Mark 3

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

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

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

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.

And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

And Simon he surnamed Peter;

And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

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

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

And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

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

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

What does Mark 3:17 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:17 is part of a passage in the New Testament of the Christian Bible where Jesus appoints the twelve apostles.

In this specific verse, two of the apostles, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, are mentioned.

Jesus gives them the nickname "Boanerges," which is said to mean "Sons of Thunder." This nickname could suggest a characteristic of these brothers, possibly referring to their personalities, which might have been fiery or passionate.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This event takes place within the context of Jesus's early ministry in Galilee.

The appointment of the twelve apostles was a significant moment as these men would become Jesus's closest followers and play crucial roles in the spread of early Christianity after Jesus’s death and resurrection.

The naming of the disciples occurred in a Jewish context, and such nicknames were not uncommon as they often indicated some distinctive trait or personal quality.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the designation "Boanerges" may symbolize the authoritative and powerful nature that Jesus sees in James and John.

Some theologians may interpret this as a prophetic indication of the boldness with which these disciples would later preach the Gospel.

Others might view it as indicative of their imperfections, such as their ambition and desire for power, which Jesus would later correct and harness for His mission.

Practical Applications

The nickname "Sons of Thunder" can serve as a reminder in daily life that Jesus recognizes individual characteristics and can use them for good, even if they seem imperfect or difficult to manage.

For believers, this can translate into an understanding that their unique traits can be used in the service of a greater good or a higher calling.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:2: “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.”
Luke 9:54: "And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?"
Acts 12:2: “And he [Herod] killed James the brother of John with the sword.”

Language Study

In the original Greek, "Boanerges" is a transliteration of an Aramaic phrase.

The precise meaning and derivation are not entirely clear, but it is generally understood to mean "sons of thunder" or "thunderous sons." This term only appears once in the New Testament, and it is not used elsewhere in ancient Greek literature, which makes a detailed linguistic analysis challenging.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The practice of bestowing significant or descriptive names is common in many cultures and religions.

For instance, in Hebrew tradition, names often reflect character or destiny, Abram's name is changed to Abraham, meaning "father of a multitude," signifying his covenant with God.

Similarly, in Norse mythology, the thunder god Thor has characteristics of strength and protection which could be seen as parallel concepts, although in a very different religious context.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science tends to separate interpretations of religious texts from scientific analysis. Scientifically speaking, "thunder" is the sound caused by the rapid expansion of air along the path of a lightning bolt.

While this natural phenomenon has no direct bearing on the meaning of Boanerges in the text, our understanding of personality traits today involves psychological insights which might suggest that James and John had bold or assertive personalities.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse vary, but many focus on the appellation "Boanerges" as a reflection of James and John's fiery and zealous nature.

For example, biblical commentators such as Matthew Henry interpret the term as indicative of the power and fervency they would display in their ministry.

Other scholars speculate that the nickname could also reflect an incident where the brothers wanted to call down fire from heaven upon a Samaritan village that had rejected them (referenced in Luke 9:54), showcasing their impetuousness and the work of Jesus in transforming their character.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 3:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?