King James Bible
"And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?"
The crowd responds to Jesus' teaching about being the Good Shepherd with sharp division. This phrase indicates a significant portion of the Jewish listeners rejected his message, continuing the pattern of opposition from religious authorities throughout John's Gospel. The accusers claim Jesus is demon-possessed and insane—the harshest possible dismissal of his authority. This echoes earlier accusations (John 7:20, 8:48) and represents a deliberate rejection of his divine claims by attributing his power to evil forces. The rhetorical question attempts to discourage others from listening to Jesus, revealing how threatened the religious establishment felt by his growing influence. It shows the polarizing effect of Jesus' teachings, forcing people to choose sides rather than remain neutral.