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Mary’s Perpetual Virginity: Ten Biblical Evidences

Mary’s Perpetual Virginity: Ten Biblical Evidences

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:10 am by Dave Armstrong

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Mary’s Perpetual Virginity: Ten Biblical Evidences 2026-06-06T00:10:59-04:00 Dave Armstrong

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Photo credit: Madonna and Child (c. 1742), by Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

This is a transcript of the VIDEO Short of the same name (1-19-26) on our channel, Catholic Bible Highlights.

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I’ve compiled fifty arguments, many quite extensive, in a linked article, but here are ten brief but effective arguments from the Bible:

#1 The Greek word for “brother”: adelphos is used in the Bible for a wide variety of relatives, friends, and countrymen, besides the meaning of “sibling.” In Matthew 23:8 Jesus Himself calls the “crowds” and His “disciples” (23:1), “brethren” (adelphos; cf. 12:49-50). Every time Paul uses adelphos – 138 times — it means non-sibling.

#2 When Jesus went to the Jerusalem temple at age twelve (Luke 2:41-51), there are no other siblings in sight. The text says that “he” went with his parents back to Nazareth (Luke 2:51). Yet we’re to believe that Mary had no children between the estimated ages of 16 to 28 and five or more after that?

#3 Matthew 13:55-56 (cf. Mark 6:3) names four “brothers” of Jesus (often assumed to be His siblings). But Matthew 27:56 (cf. Mark 15:40) refers to “Mary the mother of James and Joseph” and she is called “the other Mary” twice (Matthew 27:61 and 28:1) in context. Thus, we know that these two are not His siblings.

#4 In Mark 6:4 Jesus in all likelihood is describing his “brothers” who contended with Him in Nazareth, and who didn’t “believe” in Him (cf. 6:1; John 7:5), as “kin” (RSV): which is the word sungenēs [soon-genn-ACE]: the word for “cousin.”

#5 The New Testament uses the phrase, “son of Mary” only with regard to Jesus, in Mark 6:3, where He’s also called “brother” of four men, and “his sisters” are mentioned. Yet none of them are called “sons / daughters” of Mary or Joseph, like Jesus is. The same thing occurs in Matthew 13:55 and Acts 1:14. Nor does “Mary’s sons” ever appear, or “daughter[s] of Mary” or “Mary’s daughter[s]”

#6 Mary is never called the “mother” of these alleged siblings of Jesus, but is called Jesus’ “mother” (John 2:1 and 19:25).

#7 “Son of Joseph” appears twice: both referring to Jesus (John 1:45; 6:42). “Sons of Joseph” in its one instance, refers to the patriarch Joseph (Heb 11:21). The phrase, “Joseph’s sons” is absent from the New Testament, as is “daughter[s] of Joseph” and “Joseph’s daughter[s]”.

#8 “Uncle” appears only 13 times in the Old Testament in the RSV, “aunt” only once (Leviticus 18:14). Neither are found in the New Testament. “Cousin” is used four times and “brother” (390 times) and “sister” (110 times) are almost always used for a wide array of relatives. In the King James Version, Jacob is called the “brother” of his Uncle Laban (Genesis 29:15 and 29:10). The same is true of Lot and Abraham (Genesis 14:14 and 11:26-27).

#9 Mary is committed to the care of the Apostle John by Jesus from the cross (John 19:26-27). This would never have happened if Jesus had at least four male siblings, as is claimed.

#10 It’s wrongly argued from Matthew 1:24-25 that Joseph started having marital relations with Mary after Jesus’ birth. But if this were the case, it’s highly implausible that Joseph would abstain for the entire pregnancy. It’s therefore reasonable to hold that he intended for it to never be any different, because Mary was the mother of God the Son.

Related Book

“The Catholic Mary”: Quite Contrary to the Bible? (Oct. 2010; 189 pages)

Related Web Page

Mary: The Blessed Virgin

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Photo credit: Madonna and Child (c. 1742), by Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

Summary: I attempt to summarize the very best & clearest biblical evidences regarding Mary’s perpetual virginity (Jesus had no siblings), that can be stated within three minute’s time!

Mary's Perpetual Virginity

Perpetual Virginity of Mary

siblings of Jesus

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