8:19 Now Jesus’ 6 mother and his brothers 7 came to him, but 8 they could not get near him because of the crowd. 8:20 So 9 he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 8:21 But he replied 10 to them, “My mother and my brothers are those 11 who hear the word of God and do it.” 12
1 tn Grk “From where this to me?” The translation suggests the note of humility and surprise that Elizabeth feels in being a part of these events. The ἵνα (Jina) clause which follows explains what “this” is. A literal translation would read “From where this to me, that is, that the mother of my Lord comes to visit me?”
2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of Jesus’ command.
3 tn Or “the deceased.”
4 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn In the context, the verb δίδωμι (didwmi) has been translated “gave back” rather than simply “gave.”
3 tn Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 sn The issue of whether Jesus had brothers (siblings) has had a long history in the church. Epiphanius, in the 4th century, argued that Mary was a perpetual virgin and had no offspring other than Jesus. Others argued that these brothers were really cousins. Nothing in the text suggests any of this. See also John 7:3.
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the sequence of events.
5 tn Grk “answering, he said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “he replied.”
6 tn There is some discussion about the grammar of this verse in Greek. If “these” is the subject, then it reads, “These are my mother and brothers, those who.” If “these” is a nominative absolute, which is slightly more likely, then the verse more literally reads, “So my mother and brothers, they are those who.” The sense in either case is the same.
7 sn Hearing and doing the word of God is another important NT theme: Luke 6:47-49; Jas 1:22-25.