- What I have learned is that this seems to be true with OT Hebrew. For example Genesis 14:14 uses the word: ’ā·ḥîw which is translated for different meanings of relationship.
New International Version
When Abram heard that his
relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which when Abram had heard, to wit, that his
brother Lot was taken, he numbered of the servants born in his house, three hundred and eighteen well appointed: and pursued them to Dan.
International Standard Version
When Abram heard that his
nephew had been taken prisoner, he gathered together 318 of his trained men, who had been born in his household, and they went out in pursuit as far as Dan.
biblehub.com/hebrew/achiv_251.htm
- In the NT Greek there are words for kinsman/cousin/relative. For example Luke 1:36 uses the term syngenis to mean cousin or relative
New International Version
Even Elizabeth your
relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And behold thy
cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
International Standard Version
And listen! Elizabeth, your
relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month.
biblehub.com/greek/sungenis_4773.htm
- However in Mark 6:3 the words adelphos and adelphai are used to mean brother and sisters and always mean brother and sisters.
New International Version
Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the
brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his
sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the
brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his
sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him.
International Standard Version
This is the builder, the son of Mary, and the
brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, isn’t it? His
sisters are here with us, aren’t they?" And they were offended by him.
biblehub.com/greek/adelphos_80.htm
biblehub.com/greek/adelphai_79.htm
What I see from looking at the verses on
BibleHub.com is that every time Jesus “brothers” are mentioned, the Greek word is similar to the word adelphos. A word like sungeneis or syngenis which means kinsmen is never used.
I do think that there is evidence in the early centuries that it was believed that Mary was a perpetual virgin despite evidence in the Bible such as:
Matthew 1:25 But he did not consummate their marriage
until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Luke 2:7 and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And in Psalm 69 it is written
8 I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother’s children;
9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
In John 2, the Apostles attribute Psalm 69:9 to Jesus when He overturned the money changers tables.
John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me."
I don’t feel that there is conclusive evidence to determine whether Mary had other children. It has never been a concern for me and something I rarely thought about until recent studies. What confuses me the most is why this makes a difference for Christianity at all.
