Mark 3 6

Mark 3:6 kjv

And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Mark 3:6 nkjv

Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Mark 3:6 niv

Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Mark 3:6 esv

The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Mark 3:6 nlt

At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.

Mark 3 verses

Mark 3 6 Meaning

Mark 3:6 signifies an immediate and pivotal escalation of opposition against Jesus. Following His Sabbath healing of a man with a withered hand (Mk 3:1-5), the religiously legalistic Pharisees, whose authority Jesus publicly challenged, exited the synagogue and promptly conspired with the politically pragmatic Herodians, an unlikely alliance forged solely by their mutual desire to eliminate Jesus. This verse marks a definitive shift from mere disputation to a lethal plot against Him, highlighting the depth of their animosity and fear of His influence.

Mark 3 6 Context

Mark 3:6 follows directly from Jesus’ controversial healing of a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath in the synagogue (Mk 3:1-5). Jesus intentionally healed on the Sabbath to highlight that doing good and saving life, rather than religious rules and strict adherence, honors God's intent for the Sabbath. This act, however, was a public defiance of the Pharisees' oral traditions and their rigorous interpretation of Sabbath law, which permitted healing only if a life was in immediate danger. For the Pharisees, this was a challenge to their authority and a perceived violation of God's law. The historical context shows the Pharisees as the leading religious party, influential among the common people, dedicated to precise observance of the Law and their developed traditions. The Herodians were a political faction loyal to King Herod Antipas and, by extension, to Roman rule, often seen as collaborating with the occupiers by the nationalistic Jews. These two groups, typically adversaries due to their divergent religious and political stances (Pharisees for rigid Mosaic Law, Herodians for pragmatic political stability), formed an "unholy alliance" driven by their common perceived threat: Jesus. Jesus’ growing popularity, claims of authority, and perceived disrespect for established traditions and political order challenged both their religious power and their political equilibrium, prompting them to coalesce against Him.

Mark 3 6 Word analysis

• Then (καὶ - kai): Connective. It signals a direct and immediate consequence of the preceding event, highlighting the prompt reaction.
• the Pharisees (οἱ Φαρισαῖοι - hoi Pharisaios): Literally "separated ones." A powerful and influential Jewish religious sect committed to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. Their legalistic approach often blinded them to the spirit of the law and Jesus' divine authority.
• went out (ἐξελθόντες - exelthontes): A participle, indicating immediate action, a purposeful departure from the synagogue where Jesus had just performed the healing. It conveys decisive intent, not a casual exit.
• immediately (εὐθύς - euthys): Mark's characteristic adverb of swiftness. It emphasizes the instant, unhesitating nature of their malevolent decision and action, demonstrating their profound rage and unwavering resolve against Jesus.
• plotted (συμβούλιον ἐδίδουν - symbouleon edidoun): Literally "gave counsel" or "held a consultation." This implies a formal, deliberate deliberation, a structured act of conspiracy. It was not a casual thought but a pre-meditated plan for His destruction.
• with the Herodians (μετὰ τῶν Ἡρῳδιανῶν - meta tōn Hērōdianōn): This signifies an extraordinary and unnatural alliance. The Herodians were a political party, proponents of the Herodian dynasty and Roman rule, generally antithetical to the nationalistic and anti-Roman Pharisees. Their shared hatred of Jesus was strong enough to transcend their deep-seated animosities.
• against Him (κατ' αὐτοῦ - kat' autou): This preposition clearly indicates direct antagonism and hostile opposition. Their unified counsel was specifically directed against Jesus.
• how to destroy Him (ὅπως αὐτὸν ἀπολέσωσιν - hopōs auton apolesōsin): This phrase specifies their ultimate goal. "Destroy" (ἀπολέσωσιν - apolesōsin) here implies utter ruin, abolition, or physical death. It signifies a murderous intent, not merely to discredit or imprison, but to eliminate Jesus entirely. This is the apex of their hostility, marking a point of no return.

• "Pharisees...immediately plotted with the Herodians": This phrase highlights the shocking nature of the alliance. Two ideologically opposed groups (religious zealots vs. political pragmatists) united, showcasing the extent of their perceived threat from Jesus. This alliance represents the world's common front against God's Messiah, a union forged by malice rather than principle.
• "went out and immediately plotted": This signifies not just passive disagreement but active, decisive malice. The swiftness ('immediately') after witnessing Jesus' life-giving work underscores the darkness of their hearts, preferring death to divine mercy.
• "against Him, how to destroy Him": This climactic declaration lays bare their murderous intent. It is the culmination of earlier tensions and verbal conflicts, now explicitly targeting Jesus' very life. This intent forms a critical foreshadowing of His eventual crucifixion.

Mark 3 6 Bonus section

The "unholy alliance" described in Mark 3:6 is a potent symbol of how diverse human systems and ideologies, even when typically at odds, can unite against divine truth and God's chosen one. It speaks to the depravity of the human heart, capable of preferring darkness over light when personal power, tradition, or political convenience is threatened. This moment signifies the point where mere resistance transformed into active malevolence and coordinated evil. It's a testament to the world's rejection of Christ, an echo of humanity's rebellion against its Creator. The intensity of their plot underlines that Jesus' teachings and actions, far from being minor religious discrepancies, were seen as fundamental threats that required His utter removal, a prophetic glimpse into the cross itself.

Mark 3 6 Commentary

Mark 3:6 represents a critical turning point in Jesus' public ministry, escalating the conflict from religious debate to a lethal conspiracy. The immediate aftermath of Jesus' merciful Sabbath healing—a divine act intended to save life—ironically provoked a murderous intent from the very people who claimed to uphold God's law. The formation of the unholy alliance between the legalistic Pharisees and the politically expedient Herodians demonstrates the profound threat Jesus posed to their established orders, both religious and secular. Their diverse motivations—Pharisees safeguarding their authority and traditions, Herodians maintaining political stability under Rome—converged in a shared fear of Jesus' radical teachings and growing influence. This verse clearly reveals the hardening of hearts against the light, where acts of grace are met with a plot of death. It foreshadows the intensity of opposition Jesus would continue to face, culminating in His passion, yet ultimately setting the stage for God's redemptive plan to unfold.