Home · Matthew · Chapter 12

Matthew 12:49

Behold my mother and my brethren!

Jesus's mother and brother

Spoken to:
audience
KJV issues:
2
KJV

Matthew 12:49 Behold my mother and my brothers!

NIV

Matthew 12:49  -Here are my mother and my brothers.

What His Listeners Heard

See for yourselves! That mother of mine and those brothers of mine!

Greek

Greek Word Order

 

Ἰδοὺ                          μήτηρ          μου    καὶ οἱ       ἀδελφοί      μου:
See for yourselves! That mother of mine and those brothers of mine!

Lost in Translation

The form of the "behold" here means "see for yourselves" because it is in the middle voice. The "mother and brothers" are not its objects. They are in the form of subjects, which, without a verb, assume as "there are."

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

Ἰδοὺ ( verb 2nd sg aor imperat mid ) "Behold is from idou, which means "to behold," "to see," and "to perceive." It acts as an adverbial phrase in this form meaning "Lo! Behold!" and "See there!' It is a form of the verb eido, which means "to see."

(article sg fem nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

μήτηρ (noun sg fem nom) "Mother" is from meter, which means "mother," "grandmother," "mother hen," "source," and "origin."

μου (pron 1st sg masc gen) "My" is mou, which mean "my," or "mine." 

καὶ "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

οἱ (article pl masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ἀδελφοί (noun pl masc nom)"Brothers" is from adelphos, which means "son of the same mother," "kinsman," "colleague," "associate," and "brother."

μου (pron 1st sg masc gen) "My" is mou, which mean "my," or "mine." 

KJV — word by word

Behold  - -- "Behold" is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.

my  -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

mother  - "Mother" is from the common Greek word for "mother" and "grandmothers," but it also means "the source" of something.

and  - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

brothers! - "The word translated as "brothers" means "kinsmen," and "associate," but generally it means "sons of the same mother."

NIV — word by word

Here - -- (WW) "Here " is a verbal command meaning "See!" and "Look!" It is from the most common word meaning "to see" in Greek. In a humorous vein, it is also an adverbial exclamation like we use the phrase "ta-da" in a magic show, or "voila" in French which means "see there". "Look here!" or "See there!" comes closest in English. Jesus uses it both ways.

are -- There is no verb "are" in the Greek source. It is implied by the subjects (mother, brothers) without a verb.

my  -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

mother  - "Mother" is from the common Greek word for "mother" and "grandmothers," but it also means "the source" of something.

and  - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

brothers! - "The word translated as "brothers" means "kinsmen," and "associate," but generally it means "sons of the same mother."

Related Verses

Mark 3:34 Behold my mother and my brethren! ›

Matthew 12:48 Who is my mother?

Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will