Luke 8:19

19 And his mother and brethren came to him; and they might not come to him for the people [and they might not go fully to him for the company of people].

Luke 8:19 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 8:19

Then came to him his mother and his brethren
It was when Christ was preaching in an house at Capernaum, that Mary his mother, and some of his near kinsmen with her, came from Nazareth to him: these brethren of his were relations according to the flesh, either by Joseph, or his mother's side: who they were, cannot be said with certainty: it may be they were Joses and Simon; for as for James and Judas, they were among the twelve apostles, and with him; and these are the four only persons that are mentioned by name, as his brethren, ( Matthew 13:55 ) though there were others that were so called, who did not believe in him, ( John 7:5 )

and could not come at him for the press;
the multitude of people that were about him, who were so thick, that there was no coming near him, much less was there an opportunity of speaking privately, with him. The Syriac version renders it, "they could not speak unto him for the multitude".

Luke 8:19 In-Context

17 For there is no privy thing, which shall not be opened, neither hid thing, which shall not be known, and come into open. [+Forsooth nothing is privy, that shall not be opened, neither hid thing, that shall not be known, and come into apert.]
18 Therefore see ye, how ye hear; for it shall be given to him that hath, and whoever hath not, also that that he weeneth that he have [+also that that he guesseth himself to have], shall be taken away from him.
19 And his mother and brethren came to him; and they might not come to him for the people [and they might not go fully to him for the company of people].
20 And it was told to him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand withoutforth, willing to see thee.
21 And he answered, and said to them, My mother and my brethren be these, that hear the word of God [which hear the word of God], and do it.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.