Bible Strands
Mark 3:21
When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus’ family acts in response to reports of His ministry after He retreats to a house and a crowd gathers so densely that He and His disciples cannot eat. They go out to seize Him while He remains engaged with the multitude.
The words — The text highlights κρατῆσαι (kratēsai), meaning “to seize,” and οἱ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ (hoi par’ autou), meaning “those belonging to Him.” These terms frame the family’s action as a physical intervention rather than a theological debate.
The thread — This accusation of insanity recurs in John 10:20 and Acts 26:24, while Mark 3:31 records the family’s later attempt to summon Him from outside. The immediate context in Mark 3:20–22 shows the charge emerging alongside scribes’ accusations of demonic power.
Why it lands — It demands recognition that even those closest to Jesus may misinterpret His actions when confronted with overwhelming public attention. The text requires a reader to weigh human concern against the reality of divine mission.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
Cross-references
- 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!”
- John 10:20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
- Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
- John 7:3 So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
- 2 Corinthians 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
- 2 Kings 9:11 When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” “You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.
- Hosea 9:7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
- Jeremiah 29:26 ‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons.