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 5:21 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:21 describes a situation where Jesus, after crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat, arrives onshore to a sizeable gathering of people who had come to see him.

The narrative suggests a scene of anticipation and excitement among the populace as they awaited Jesus's return.

Having just performed a series of miracles on the other side of the sea, including the exorcism of the demon-possessed man of the Gerasenes, Jesus was likely becoming well known for His powerful works.

The verse conveys the idea that wherever Jesus went, there was a throng of people eager for His teaching, healing, and presence. It also indicates Jesus's willingness to go to various places to minister to people from different areas.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark's Gospel is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament and is generally believed to be the earliest Gospel written, likely between AD 66 and 70.

The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake in Israel, around which much of Jesus's ministry took place.

During this period, the region of Galilee was mainly Jewish, and the people would be familiar with the concepts of prophets and miraculous signs.

The historical context involves a mix of Jewish traditions, Roman occupation, and societal expectation of a messiah who would liberate the Jewish people.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Jesus's crossing to the other side and the gathering of a crowd can be seen as a demonstration of His mission, which was to reach diverse groups of people.

Jesus did not limit His ministry to one location or people.

The gathering crowd highlights the growing belief in Jesus as a healer and teacher.

Additionally, this passage sets up the subsequent miracle stories, underlining the theme of Jesus as the Messiah who has authority over illness, demons, and even death, which is later confirmed in the miracles that follow this scene.

Practical Applications

This verse may encourage modern believers to be receptive and open to the presence of Jesus in their lives, symbolizing the notion that a true following of Jesus requires both anticipation and action.

Individuals can reflect on their own eagerness to learn from spiritual teachings and to gather in community.

The passage also challenges believers to step out of their comfort zones, as Jesus did when traveling, to spread kindness, and help one another.

Cross-References

[Mark 4:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A1&version=KJV): And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
[Mark 6:34](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A34&version=KJV): And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
[Matthew 14:14](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A14&version=KJV): And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Language Study

The original Greek text provides specific terms that carry deeper meanings:

"Passed over" (διαπεράσας, diaperasas): This word means more than just traveling; it implies transitioning or moving through an area or condition.
"Ship" (πλοίῳ, ploiō): Refers to a small boat or vessel, a common mode of transportation in Jesus's time around the Sea of Galilee.
"Gathered unto him" (συνήχθη πρὸς αὐτόν, synēchthē pros auton): This phrase suggests an active assembling or coming together, signifying the intentionality of the people’s actions to be near Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, religious leaders often attracted followers, and their presence could create a stir among the people.

The accounts of Jesus's life show similarities to Jewish prophets like Elijah and Elisha, who also performed miracles and attracted followers. In other ancient religions, deities were often described as being remote or requiring intermediaries.

In contrast, the crowds' direct pursuit of Jesus in the Gospels demonstrates a more personal and accessible religious figure.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific perspective does not necessarily provide insights into the events described in this verse, being that it primarily concerns spiritual beliefs and historical events.

However, the geography of the Sea of Galilee and the types of boats used at the time are of interest to archaeologists and historians who utilize scientific methods to better understand the context of the biblical narrative.

commentaries

Commentaries on this verse often highlight the significance of the crowd's eagerness to meet Jesus, demonstrating His influence and the peoples' hunger for spiritual nourishment.

Renowned biblical scholars such as William Barclay and Matthew Henry reflect on Jesus's compassion and dedication to serving others, regardless of the challenges or obstacles.

They also point out the varied crowd's composition, which included not just the laypeople but sometimes religious leaders and skeptics.

The commentaries emphasize the passage as further evidence of Jesus's expanding ministry and the palpable sense of hope He brought to the people of first-century Israel.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:21 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 5:21 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?