In Mark 3, is it Jesus’ family or friends who try to take him away

In Mark 3, is it Jesus’ family or friends who try to take him away

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Mark 3:21 NLT “When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.”

IN other versions it says “own people” or “friends”

The greek was not very clear to me; it looks like an interpretation question rather than translation. Can anyone elaborate on which group is correct.

It seems to me that there are some strong implication between this verse and verse 33 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” assuming that the first reference is to family.

1 Comment

  • Reply November 19, 2025

    Pentecostal Theology

    In Mark 3:21, the narrative highlights the tension between Jesus’ familial relationships and his divine mission. The initiative to “take him away” suggests that his family may have misunderstood his purpose, reflecting broader themes of social expectation and messianic identity within Second Temple Judaism. This passage invites deeper exploration of how kinship and spiritual calling intersect in the Gospel tradition.

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