Mark 3:21
New International Version
When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

New Living Translation
When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

English Standard Version
And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Berean Standard Bible
When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”

Berean Literal Bible
And those belonging to Him having heard, went out to seize Him; for they were saying, "He is out of His mind."

King James Bible
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

New King James Version
But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

New American Standard Bible
And when His own people heard about this, they came out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

NASB 1995
When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

NASB 1977
And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And when His own people heard this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

Amplified Bible
When His own family heard this they went to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He is out of His mind.”

Christian Standard Bible
When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.”

American Standard Version
And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Contemporary English Version
When Jesus' family heard what he was doing, they thought he was crazy and went to get him under control.

English Revised Version
And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When his family heard about it, they went to get him. They said, "He's out of his mind!"

Good News Translation
When his family heard about it, they set out to take charge of him, because people were saying, "He's gone mad!"

International Standard Version
When his family heard about it, they went to restrain him, because they kept saying, "He's out of his mind!"

Majority Standard Bible
When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, ?He is out of His mind.?

NET Bible
When his family heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

New Heart English Bible
And when his family heard it, they went out to take charge of him: for they said, "He is out of his mind."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Weymouth New Testament
Hearing of this, His relatives came to seize Him by force, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

World English Bible
When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him; for they said, “He is insane.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and those alongside Him having heard, went forth to lay hold on Him, for they said that He was beside Himself,

Berean Literal Bible
And those belonging to Him having heard, went out to seize Him; for they were saying, "He is out of His mind."

Young's Literal Translation
and his friends having heard, went forth to lay hold on him, for they said that he was beside himself,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they with him, having heard, came forth to take hold of him: for they said, That he is affected in mind.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when his friends had heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him. For they said: He is become mad.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when his own had heard of it, they went out to take hold of him. For they said: “Because he has gone mad.”

New American Bible
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

New Revised Standard Version
When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And his relatives heard it, and went out to arrest him, for they said, He has lost his mind.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And his relatives heard and they went out to take hold of him, for they were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And when his relatives heard of it, they came out to take him; for they said: He is beside himself.

Godbey New Testament
And those along with Him hearing came out to arrest Him: for they continued to say, He is beside Himself.

Haweis New Testament
And when his relations heard it, they went out to restrain him, for they said, He is transported beyond all bounds.

Mace New Testament
when his relations heard of this, they went to his relief, for it was said, he fainted away.

Weymouth New Testament
Hearing of this, His relatives came to seize Him by force, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

Worrell New Testament
And, hearing of it, His kinsmen went out to lay hold on Him; for they said, "He became insane!"

Worsley New Testament
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him; for they said He spends Himself too much.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A House Divided
20Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. 21When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.” 22And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”…

Cross References
John 7:5
For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.

Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. / Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” / But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” ...

Luke 8:19-21
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd. / He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” / But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

John 10:20
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Psalm 69:8
I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

John 7:3-4
So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. / For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.”

Luke 2:34-35
Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, / so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Micah 7:6
For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

Matthew 10:36
A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

John 15:18-19
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

1 Samuel 10:27
But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.

1 Samuel 17:28
Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”

Acts 26:24
At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”


Treasury of Scripture

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

when.

friends.

Mark 3:31
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

John 7:3-10
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest…

He is.

2 Kings 9:11
Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.

Jeremiah 29:26
The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

Hosea 9:7
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

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Charge Custody Family Force Friends Head Heard Hearing Hold Insane Lay Mind News Relatives Seize Senses
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Charge Custody Family Force Friends Head Heard Hearing Hold Insane Lay Mind News Relatives Seize Senses
Mark 3
1. Jesus heals the withered hand,
10. and many other infirmities;
11. rebukes the unclean spirit;
13. chooses his twelve apostles;
22. convinces the blasphemy of casting out demons by Beelzebub;
31. and shows who are his brother, sister, and mother.














When His family heard about this
The phrase "When His family heard about this" indicates a pivotal moment in the narrative. The Greek word for "family" here is "οἱ παρ' αὐτοῦ," which can be translated as "those belonging to Him" or "His own people." This suggests a close-knit group, likely including His immediate family. Historically, family units in Jewish culture were tightly bound, often living in close proximity and deeply involved in each other's lives. The context here is that Jesus' ministry and the crowds following Him had reached a point of notoriety, prompting concern from His family.

they went out to take custody of Him
The phrase "they went out to take custody of Him" uses the Greek word "κρατῆσαι," meaning to seize or take control. This implies a forceful action, suggesting that His family was not merely concerned but felt an urgent need to intervene. In the cultural context of the time, family honor and reputation were paramount, and any behavior perceived as erratic or shameful could bring dishonor. Thus, their intention to "take custody" reflects a protective, albeit misguided, attempt to shield Jesus and the family from public scandal.

saying, 'He is out of His mind.'
The declaration "He is out of His mind" is a strong statement reflecting their perception of Jesus' actions. The Greek term "ἐξέστη" is used here, which can mean to be beside oneself or insane. This reflects a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission and divine purpose. From a conservative Christian perspective, this moment highlights the tension between human understanding and divine revelation. Jesus' family, despite their proximity to Him, failed to grasp the full scope of His messianic mission. This serves as a reminder of the limitations of human perception and the necessity of faith to truly comprehend the works of God. Historically, this misunderstanding is not unique, as many prophets and figures in the Bible faced skepticism and doubt from those closest to them.

(21) And when his friends . . .--Literally, those from Him--i.e., from His home. As the "mother and the brethren" are mentioned later on in the chapter as coming to check His teaching, we must see in these some whom they had sent with the same object. To them the new course of action on which our Lord had entered seemed a sign of over-excitement, recklessly rushing into danger. We may, perhaps, see in the random word thus uttered that which gave occasion to the more malignant taunt of the scribes in the next verse. They were saying now, as they said afterwards (John 10:20), "He hath a devil, and is mad."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[When]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

His family
παρ’ (par’)
Preposition
Strong's 3844: Gen: from; dat: beside, in the presence of; acc: alongside of.

heard [about this],
ἀκούσαντες (akousantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

they went out
ἐξῆλθον (exēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.

to take custody
κρατῆσαι (kratēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2902: From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.

of Him,
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

saying,
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“He is out of His mind.”
Ἐξέστη (Exestē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1839: From ek and histemi; to put out of wits, i.e. Astound, or become astounded, insane.


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NT Gospels: Mark 3:21 When his friends heard it they went (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 3:20
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