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 5:16 mean?

Explanation

This verse from the Gospel of Mark describes the aftermath of an event where Jesus exorcises demons from a man into a herd of swine.

The man was possessed by a legion of demons, which Jesus sent into a nearby herd of pigs, causing them to run off a cliff into the sea and drown.

Those who witnessed this event narrated what had happened to the man (who had been healed from his demonic possession) and told about the fate of the pigs.

The verse emphasizes not just the miraculous healing, but also the impact of the event on local bystanders and their communities, as it would have been a significant loss of property and a surprising outcome for the observers.

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Historical Context

This event is believed to have occurred in the region of the Gerasenes, which is on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

The time period is during Jesus' ministry in the first century A.D.

The presence of swine indicates that the area was likely inhabited by non-Jews (Gentiles) since pigs were considered unclean animals that Jews were not permitted to eat or handle according to Mosaic Law.

This historical and cultural context helps to explain the presence of the pigs and the significance of Jesus' actions among a predominantly Gentile population.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse and the associated story demonstrate Jesus' authority over evil spirits and his power to heal.

It also illustrates the concept of spiritual warfare and the transformation that can occur through divine intervention.

Different theological viewpoints might interpret the passage differently.

For example, a traditional Christian interpretation would highlight the miraculous nature of the event, while a symbolic interpretation could suggest that the story represents the freeing of a person from sin or oppression.

Some may even see the event as a point about the destructive nature of evil, as represented by the demise of the swine.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse can be broad.

It encourages believers to seek spiritual help and healing and to trust in the power of God over any form of evil.

The event also teaches about the consequences of Jesus' miracles, including material loss (the swine), which could be interpreted as a lesson that spiritual liberation can come with worldly sacrifices.

Furthermore, witnessing such events and then sharing them can be seen as an early form of evangelism, highlighting the importance of testimony in one's faith.

Cross-References

Mark 5:1-20 - The entire narrative of the healing of the demon-possessed man which includes the event leading up to this verse.
Matthew 8:28-34 - The parallel account in the Gospel of Matthew.
Luke 8:26-39 - The parallel account in the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 11:14-26 - Jesus speaks about how a stronger man can overcome a strong man, a metaphor for Jesus' authority over demons.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek language of this verse include:

"told" (ἀπήγγειλαν - apēngeilan): to report or announce.
"befell" (συμβεβηκός - symbekos): to befall or happen, used in the perfect passive participle form to explain an event that has occurred.
"possessed" (δαιμονιζομένῳ - daimonizomenō): being under the power of a demon.
"swine" (χοίρων - choirōn): pigs, a term that is important here as pigs were considered unclean animals in Jewish law.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural context, other ancient myths and religions also include stories of exorcisms and battles between good and evil entities.

For instance, in ancient Mesopotamian texts, priests performed rituals to expel demons believed to cause various ailments.

In the New Testament's Jewish-Christian context, the story stands out for the presence of pigs, regarded as unclean, which Jesus appears to use as a vessel for unclean spirits, perhaps symbolizing the impurity being cast out of the man and into something already seen as impure by Jewish law.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific perspectives would interpret the events described in the passage using psychological and neuroscientific frameworks.

The 'possessed' man might be understood to have been suffering from mental health issues such as schizophrenia or severe dissociative disorder, which were interpreted in the ancient world as demonic possession.

The phenomenon of the herd's sudden demise could be seen as a natural reaction of animals in a panic, potentially a mass psychogenic illness.

commentaries

Various biblical commentaries offer insights into this verse.

Some remark on the loss the local people faced due to the destruction of the swine and suggest that the event tested the townspeople's hearts regarding material wealth versus spiritual liberation.

Others point out that Mark's Gospel often highlights the bystanders' reactions to emphasize the extensive influence of Jesus' miracles.

Commentators might also note the Gentile context here and suggest that Mark is showing how Jesus' ministry extended beyond Jews to Gentiles. Another common thread is the acknowledgment of Jesus' unparalleled power over the forces of darkness.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:16 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 5:16 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?