Exegesis:

proskalesamenos (cf. 3.13) ‘calling,’ ‘summoning,’ ‘calling to oneself.’

en parabolais ‘in parables,’ ‘by means of parables,’ ‘in figurative language’: the phrase indicates the manner in which he spoke to them.

parabolē ‘parable,’ ‘figure,’ ‘comparison,’ ‘analogy,’ ‘illustration’: in the Septuagint parabolē translates mashal which covers a whole range of figurative language: ‘parables,’ ‘proverbs,’ ‘figures’ and even ‘riddles.’ The word appears 13 times in Mark: 3.23; 4.2, 10, 11, 13 (twice), 30, 33, 34; 7.17; 12.1, 12; 13.28. As a technical Christian term designating (in the Synoptics) Jesus’ customary form of teaching, parable serves as a translation in all these passages with the exception of two: 7.17, where “figure” (Goodspeed) or even “lesson” (Berkeley) better fits the context, and 13.28 where “illustration” or “lesson” (Revised Standard Version, The Modern Speech New Testament, Goodspeed) is meant.

satanas (cf. 1.13) ‘Satan,’ the ruler of the demons. The meaning is not that of one satan driving out another, but of Satan driving out himself. That is what Satan would be doing were he to drive out the demons who compose his empire (cf. Lagrange).

Translation:

Them is of uncertain reference in this passage, but taken literally in many languages it would mean only the scribes, the closest third person plural referent, other than the demons. Probably, however, one should make the reference more explicit by substituting ‘the people.’

In some languages there are quite good equivalents of parable, since such forms of expression are common. However, in other cases one must develop some type of expression which conveys the meaning implied by parable, without being too elaborate and detailed a definition. Such descriptive terms are of two types: (1) those which emphasize the nature of the parable as a comparison or illustration and (2) those which specify its use in teaching and instruction. The first type may be illustrated by ‘picture with words’ (Piro), ‘message in the manner of a comparison’ (Pamona), ‘comparison word’ (Highland Totonac, South Bolivian Quechua), ‘picture story’ (Tzeltal), ‘likeness word’ (Yucateco, Central Tarahumara), and ‘story which says like that’ (Cashibo-Cacataibo). The second type may be found in ‘story told for teaching’ (Chicahuaxtla Triqui, Goajiro), ‘story from which understanding comes’ (Navajo), ‘notice from which comes teaching’ (Conob).

In a number of languages a literal translation of Satan cast out Satan will imply that there are at least two Satans. In such a language one should translate ‘How can Satan cast himself out’ (Tzeltal, Huastec).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .