John 7:3

“His brethren therefore said unto him, etc.] That is, the brethren of Jesus, as the Syriac and Persic versions express it; who were not James and Joses, and Simon and Judas, the sons of Alphaeus, the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary, so called, (<401355>Matthew 13:55), for some of these were of the number of the twelve; and all of them believers in Christ; whereas these his brethren were not. The Jew f297 therefore is mistaken, who supposed the above persons are here intended; and objects this their unbelief to Jesus, as if they knew him too well to give him any credit; whereas they did believe in him, and abode by him to the last; and some of them, if not all, suffered death for his…”

“His brethren said--(See on Mat 13:54-56). Depart . . . into Judea, &c.--In Joh 7:5 this speech is ascribed to their unbelief. But as they were in the "upper room" among the one hundred and twenty disciples who waited for the descent of the Spirit after the Lord's ascension (Act 1:14), they seem to have had their prejudices removed, perhaps after His resurrection. Indeed here their language is more that of strong prejudice and suspicion (such as near relatives, even the best, too frequently show in such cases), than from unbelief. There was also, probably, a tincture of vanity in it. "Thou hast many disciples in Judea; here in Galilee they are fast dropping off; it is not like one who…”

“His brethren - See the notes at Matthew 12:47. Thy disciples - The disciples which he had made when he was before in Judea, John 4:1-3. The works - The miracles. return to 'Top of Page'”

“His brethren - So called according to the Jewish way of speaking. They were his cousins, the sons of his mother's sister. Depart hence - From this obscure place. John 7:4”

“7:3-5 Jesus’ brothers (see also Mark 3:31) reminded him of his religious obligation to celebrate the festival. Their words were cynical because at this time they didn’t believe in him (John 7:5).”

“brethren: Joh 7:5; Mat 12:46, Mat 12:47; Mar 3:31; Luk 8:19; Act 2:14 Depart: Gen 37:5-11, Gen 37:20; Sa1 17:28; Jer 12:6; Mat 22:16, Mat 22:17 John 7:4”