Did Jesus Have Brothers and Sisters?
The Gospels name Jesus's brothers and sisters. Learn what the passages say, the strongest Protestant objection, and why Catholics do not mean Mary's children.
Related: Did Jesus Have Brothers and Sisters? · Jesus siblings · Mary other children · brothers biological · sisters of Jesus
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Bible mention Jesus's brothers?
Yes. Matthew 13:55–56 and Mark 6:3 name brothers and mention sisters. Catholics accept these passages but do not interpret them as other biological children of Mary.
Does adelphos simply mean cousin?
No. Its ordinary meaning is brother, but biblical Greek can also use it for wider relationships. The Catholic case depends on context and received teaching, not on replacing every brother with cousin.
Did Mary have other children?
Catholic teaching holds that Mary remained ever-Virgin and that the brothers of Jesus were not her other children; see Catechism 499–500.
Does until in Matthew 1:25 prove relations afterward?
No. The verse affirms that Joseph had no relations with Mary before Jesus's birth. The word until alone does not establish what happened afterward.