Matthew 13 · Verse 55

Matthew 13:55

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Matthew 13:55, King James Version

Matthew 13:55 in other translations

BSB“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
WEBIsn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
ASVIs not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
YLTis not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
DARBYIs not this the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
BBEIs not this the woodworker's son? is not his mother named Mary? and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
WebsterIs not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

What does Matthew 13:55 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
55. Is not this the carpenter's son?--In Mark (Mr 6:3) the question is, "Is not this the carpenter?" In all likelihood, our Lord, during His stay under the roof of His earthly parents, wrought along with His legal father. is not his mother called Mary?--"Do we not know all about His parentage? Has He not grown up in the midst of us? Are not all His relatives our own townsfolk? Whence, then, such wisdom and such miracles?" These particulars of our Lord's human history constitute the most valuable testimony, first, to His true and real humanity--for they prove that during all His first thirty years His townsmen had discovered nothing about Him different from other men; secondly, to the divine character of His mission--for these Nazarenes proclaim both the unparalleled character of His teaching and the reality and glory of His miracles, as transcending human ability; and thirdly, to His wonderful humility and self-denial--in that when He was such as they now saw Him to be, He yet never gave any indications of it for thirty years, because "His hour was not yet come." And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 55,56. Is not this the carpenter's son? Mark says, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" Both these expressions would probably be used in the course of the conversation; and Matthew has recorded one, and Mark the other. The expression recorded by Mark is a strong, perhaps decisive, proof that he had worked at the business till he was thirty years of age. The people in the neighbourhood would understand well the nature of his early employments. It is, therefore, almost certain that this had been his manner of life. A useful employment is always honourable. Idleness is the parent of mischief. Our Saviour, therefore, spent the greatest part of his life in honest, useful industry. Till the age of thirty he did not choose to enter on his great work; and it was proper, before that time, that he should set an example to the world of honourable, thorough humble industry. Life is not wasted in such employments. They are appointed as the lot of man. And in fidelity in the relations of life, though obscure; in honest industry, however humble; in patient labour, if connected with a life of religion, we may be sure that God will approve our conduct. It was, moreover, the custom of the Jews to train all their children--even those of wealth and learning--to some trade, or manual occupation. Thus Paul was a tent-maker. Comp. Acts 18:3.

This was an example of great condescension and humility. It staggers the faith of man, that the Son of God should labour in an occupation so obscure and lowly. The infidel sneers at the idea that He that made the worlds should live thirty years in humble life, as a poor and unknown mechanic. Yet the same infidel will loudly praise Peter the Great of Russia, because he laid aside his imperial dignity, and endured the British service as a ship-carpenter, that he might learn the art of building a navy. Was the purpose of Peter of more importance than that of the Son of God? If Peter, the heir to the throne of the Czars, might leave his elevated rank, and descend to a humble employment, and secure by it the applause of the world, why might not the King of kings, for an infinitely higher object?

His brethren, James, etc. The fair interpretation of this passage is, that these were the sons and daughters of Joseph and Mary. The people in the neighbourhood thought so, and spoke of them as such.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? - Seven copies of the old Itala have, Is not this the son of Joseph the carpenter? But it is likely our Lord, during the thirty years of his abode at Nazareth, wrought at the same trade with Joseph; and perhaps this is what is intended, Luk 2:51. He went down with them (his parents) to Nazareth, and was Subject unto them. An honest trade is no discredit to any man. He who spends his time in idleness is fit for any business in which the devil chooses to employ him. Is not his mother - Mary, and his brethren, James, etc. - This insulting question seems to intimate that our Lord's family was a very obscure one; and that they were of small repute among their neighbors, except for their piety. It is possible that brethren and sisters may mean here near relations, as the words are used among the Hebrews in this latitude of meaning; but I confess it does not appear to me likely. Why should the children of another family be brought in here to share a reproach which it is evident was designed for Joseph the carpenter, Mary his wife, Jesus their son, and their other children? Prejudice apart, would not any person of plain common sense suppose, from this account, that these were the children of Joseph and Mary, and the brothers and sisters of our Lord, according to the flesh? It seems odd that this should be doubted; but, through an unaccountable prejudice, Papists and Protestants are determined to maintain as a doctrine, that on which the Scriptures are totally silent, viz. the perpetual virginity of the mother of our Lord. See Mat 1:25.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 13:53-58

Christ repeats his offer to those who have repulsed them. They upbraid him, Is not this the carpenter's son? Yes, it is true he was reputed to be so; and no disgrace to be the son of an honest tradesman; they should have respected him the more because he was one of themselves, but therefore they despised him. He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Unbelief is the great hinderance to Christ's…

Read the full comment on Matthew 13:53-58 →

Matthew 13:55 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐχouchSurelyG3756
οὗτόςhoutosthisG3778
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὁhotheG3588
τοῦtouof theG3588
τέκτονοςtektonoscarpenterG5045
υἱός;huiosSon?G5207
οὐχouchSurelyG3756
ἡhētheG3588
μήτηρmētērmotherG3384
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
λέγεταιlegetaiis namedG3004
Μαριάμ,MariamMary?G3137
καὶkaiAndG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
ἀδελφοὶadelphoibrothersG80
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ἸάκωβοςIakōbosJamesG2385
καὶkaiandG2532
ἸωσὴφIōsēphJosephG2501
καὶkaiandG2532
ΣίμωνSimōnSimonG4613
καὶkaiandG2532
Ἰούδας;IoudasJudas?G2455

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 13:55

  • Mark 6:3

    Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

  • John 6:42

    And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

  • Luke 3:23

    And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

  • Mark 15:47-16:1

    And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

  • Luke 4:22

    And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

  • John 19:25

    Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

  • Galatians 1:19

    But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

  • Luke 24:10

    It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

  • Isaiah 49:7

    Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

  • Luke 2:5-7

    To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

  • Matthew 27:56

    Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

  • Isaiah 53:2-3

    For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the carpenter's.
Ps 22:6; Isa 49:7; 53:2,3; Mr 6:3; Lu 3:23; 4:22; Joh 1:45,46; 6:42
Joh 7:41,42; 9:29
is not this.
1:18-20; Lu 1:27; 2:5-7
and his.
12:46,48; 27:56; Mr 15:40,47; 16:1; Lu 24:10; Joh 19:25; Ga 1:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 13:54

    And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

  • Matthew 13:55

    Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

  • Matthew 13:56

    And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Read all of Matthew 13

Matthew 13:55 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿No es éste el hijo del carpintero? ¿no se llama su madre María, y sus hermanos Jacobo y José, y Simón, y Judas?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui-ci n’est-il pas le fils du charpentier? Sa mère ne s’appelle-t-elle pas Marie? et ses frères, Jacques, et Joses, et Simon, et Jude?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ist dieser nicht der Sohn des Zimmermanns? Heißt nicht seine Mutter Maria, und seine Brüder Jakobus und Joseph und Simon und Judas?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nonne hic est fabri filius? nonne mater ejus dicitur Maria, et fratres ejus, Jacobus, et Joseph, et Simon, et Judas?