From our series — Where’s THAT In The Bible?
Did Jesus have siblings (brothers and sisters)?
It’s one of the most frequently asked questions about Jesus and His family. The Gospels mention “the brothers of Jesus” several times, leading many to wonder: Did Mary have other children after Jesus? Who were James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas mentioned in Scripture? The answer lies in understanding the language, culture, and context of Scripture.
NOWHERE in the Bible does it say that Mary herself gave birth to anyone other than Jesus.
James the son of Alphaeus — identified as son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3) and son of “the other Mary” (Mary the wife of Clopas), not the Virgin Mary (Matthew 27:56).
Joseph — also identified as son of “the other Mary” (Mary the wife of Clopas), not the Virgin Mary (Matthew 27:56).
Jude — identifies himself as “brother of James” (Jude 1:1), not as a son of Mary and Joseph.
Simon — Scripture never identifies Simon as a son of the Virgin Mary.
James the son of Zebedee — brother of John the apostle, clearly identified as a son of Zebedee and Salome (Matthew 27:56, Mark 10:35). No relation to Mary and Joseph.
John the son of Zebedee — brother of James, son of Zebedee and Salome. He is the very disciple Jesus entrusted His mother to at the cross (John 19:26-27) — which Jesus would never have done if Mary had biological sons of her own.
WHY THE CONFUSION?
The Language Issue
In Hebrew and Aramaic (the languages Jesus and His family spoke), there was no specific word for “cousin.” The word “ach” (brother) was used for brothers, half-brothers, cousins, nephews, and even close relatives. When the New Testament was written in Greek, Jewish writers continued this practice with the word “adelphos.”
We see this throughout Scripture:
- Abraham calls Lot his “brother” (Genesis 14:14 KJV), but Lot was actually his nephew.
- Jacob is called the “brother” of Laban (Genesis 29:15 KJV), but Laban was his uncle.
- 1 Chronicles 23:22 (KJV) says the sons of Kish married “their brethren”—their cousins.
- In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul says Jesus appeared to “more than five hundred brothers” after His resurrection. Obviously Jesus didn’t have 500 biological brothers—Paul meant fellow believers. This shows clearly that “brothers” was commonly used for spiritual kinsmen, not just biological siblings.
Who Were Jesus’ “Brothers”?
Scripture actually gives us clues. In Matthew 13:55, the “brothers” of Jesus are named: James, Joseph (Joses), Simon, and Judas. But in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40, we learn that James and Joseph (Joses) were sons of “the other Mary”—not the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Mary was likely Mary of Clopas, mentioned at the Cross in John 19:25.
So at least two of these “brothers” had a different mother!
The Evidence at the Cross
Perhaps the strongest argument: When Jesus was dying on the Cross, He entrusted His mother to the Apostle John, saying “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). If Mary had other biological children, this would have been a shocking insult to them—care of a widowed mother was the eldest son’s duty, passing to younger sons if necessary. Jesus would never have violated this sacred obligation if Mary had other children. The fact that He gave her to John, who was not a relative, strongly suggests she had no other children.
Early Church Testimony
The earliest Christians, including those who knew the Apostles personally, believed in Mary’s perpetual virginity. This includes St. Ignatius of Antioch (who knew the Apostles), St. Irenaeus, Origen, and many others. Even the Protestant reformers Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli affirmed Mary’s perpetual virginity!