Mark 3 8

Mark 3:8 kjv

And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

Mark 3:8 nkjv

and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.

Mark 3:8 niv

When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.

Mark 3:8 esv

and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him.

Mark 3:8 nlt

Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

Mark 3 verses

Mark 3 8 Meaning

Mark 3:8 describes the widespread renown of Jesus and the ensuing influx of diverse people who traveled from various regions to seek Him. They were drawn by reports of His powerful works, including His miracles, healings, and authoritative teaching, signifying the rapidly growing impact of His ministry beyond specific localities.

Mark 3 8 Context

Mark chapter 3 immediately follows Jesus' actions of healing on the Sabbath, which provoked significant opposition from the religious authorities, including the Pharisees and Herodians who began plotting His destruction. Despite this rising hostility, Jesus' fame continued to expand dramatically. Prior to verse 8, Jesus is often by the sea due to the immense crowds pressing on Him (Mk 3:7, 9). He instructs His disciples to have a boat ready to avoid being crushed. This rapid influx of people from all over, mentioned in Mark 3:8, stands in stark contrast to the escalating rejection from Jerusalem's leadership, setting the stage for Jesus' establishment of the twelve apostles who would form a new spiritual family (Mk 3:13-19) distinct from His physical family and the religious elite (Mk 3:20-35).

Mark 3 8 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the prior narrative of Jesus retreating to the sea (Mk 3:7) with the description of the approaching crowds. It highlights continuity in the flow of events—despite opposition, people still flocked to Him.
• from Jerusalem (ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων - apo Hierosolymōn): Jerusalem was the capital city of Judea, the religious and political center of Jewish life, representing the heartland of Judaism and the authority of the Sanhedrin. The presence of people from here indicates that Jesus' fame penetrated even this most critical and often hostile locale.
• and Idumea (καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰδουμαίας - kai apo tēs Idoumaias): Idumea was a region south of Judea, the land of the Edomites, historical adversaries of Israel. By Jesus' time, many Idumeans had been forcibly converted to Judaism under the Hasmoneans. Herod the Great, who ruled Judea during Jesus' birth, was himself an Idumean. Their coming shows the appeal of Jesus even from a region with mixed Jewish and foreign heritage, connecting to old prophecies regarding Edom.
• and beyond the Jordan (καὶ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου - kai peran tou Iordanou): This refers to the region east of the Jordan River, also known as Perea. This area was part of Herod Antipas' territory, distinct from Judea and Galilee, and was a place where John the Baptist had ministered. Its inclusion indicates Jesus' fame extending to significant Jewish populations outside of strict Judean boundaries.
• and around Tyre (καὶ περὶ Τύρον - kai peri Tyron): Tyre was a major Phoenician (Gentile) port city on the Mediterranean coast to the northwest of Galilee. Its inclusion, along with Sidon, is highly significant. It explicitly states that Gentiles were coming to Jesus, challenging the traditional understanding of the Messiah being solely for Israel and foreshadowing the broader, universal mission of the gospel.
• and Sidon (καὶ Σιδῶνα - kai Sidōna): Another major Phoenician Gentile city north of Tyre. Its mention further emphasizes the widespread, pan-regional, and inclusive nature of those attracted to Jesus. It signals that Jesus' ministry was already drawing people from non-Jewish lands, even before the Great Commission.
• a great multitude (πλῆθος πολύ - plēthos poly): This phrase emphasizes the overwhelming number of people. Plēthos conveys a large mass, and poly intensifies it, signifying an immense crowd. This underscores the scale of Jesus' appeal and the popular impact of His work, making His fame undeniable.
• when they heard (ἀκούσαντες - akousantes): This participle denotes the cause of their coming. It highlights the importance of oral testimony and reports. People acted based on what they were told about Jesus, demonstrating the power of sharing His deeds.
• what great things (ὅσα ἐποίει - hosa epoiei): Lit. "all the things He was doing." This refers to Jesus' continuous and extraordinary actions—His teachings with authority, His healing of every disease, His exorcisms, and other powerful demonstrations of divine power. It implies a recognition of the miraculous and unprecedented nature of His ministry.
• He was doing (ἐποίει - epoiei): The imperfect tense signifies ongoing action. Jesus was continually performing these "great things," implying a consistent manifestation of His power and authority, which in turn kept His fame spreading and drawing people.
• came (ἦλθον - ēlthon): Simple past tense, indicating the direct and purposeful action of travel. People didn't just hear; they responded actively by making the journey to encounter Jesus themselves.
• to Him (πρὸς αὐτόν - pros auton): Denotes the direct object and destination of their seeking. All these people, from diverse geographical and ethnic backgrounds, were drawn to Jesus specifically, recognizing Him as the source of these great works.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "from Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon": This phrase functions as a significant geographical enumeration. It sweeps across various political, ethnic, and religious divisions. It highlights the broad reach of Jesus' fame – encompassing the heart of Judaism (Jerusalem), historically contentious and newly Judaized regions (Idumea, beyond the Jordan/Perea), and unmistakably Gentile territories (Tyre and Sidon). This breadth powerfully signals the universal nature of the gospel message from the earliest stages of Jesus' public ministry, transcending the expected Jewish-centric framework. This detail would have been startling to many early Jewish readers, implying God's reach extended far beyond Israel's perceived boundaries, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about nations coming to Zion.
• "a great multitude when they heard what great things He was doing came to Him": This part establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship. The massive numbers of people (great multitude) were motivated not by Jesus' preaching directly at first, but by the widespread hearing of what great things He was doing. This indicates the profound impact of His miracles and mighty deeds (healings, exorcisms, authoritative teaching) as a primary magnet, prompting people to come to Him for a direct encounter. This demonstrates the power of effective witness and the genuine need and spiritual hunger existing across various communities. It underscores that God was at work, powerfully drawing people through Jesus' works, not merely His words alone at this stage.

Mark 3 8 Bonus section

• The detail of crowds coming from Gentile regions (Tyre, Sidon) so early in Jesus' ministry in Mark is a significant foreshadowing of the Great Commission (Mk 16:15) and the mission to the Gentiles detailed in the book of Acts (Acts 1:8). Mark implicitly positions Jesus as already demonstrating appeal beyond Israel.
• This gathering of a diverse multitude could also be interpreted as a reversal of Babel (Gen 11), where humanity was scattered, hinting at the new unity offered in Christ.
• The overwhelming crowds forced Jesus to take precautions, such as asking for a boat to be ready (Mk 3:9), demonstrating the practical challenges and immense popular pressure His growing fame created, distinct from the internal opposition He faced. This massive popular appeal underscores the spiritual vacuum and desperate need among the common people, who recognized divine intervention in Jesus' actions despite the disapproval of the established religious leaders.

Mark 3 8 Commentary

Mark 3:8 is a pivotal verse that highlights the extraordinary spread and diverse reach of Jesus' early ministry. While the religious authorities in Jerusalem plot His demise, a counter-movement unfolds as immense crowds converge from all directions. This influx isn't limited to traditional Jewish areas but explicitly includes Gentile regions like Tyre and Sidon, an astonishing detail that anticipates the universal scope of the Gospel message. People were drawn by credible reports of Jesus' great things—His authoritative teaching, powerful healings, and effective exorcisms—underscoring that His ministry was characterized by deeds as much as by words. This spontaneous and massive coming of people signifies a divine gathering, demonstrating the powerful attraction of Christ's presence and works, preparing the stage for the wider inclusion of all nations into God's kingdom. It serves as a stark contrast to the religious elite's hardening hearts, emphasizing that those humble enough to simply hear and seek would find access to the Anointed One.