exaltation of Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 6:42

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

Mark 6:3

Is 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.

Luke 3:23

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli,

Luke 4:22

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

Isaiah 53:2

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.

Isaiah 53:3

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Mark 15:47

And Mary Magdalene and Mary [the mother] of Joses beheld where he was laid.