John 10:20

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(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.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:19-21 Satan ruins many, by putting them out of conceit with the word and ordinances. Men would not be laughed out of their necessary food, yet suffer themselves thus to be laughed out of what is far more necessary. If our zeal and earnestness in the cause of Christ, especially in the blessed work of bringing his sheep into his fold, bring upon us evil names, let us not heed it, but remember our Master was thus reproached before us.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He hath a devil - John 7:20.

Is mad - Is deranged, or a maniac. His words are incoherent and unintelligible.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19-21. There was a division … again among the Jews for these sayings—the light and the darkness revealing themselves with increasing clearness in the separation of the teachable from the obstinately prejudiced. The one saw in Him only "a devil and a madman"; the other revolted at the thought that such words could come from one possessed, and sight be given to the blind by a demoniac; showing clearly that a deeper impression had been made upon them than their words expressed.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Some of the people said, He hath a devil, and is mad; for (as was said before) this was the opinion of the Jews concerning all that were mad and distracted, that it was by the influence of the devil, and they were infested with an evil spirit.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And many of them said, he hath a devil, and is mad,.... It was a notion of the Jews, that madness or distraction was from the devil, and therefore these two are here joined together, having a devil, and being mad: there is a spirit which they call Tazazith, and which, they say (z), is an evil spirit that takes away the understanding of men; and under the influence of such a "demon", the Jews thought Christ to be: and therefore say,

why hear ye him? he is a lunatic, he is distracted, he is a madman; how can you bear to hear such ranting blasphemous stuff, which no man in his, senses would ever utter? nor is anything he says to be regarded, since he is not in his right mind; but is under the power and influence of some evil spirit, which instills these wild and frantic notions into him, and puts him upon venting them; but surely no sober man will ever heed to them.

(z) R. David Kimchi, Sepher Shorash rad.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. He hath a devil] See last note on John 8:48, and comp. John 7:20.

Bengel's Gnomen

John 10:20. Πολλοί, many) They were wont to take in the worst light His most lofty and sweetest discourses.[283][283] τὶ αὐτοῦ ἀκούετε, why hear ye Him?) It is a case full of danger, when even hearing is refused.—V. g.

John 10:20