20And he came home, and again the crowd gathered, so that they were not even able to eat bread. [3:21] And when his own people heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind." [3:22] And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He has Beelzebul," and, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons." [3:23] And calling them to himself, he spoke to them in parables: "How is Satan able to cast out Satan? [3:24] And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. [3:25] And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. [3:26] And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand — he is finished. [3:27] But no one is able to enter the house of the strong man and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house."
MRK 3:20-27
A House Divided
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, accusations of madness or demonic possession carried significant social and religious weight. The term ('to stand outside oneself') suggests a loss of rational control, a condition often attributed to divine or demonic influence. The scribes from Jerusalem, representing religious authority, accuse Jesus of operating under Beelzebul, a name associated with Satan or a chief demon. This charge implies that Jesus' power to cast out (spirits or divine beings) comes from an evil source, undermining His legitimacy. In response, Jesus uses (parables), a common Jewish teaching method, to argue that Satan cannot cast out Satan, as it would mean self-destruction. The metaphor of a divided kingdom or household reflects the honor-shame culture, where unity was essential for survival and reputation. Jesus' defense highlights the absurdity of the scribes' claim, asserting that His authority comes from a higher, unified source.
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How other translations render this
MRK 3:20
- KJV
- And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
- BSB
- Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat.
- Koinōnos
- And he came home, and again the crowd gathered, so that they were not even able to eat bread.
MRK 3:21
- KJV
- And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
- BSB
- When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
- Koinōnos
- And when his own people heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind.
MRK 3:22
- KJV
- And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
- BSB
- And 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.”
- Koinōnos
- And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He has Beelzebul," and, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.
MRK 3:23
- KJV
- And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
- BSB
- So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
- Koinōnos
- And calling them to himself, he spoke to them in parables: "How is Satan able to cast out Satan?
MRK 3:24
- KJV
- And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
- BSB
- If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
- Koinōnos
- And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
MRK 3:25
- KJV
- And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
- BSB
- If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
- Koinōnos
- And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
MRK 3:26
- KJV
- And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
- BSB
- And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.
- Koinōnos
- And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand — he is finished.
MRK 3:27
- KJV
- No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
- BSB
- Indeed, no one can enter a strong manʼs house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
- Koinōnos
- But no one is able to enter the house of the strong man and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 3:21
- to seize:The word translated 'to seize' here implies taking firm hold of someone, often with the intent to restrain or control them, suggesting a forceful intervention.
- He is crazy.:The phrase translated 'He is crazy' literally means 'He is out of his mind' or 'He is beside himself,' indicating a state of mental disturbance or astonishment.
MRK 3:22
- demons:The term translated 'demons' in the ancient world referred to a wide range of spiritual beings, not necessarily evil, but often associated with lesser deities or spirits that could influence human affairs.
MRK 3:23
- parables:The word translated 'parables' originally meant a 'comparison' or 'juxtaposition,' often involving a story or saying that placed two things side-by-side to illustrate a point.