Mark 5

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

What does Mark 5:14 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:14 is a part of a larger narrative within the Gospel of Mark that describes the event when Jesus exorcised a legion of demons from a man and permitted them to enter into a herd of swine.

This verse directly follows the event itself, focusing on the reaction of those who witnessed the supernatural occurrence.

The swineherds, upon seeing the possessed pigs rush down a steep bank into the sea and drown, fled to report the bizarre and terrifying event in the nearby town and countryside.

This response indicates a mix of fear and astonishment.

The verse leads to a broader discussion among the local populace, who came out to see what had happened, suggesting that the event stirred significant public interest and concern.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is one of the four canonical gospels and is thought to have been written between AD 66 and 70.

Swine were considered unclean animals according to Jewish dietary laws (Leviticus 11:7), so the presence of a herd indicates that this event likely took place in a Gentile (non-Jewish) region, which is consistent with the geographical setting around the Sea of Galilee where there were mixed populations.

The town's reaction, as depicted in the narrative, may suggest a tension between Jewish and Gentile communities or highlight the economic impact of the event, as a substantial amount of property (the swine) was destroyed.

Theological Insights

There are several theological insights that can be drawn from this verse.

First, it illustrates the reality and power of demonic forces in the world, a common theme in the New Testament.

Second, Jesus' authority over demons is further established by this act, underlining his divinity and messianic role.

Third, the loss of the pigs might symbolize the cost of sin and the redemption process.

Alternatively, from a Gentile perspective, the story could have been a lesson about the power of the God of Israel, which even affects their livelihood and economic wellbeing.

Practical Applications

The practical applications from Mark 5:14 lie mainly in the realm of response to witnessing acts of God. It encourages modern believers to share with their community what they have experienced or learned about God's works, fostering openness and dialogue about spiritual matters.

Additionally, it can serve as a reminder to consider the broader effects of spiritual events on a community, including economic or societal impacts.

Cross-References

Mark 5:1-20: This larger passage includes the full story of the exorcism and the reactions thereafter.
Luke 8:34: A parallel account of the herdsmen's reaction to the demon-possessed swine.
[Leviticus 11:7-8](/old-testament/leviticus/11/7/what-does-leviticus-11-7-mean): The law regarding swine as unclean animals for the Israelites.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for 'fed' is from the root "βόσκω" (bosko), meaning to feed or to tend to.

The term 'swine' is from "χοῖρος" (choiros), which refers specifically to pigs. 'Fled' is translated from "φεύγω" (pheugō), indicating a rapid escape, usually from fear or danger. Together, these words emphasize actions stemming from an immediate and powerful response to the supernatural event.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The narrative of a supernatural being or force being exorcised into animals is not unique to Christian tradition and can be compared with other ancient myths and religious stories.

For example, in Hindu mythology, there are accounts of evil spirits being transferred or dispelled by divine beings.

Similarly, the notion of unclean animals often appears in various religions and can involve rules about which animals are deemed fit for consumption or sacrifice.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the drowning of the swine could be seen as an environmental disaster with risks of water pollution or impact on the local ecosystem.

The concept of demonic possession, as described in the text, generally does not align with contemporary scientific understanding of psychology and neurology; however, it may be interpreted as an ancient explanation for illnesses that were not understood at the time from a medical viewpoint.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of this passage.

Some emphasize the element of Jesus' power over evil, while others focus on the societal and economic disruptions caused by this miraculous sign.

Some commentators also point to the potential conflicts between the pagan and Jewish worldviews represented here.

Additionally, the universal need for salvation, the power of testimony, and the societal implications of Jesus' miracles are common points of discussion among experts analyzing this verse.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:14 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 5:14 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?