Luke 8:19 kjv
Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
Luke 8:19 nkjv
Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.
Luke 8:19 niv
Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.
Luke 8:19 esv
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.
Luke 8:19 nlt
Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn't get to him because of the crowd.
Luke 8 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 12:46-50 | While he was still speaking... his mother and his brothers were standing... | Synoptic parallel; introduces spiritual family. |
| Mk 3:31-35 | And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent... | Synoptic parallel; redefines true kin. |
| Jn 7:3-5 | So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go... no one works in secret..." | Jesus' brothers initially lacked belief. |
| Mk 3:20-21 | And he came home, and the crowd gathered again... for they were saying, "He is out of his mind." | Possible reason for family's approach. |
| Lk 11:27-28 | "Blessed is the womb that bore you... But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God..." | Superiority of hearing and obeying God's Word. |
| Lk 14:26 | "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother..." | Discipleship demands priority of Christ. |
| Mt 10:37 | "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me..." | Prioritizing Christ over family. |
| Ps 27:10 | For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. | God as ultimate family/protector. |
| Deut 6:6-7 | "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently..." | Emphasizes importance of God's Word. |
| Jn 6:63 | "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." | Spiritual over physical truth. |
| Rom 8:14 | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. | Becoming God's children by Spirit. |
| Gal 3:26-29 | For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith... | Spiritual identity transcends physical lineage. |
| Eph 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, | Believers as God's household. |
| Heb 2:11 | For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. Therefore he is not ashamed to call them brothers, | Jesus embraces believers as brethren. |
| 1 Pet 4:1-2 | Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves... | Focus on doing God's will, not worldly desires. |
| Mk 1:33-34 | And the whole city was gathered together at the door... | Examples of large crowds around Jesus. |
| Lk 4:42-43 | And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the crowds were seeking him... | Crowds constantly seeking Jesus. |
| Jn 19:26-27 | When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby... | Mary’s future care entrusted, not brethren. |
| 2 Cor 5:16 | From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh... | New creation redefines perspective. |
| Mt 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father..." | Emphasizes doing God's will. |
Luke 8 verses
Luke 8 19 Meaning
Luke 8:19 describes an attempt by Jesus' physical family—His mother and His brethren—to reach Him while He was teaching. They were prevented from approaching Him due to the large crowd surrounding Him. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' teaching on spiritual family, contrasting biological relationships with the higher calling of hearing and doing God's will.
Luke 8 19 Context
Luke chapter 8 recounts various aspects of Jesus' ministry: His parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15), its explanation (Luke 8:9-10), and the meaning of His teachings about the lamp (Luke 8:16-18). Immediately prior to verse 19, Jesus has emphasized the importance of hearing God's Word and bearing fruit. Verse 19 then transitions to an encounter that sets up Jesus' declaration about His true family (Luke 8:20-21). Historically and culturally, familial bonds were paramount in ancient Jewish society, providing identity and security. The scene highlights the challenge presented by Jesus' public ministry and growing popularity, where His focus was on the kingdom of God rather than conventional social norms or familial expectations.
Luke 8 19 Word analysis
- Then came (ἦλθον - ēlthen): This simple past tense verb indicates a direct and definite action. It points to a specific event where Jesus' family intentionally arrived, seeking Him.
- to him his mother (ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ - hē mētēr autou): This refers to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her presence here indicates the concern or desire of His immediate family.
- and his brethren (καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ - kai hoi adelphoi autou): The Greek term adelphoi most naturally refers to natural siblings, sons of Mary and Joseph born after Jesus. This aligns with New Testament passages elsewhere (e.g., Mk 6:3; Jn 7:3-5) that list them by name. Their involvement alongside Mary underscores that this was a familial unit attempting to reach Jesus.
- and could not come at him (καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο συντυχεῖν αὐτῷ - kai ouk ēdynanto syntychein autō): The Greek syntychein means "to meet with," "to encounter," or "to succeed in approaching." This phrase signifies their inability to physically reach Jesus due to an external hindrance, despite their effort or intent.
- for the press (διὰ τὸν ὄχλον - dia ton ochlon): Ochlon refers to a large crowd or multitude. This was the specific impediment preventing the family's access. Jesus was often surrounded by crowds seeking healing, teaching, or simply witnessing His ministry, a common aspect of His public life. The crowd here represents a physical barrier, but also perhaps symbolically, the multitude drawn by Jesus' spiritual power, potentially overshadowing the claims of physical kinship.
- his mother and his brethren: This grouping emphasizes the immediate biological family unit attempting to gain access to Jesus. Their action initiates the following dialogue about spiritual family.
- could not come at him for the press: This phrase highlights the physical barrier imposed by the sheer number of people surrounding Jesus. It illustrates the challenge of access to Jesus for those with traditional ties when His ministry takes center stage.
Luke 8 19 Bonus section
The presence of "brethren" in this verse, coupled with other biblical references, strengthens the widely held biblical understanding of Jesus having natural siblings born to Mary and Joseph after Him. This interpretation, while contested in some traditions that uphold Mary's perpetual virginity, is the most straightforward reading of the Greek and contextual evidence within the New Testament. This interaction also underscores the counter-cultural nature of Jesus' ministry. In a society where family lineage and loyalty were paramount, Jesus consistently elevated spiritual relationships and the will of God above all earthly ties, including His own familial ones. This serves as an implied challenge or "polemic" against the societal overemphasis on bloodlines without a corresponding emphasis on spiritual devotion.
Luke 8 19 Commentary
Luke 8:19 sets the stage for a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, where He redefines what constitutes true family. The verse itself describes a common scene for a popular teacher in that era: large crowds surrounding Him, making access difficult even for close relatives. The family's attempt to reach Jesus might stem from concern, a desire for a private conversation, or, as implied in the Synoptic parallels (Mk 3:21), even a perception that He was overworking or "out of His mind." Regardless of their exact motivation, their physical inability to reach Him due to the press of the crowd subtly foreshadows the spiritual truth Jesus is about to reveal: that physical proximity or biological ties are secondary to spiritual alignment. The crowd, though a physical barrier, ironically represents the larger body of humanity drawn to Jesus, within which spiritual kinship will be established through hearing and obeying God's Word. The challenge posed by Jesus' family allowed Him to articulate the new, transcendent family bond forged not by blood, but by adherence to divine will, an inclusive invitation to all who believe and obey.