Mark 3:32
New International Version
A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

New Living Translation
There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.”

English Standard Version
And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”

Berean Standard Bible
and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”

Berean Literal Bible
And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers outside are seeking You."

King James Bible
And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

New King James Version
And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”

New American Standard Bible
And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”

NASB 1995
A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”

NASB 1977
And a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”

Amplified Bible
A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Look! Your mother and Your brothers are outside asking for You.”

Christian Standard Bible
A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside asking for you.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, “Look, Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sisters are outside asking for You.”

American Standard Version
And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

Contemporary English Version
The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside and want to see you."

English Revised Version
And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."

Good News Translation
A crowd was sitting around Jesus, and they said to him, "Look, your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, and they want you."

International Standard Version
A crowd was sitting around him. They told him, "Look! Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you."

Majority Standard Bible
and a crowd was sitting around Him. ?Look,? He was told, ?Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside, asking for You.?

NET Bible
A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."

New Heart English Bible
And a crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the multitude sat about him, and they said to him, Behold, thy mother, and thy brethren without seek for thee.

Weymouth New Testament
Now a crowd was sitting round Him; so they tell Him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, inquiring for you."

World English Bible
A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers seek You outside.”

Berean Literal Bible
And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers outside are seeking You."

Young's Literal Translation
and a multitude was sitting about him, and they said to him, 'Lo, thy mother and thy brethren without do seek thee.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the crowd sat about him, and they said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the multitude sat about him; and they say to him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the crowd was sitting around him. And they said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”

New American Bible
A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside asking for you.”

New Revised Standard Version
A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the people were sitting around him; and they said to him, Behold, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the multitude was sitting about him; and they said to him: Behold, your mother and your brothers are without, seeking you.

Godbey New Testament
And the crowd was sitting round Him; and they say to Him, Behold thy mother and thy brothers without are seeking thee.

Haweis New Testament
And the multitude sat around him, and they said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without are asking for thee.

Mace New Testament
for the crowd about him, they sent him word to come to them, and when they told him, your mother and brothers and sisters are here without enquiring for you,

Weymouth New Testament
Now a crowd was sitting round Him; so they tell Him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, inquiring for you."

Worrell New Testament
And a multitude was sitting about Him; and they say to Him, "Behold, Thy mother and Thy brothers without are seeking for Thee."

Worsley New Testament
and there was a multitude sitting about Him, and they said to Him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are without inquiring for thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him, 32and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.” 33But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”…

Cross References
Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. / Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” / But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” ...

Luke 8:19-21
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd. / He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” / But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

John 7:3-5
So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. / For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” / For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.

John 2:12
After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

Acts 1:14
With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Matthew 13:55-56
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? / Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”

John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. / When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” / Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

Galatians 1:19
But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

1 Corinthians 9:5
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

Genesis 37:4
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Genesis 37:10-11
He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream that you have had? Will your mother and brothers and I actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” / And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.

1 Samuel 2:24-25
No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people. / If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.

1 Samuel 8:3-5
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice. / So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. / “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

Psalm 69:8
I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,


Treasury of Scripture

And the multitude sat about him, and they said to him, Behold, your mother and your brothers without seek for you.

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Crowd Great Him Inquiring Mother Multitude Outside Round Sat Seated Seek Sisters Sitting
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Crowd Great Him Inquiring Mother Multitude Outside Round Sat Seated Seek Sisters Sitting
Mark 3
1. Jesus heals the withered hand,
10. and many other infirmities;
11. rebukes the unclean spirit;
13. chooses his twelve apostles;
22. convinces the blasphemy of casting out demons by Beelzebub;
31. and shows who are his brother, sister, and mother.














and a crowd was sitting around Him.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus often attracts large crowds due to His teachings and miracles. This scene is set in a house, likely in Capernaum, which served as a central location for Jesus' ministry in Galilee. The crowd sitting around Him signifies the eagerness of the people to hear His teachings and witness His works. This gathering reflects the common practice of disciples sitting at the feet of a rabbi to learn, indicating Jesus' role as a teacher. The presence of the crowd also highlights the growing popularity and influence of Jesus, which often led to tension with religious leaders.

“Look,” He was told,
This phrase introduces a moment of interruption. The use of "Look" suggests urgency or importance, drawing attention to the message being delivered to Jesus. It indicates that the speaker wants to ensure Jesus is aware of the situation outside. This interruption serves as a narrative device to shift the focus from the crowd inside to those waiting outside, setting the stage for Jesus to teach an important lesson about spiritual kinship.

“Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”
This statement identifies Jesus' family, specifically His mother Mary and His brothers, who are seeking Him. The mention of His family underscores the humanity of Jesus, as He had familial relationships and responsibilities. In the cultural context of first-century Judea, family ties were significant, and family members often had expectations of loyalty and support. The presence of His family outside, rather than inside with the crowd, may suggest a lack of understanding or acceptance of His mission at this point. This moment foreshadows Jesus' teaching on the redefinition of family, emphasizing spiritual bonds over biological ones. The reference to His brothers also aligns with other Gospel accounts, such as Matthew 12:46-50 and Luke 8:19-21, where similar interactions occur, reinforcing the theme of spiritual kinship.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
- The central figure in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is teaching and performing miracles, drawing large crowds.

2. The Crowd
- A large group of people gathered around Jesus, eager to hear His teachings and witness His miracles.

3. Jesus' Mother and Brothers
- They are outside the place where Jesus is teaching, seeking to speak with Him.
Teaching Points
Redefining Family
Jesus challenges the traditional understanding of family by emphasizing spiritual kinship over biological ties. This teaches us to value our spiritual relationships and community in Christ.

Prioritizing God's Will
Jesus' response to His family highlights the importance of prioritizing God's will above all else. We are called to seek first the kingdom of God in our lives.

Inclusivity in God's Family
The passage underscores the inclusivity of God's family, where anyone who does the will of God is considered a brother, sister, or mother to Jesus. This encourages us to embrace all believers as family.

Commitment to Discipleship
Being part of Jesus' spiritual family requires commitment to discipleship and obedience to God's will. This challenges us to live out our faith actively and intentionally.(32) Thy mother and thy brethren.--Many MSS. of high authority add, "and Thy sisters," and so explain the emphatic addition of that word in Mark 3:35.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

a crowd
ὄχλος (ochlos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

was sitting
ἐκάθητο (ekathēto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2521: To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.

around
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

Him.
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Look,”
Ἰδοὺ (Idou)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

He was told,
λέγουσιν (legousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

mother
μήτηρ (mētēr)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3384: A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

brothers
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

are outside,
ἔξω (exō)
Adverb
Strong's 1854: Without, outside. Adverb from ek; out(-side, of doors), literally or figuratively.

asking for
ζητοῦσίν (zētousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.

You.”
σε (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Gospels: Mark 3:32 A multitude was sitting around him (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 3:31
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