Mark 3:21

Mark 3:21

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

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

b. NIV: When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

c. YLT: and his friends having heard, went forth to lay hold on him, for they said that he was beside himself,

d. Amplified Bible: And when those who belonged to Him (His kinsmen) heard it, they went out to take Him by force, for they kept saying, He is out of His mind (beside Himself, deranged)!

e. Worrell Translation: And, hearing of it, His kinsmen went out to lay hold on Him; for they said, “He became insane!”

1. “And when his friends heard of it…”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b.  when his [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. friends [3844 * para][Thayer: those of one’s own family, i.e. his kinsmen,relations.] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.]

1). The King James has “friends” but some of the other translations have “family”.

a). NLT: “family”

b). NASB] “His own people”

c). [RSV] “family”

d. heard [191* akouo] [Strong: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

1). What did his family hear? He was ordaining people to be his Apostles! What??? Yes and gave them the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils. Really? He must be out of his mind!

a). Mark 3:14-19 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;

3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

3:19And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

b). Matthew 10:1-8 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

3). This information led his family to believe Jesus was mentally unstable, nuts.

 2. “…they went out to lay hold on him…”

a. they went out [1831 * exerchomai] [Strong: from 1537 and 2064; to issue (literally or figuratively):--come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.]

b. lay hold [2902 * krateo][Thayer: to have power, be powerful, to be chief, be master of, to rule, to get possession of, to become master of, to obtain,  to take hold of, to take hold of, take, seize, to lay hands on one in order to get him into one's power, to hold, to hold in the hand, to hold fast, i.e. not discard or let go, to keep carefully and faithfully, to continue to hold, to retain, of death continuing to hold one, to hold in check, restrain.]

1).Some of the other translations reflect the forceful intent of the word.

a). English Standard Version:  “they went out to seize him”

b). NASB “they went out to take custody of Him”

c). NLT: “they tried to take him away”

d). NIV: “they went to take charge of him”

e. Amplified Bible: “they went out to take Him by force”

2). It is probably here we can insert the passage Mark 3:31-35. After they heard that Jesus was appointing apostles to go out and preach, heal the sick, and cast out devils, they believed he had become delusional. So they went out to get him but when they found him in this house, but as the passage in Mark 3:20 relates the multitude was so great they could not get in the house to get to Jesus, so they tried to send a message to him.

a). Mark 3:31-35 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

3:32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

3:33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

3:25 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

3. “…for they said, He is beside himself.”

a. for [1063 * gar] [Strong: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. they said [3004 * lego] [Strong: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

c. beside himself [1839 * existemi][Thayer: to throw out of position, displace, to amaze, to astonish, throw into wonderment, to be amazed, astounded, to be out of one's mind, besides one's self, insane.]

1). The other translations also convey that his family believed he was out of his mind when beginning his ministry.

a). NASB: "He has lost His senses."

b). NKJV: “He is out of His mind.”

2). Jesus was not held in any honor by his family.

a). Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.