ℹ️ In Hebrew usage, “brother” could mean any close male relative (nephew, cousin, kinsman). There was no distinct word for “cousin.” A male relative from whom one is descended would be called “father.”
Genesis 14:14-16 (NKJV)
Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants… So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
ℹ️ Lot is called Abraham’s brother, even though he was his nephew.
Genesis 29:15 (NKJV)
And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?
ℹ️ Laban calls Jacob his brother, even though he was his uncle.
2 Samuel 1:26 (NKJV)
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me; your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
ℹ️ David calls Jonathan his brother.
Deuteronomy 23:7 (NKJV)
You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
1 Chronicles 23:21-22 (NKJV)
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi… and their brethren, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.
ℹ️ The daughters of Eleazar married their “brethren,” who were actually their cousins.
ℹ️ There is no separate word for “cousin” in Hebrew or Aramaic. New Testament writers, formed in this usage, carried the same idiom into Greek.
Mark 6:3 (NKJV)
Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? So they were offended at Him.
ℹ️ Does this mean Jesus had blood brothers?
Mark 15:40 (NKJV)
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome.
ℹ️ At the Cross were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses.
John 19:25 (NKJV)
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
ℹ️ Mary the wife of Cleophas (a form of Alphaeus) is present.
Acts 1:13 (NKJV)
And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room… James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James.
ℹ️ James the son of Alphaeus and Jude the brother of James appear together.
ℹ️ Mary, wife of Alphaeus (Cleophas), is therefore the mother of James, Joses, Jude, and likely Simon.
John 7:3-5 (NKJV)
His brothers therefore said to Him, Depart from here and go into Judea… For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
ℹ️ In Eastern culture, elders advised younger relatives. Here the “brothers” speak as elders, implying they were older than Jesus.
Luke 2:41-51 (NKJV)
Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover…
ℹ️ When Jesus is twelve, there is no hint of other children traveling with Mary and Joseph.
Exodus 13:2 (NKJV)
Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb…
ℹ️ “Firstborn” means the one who opens the womb, not necessarily that others followed.
John 19:26-27 (NKJV)
When Jesus therefore saw His mother… He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother.
ℹ️ If Mary had other sons, entrusting her to John would have been culturally inappropriate.
ℹ️ Orthodox Tradition holds that Mary was dedicated as a Temple Virgin from a young age, and that Joseph, who was older, served as her guardian.
ℹ️ While lifelong virginity in marriage is unusual, the birth of the Son of God is itself unique and miraculous.
