12:47a–b

Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”: There is a textual issue here.

(1) Some Greek manuscripts include 12:47. Most English versions follow these manuscripts.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts do not include 12:47. A few English versions follow these manuscripts.

(English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). Most English versions follow this option. Also, option (1) helps connect 12:46 and 12:48.

The person who told Jesus the news certainly talked to Jesus with respect. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this respect explicit. For example:

⌊Teacher,⌋ your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.

-or-

⌊Excuse me,⌋ your mother and your younger brothers are standing outside the house. They want to speak with you.

In some languages, it may be natural to translate this verse as indirect speech. For example:

Someone told Jesus that his mother and ⌊younger⌋ brothers were standing outside ⌊the house⌋ and wanted to talk with him.

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