How many siblings did Jesus have?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible does not list all of Jesus’ siblings by name, but passages in Mark and Matthew indicate He had at least four brothers and two or more sisters. Two of His brothers, James and Judas, became followers of Jesus and even authored books in the New Testament. Some theories suggest Jesus’ siblings were spiritual relatives or step-siblings, but the Bible supports that they were Mary and Joseph’s biological children. Knowing Jesus had siblings highlights His full humanity and experience of normal family life with its joys and struggles. This understanding encourages us to bring our own family experiences to Jesus, who understands and walks alongside us, and challenges us to foster loving relationships within our families.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Knowing how many siblings Jesus had does not come from the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• There is no Bible verse that clearly states the names of all of Jesus' siblings, but we can infer from the book of Mark that He had at least six siblings: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" (Mark 6:3; see also Matthew 12:46; 13:53–58). Based on this verse, we know that Jesus had at least four brothers; and the word "sisters" is plural, which indicates that He had at least two sisters, maybe more.
• We know no information about any of Jesus' siblings except for James and Judas—also known as Jude. Each wrote a book of the Bible. In Jude 1:1, Jude identifies himself as the brother of James, Jesus' brother who wrote the book of James (Galatians 1:19). So, we can know with certainty that two of Jesus' siblings began to follow Him as Lord after His resurrection.
• There are those who hypothesize that the Greek words adelphos ("brothers") and adelphai ("sisters") that we see mentioned in Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:54–56 to describe Jesus' siblings are used to refer generally to brothers and sisters in a spiritual sense. Another theory that some cling onto is the concept of Mary being a perpetual virgin after the birth of Christ. This theory assumes that Joseph had other children from a previous marriage. Neither of these ideas have any biblical basis or support. Logically, the siblings mentioned in Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:54–56 were Jesus' true siblings and Mary and Joseph's biological children.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Knowing that Jesus had siblings who grew up with Him as part of His family reminds us that He experienced normal family life, including sibling relationships with all their joys and challenges. Yes, Jesus is fully God but also fully human, who truly understands family dynamics and everyday struggles. This invites us to bring our own family joys, conflicts, and hopes to Him, knowing that He relates personally to those experiences. Additionally, recognizing that some of Jesus’ siblings became His followers after His resurrection encourages us to trust that transformation and faith can happen in any family, no matter its imperfections. Jesus’ example as a brother who walked alongside His siblings invites us to build loving, supportive relationships within our own families and communities.

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus had at least four brothers and two or more sisters, making Him part of a real family.
• The Bible affirms that Jesus’ siblings were Mary and Joseph’s biological children.
• Jesus’ experience with siblings highlights His full humanity and helps us trust Him with our own family lives.

REFLECT

• How does knowing Jesus grew up in a common human family help you trust Him with the challenges in your own family life?
• How do you see Jesus’ understanding of family dynamics comforting you in your own family life?
• How can you bring your sibling or family relationships to Jesus, knowing He experienced similar relationships Himself?

ENGAGE

• What does Jesus’ experience in a normal family reveal about how God values everyday relationships?
• How might the fact that some of Jesus’ siblings came to believe in Him after His resurrection shape the way we pray for or engage with our own families?
• How can our understanding of Jesus’ humanity through His family life challenge or deepen our view of His ministry on earth as well as our own?