John 10:20
New International Version
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

New Living Translation
Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?”

English Standard Version
Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”

Berean Standard Bible
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”

Berean Literal Bible
And many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?"

King James Bible
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

New King James Version
And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

New American Standard Bible
Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”

NASB 1995
Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”

NASB 1977
And many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”

Amplified Bible
Many of them said, “He has a demon and He is mad [insane—He raves and rambles]. Why listen to Him?”

Christian Standard Bible
Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and He’s crazy! Why do you listen to Him?”

American Standard Version
And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?

Contemporary English Version
Many of them said, "He has a demon in him! He is crazy! Why listen to him?"

English Revised Version
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Many of them said, "He's possessed by a demon! He's crazy! Why do you listen to him?"

Good News Translation
Many of them were saying, "He has a demon! He is crazy! Why do you listen to him?"

International Standard Version
Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why bother listening to him?"

Majority Standard Bible
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”

NET Bible
Many of them were saying, "He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! Why do you listen to him?"

New Heart English Bible
Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane. Why do you listen to him?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is insane; why hear ye him?

Weymouth New Testament
Many of them said, "He is possessed by a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to him?"

World English Bible
Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and many of them said, “He has a demon, and is mad, why do you hear Him?”

Berean Literal Bible
And many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?"

Young's Literal Translation
and many of them said, 'He hath a demon, and is mad, why do ye hear him?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And many of them said, He has a demon, and is frenzied; why hear ye him?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And many of them said: He hath a devil, and is mad: why hear you him?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then many of them were saying: “He has a demon or he is insane. Why do you listen him?”

New American Bible
Many of them said, “He is possessed and out of his mind; why listen to him?”

New Revised Standard Version
Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And many of them said, He is insane and rambles; why do you listen to him?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And many among them were saying, “There is a demon in him and he is raving mad, why are you listening to him?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And many of them said: He has a demon, and is mad; why do you hear him?

Godbey New Testament
Then many of them were saying, He has a demon, and is gone mad; why do you hear Him? Others were saying,

Haweis New Testament
Then many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hearken to him?

Mace New Testament
for many of them said, he is possess'd with a demon, and is mad; why do you mind him?

Weymouth New Testament
Many of them said, "He is possessed by a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to him?"

Worrell New Testament
And many of them said, "He hath a demon, and is mad; why do ye hear Him?"

Worsley New Testament
And many of them said, He is a demoniac, and is mad; why do ye hear Him?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus the Good Shepherd
19Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?” 21But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”…

Cross References
Mark 3:21
When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”

John 7:20
“You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”

John 8:48-52
The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?” / “I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. / I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. ...

Matthew 12:24
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”

Luke 11:15
but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”

Acts 26:24
At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Corinthians 5:13
If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Acts 2:13
But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”

Matthew 9:34
But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”

Luke 7:33
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

John 15:18-25
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. ...

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”


Treasury of Scripture

And many of them said, He has a devil, and is mad; why hear you him?

He hath.

John 7:20
The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

John 8:48,52
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? …

Matthew 9:34
But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

why.

John 7:46-52
The officers answered, Never man spake like this man…

John 8:47
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 9:28,29
Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples…

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Demon Demon-Possessed Devil Ear Evil Hear Insane Mad Mind Possessed Raving Spirit
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Demon Demon-Possessed Devil Ear Evil Hear Insane Mad Mind Possessed Raving Spirit
John 10
1. Jesus is the door, and the good shepherd.
19. Diverse opinions of him.
23. He proves by his works that he is Jesus the Son of God;
31. escapes the Jews;
39. and goes again beyond Jordan, where many believe on him.














He is demon-possessed
This phrase reflects the accusation made by some of the Jews who were skeptical of Jesus' teachings and miracles. The Greek word for "demon-possessed" is "daimonizomai," which indicates being under the influence or control of a demon. In the historical context of first-century Judea, attributing unusual behavior or extraordinary claims to demonic influence was not uncommon. This accusation reveals the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart among those who refused to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. It underscores the spiritual battle between light and darkness, truth and deception, that is a recurring theme throughout the Gospel of John.

and insane
The term "insane" in this context is translated from the Greek word "mainomai," which means to be out of one's mind or to rave. This accusation of insanity was a way to discredit Jesus' authority and teachings. Historically, labeling someone as insane was a method used to dismiss their claims without engaging with the substance of their message. This reflects the resistance Jesus faced from those who could not comprehend His divine nature and mission. It challenges believers to consider how often truth is dismissed in contemporary times due to preconceived notions or societal pressures.

why would you listen to Him?
This rhetorical question is posed by those who doubted Jesus, aiming to sway others from following Him. It highlights the division among the people regarding Jesus' identity and message. The question implies that listening to someone perceived as demon-possessed or insane is illogical. However, it also serves as an invitation for introspection, prompting individuals to examine the evidence of Jesus' works and words. In a broader scriptural context, this question challenges believers to discern truth amidst conflicting voices and to remain steadfast in their faith despite opposition or ridicule.

(20) He hath a devil, and is mad.--Comp. Note on John 8:48. The words "and is mad" are explanatory of the possession by a demon.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Many
πολλοὶ (polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

of
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

them
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
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.

said,
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“He is
ἔχει (echei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

demon-possessed
Δαιμόνιον (Daimonion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1140: An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a d?Monic being; by extension a deity.

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

insane.
μαίνεται (mainetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3105: To be raving mad, speak as a madman. Middle voice from a primary mao; to rave as a 'maniac'.

Why
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

would you listen to
ἀκούετε (akouete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

Him?”
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 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.


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NT Gospels: John 10:20 Many of them said He has (Jhn Jo Jn)
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