What Does Matthew 12:47 Mean in the King James?

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Matthew 12:47 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Shared birth places them close to Jesus, but the verse still puts them outside the conversation they want.

THE MEANING

His mother and siblings are near enough to send word, yet they remain outside, waiting to speak with him. Their desire is clear, while their access to the conversation is still unresolved. The verse holds closeness and distance together.

THE ROOT

ἀδελφοί

adelphoi

GROWS FROM

ἀδελφ-

adelph-

Sibling, traditionally understood as one born from the same womb

The Greek word for brethren carries the bodily bond of shared birth. The same word appears again when Jesus names his brother in the next verse, where kinship reaches beyond those joined by birth.

ALSO GROWS

philadelphia: Brotherly or sisterly love

φιλαδελφία

The sibling root becomes a word for affection between people who regard one another as family.

adelphotēs: Brotherhood, a community of siblings

ἀδελφότης

The word for shared-birth kinship can also name a wider community bound together as family.

THE PATTERN

The family boundary can widen as kinship is recognized through response to God as well as birth.

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew 12:50 · KJVJesus names those who do the Father’s will as family, widening the kinship introduced in this verse.

And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Luke 8:21 · KJVHearing and doing God’s word becomes the basis for recognizing who belongs in the family.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Ephesians 2:19 · KJVThose once outside the household are named as members of it.

THE THREAD

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew 12:50 · KJV

The Greek word translated brethren here reappears as brother in Jesus’ answer. The shared-birth word now reaches beyond biological siblings, as doing the Father’s will also marks kinship.

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