Devine Scripture

Mark 3:20

What does Mark 3:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 3:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 3:20 means

Jesus and his disciples arrive at a house, but their respite is short-lived. The sheer size and enthusiasm of the crowd are so immense that they are unable to even eat a simple meal. This illustrates the relentless demands on Jesus' time and energy, as well as the pervasive hunger of the people for his teaching and miracles. The inability to eat underscores the intensity and lack of privacy in his ministry.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he went into a house. And the people came together again, so that they were not even able to take bread.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And come together again doth a multitude, so that they are not able even to eat bread;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they come to a house, and the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And again a crowd comes together, so that they cannot even eat bread.

Context

Immediately after appointing the apostles and returning to a house, Jesus is again confronted by the overwhelming demands of the public. This verse highlights the relentless pressure of his ministry, directly following the mountain appointment. This intense public attention sets the stage for the concern of his family and the accusations of his enemies, which will follow in the subsequent verses.

v.19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And he cometh into a house.

v.20This passage

v.21And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 3:9

    And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him:

  • Mark 6:31

    And he saith unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

  • Luke 6:17

    and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judæa and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

  • Mark 9:28

    And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?

  • John 4:31

    In the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat.

  • Mark 3:7

    And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judæa,

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