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 5:8 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:8 depicts an episode in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus exercises his authority over demons.

In this verse, Jesus commands an unclean spirit to leave a man who had been possessed.

The term "unclean spirit" refers to a malevolent supernatural entity that, according to the text, can inhabit or possess an individual, causing physical or mental distress.

In the broader passage, it is revealed that the man's condition was severe, as he lived among the tombs, was uncontrollable, and often harmed himself.

The phrase "Come out of the man" signifies Jesus' direct and authoritative command to the unclean spirit to leave the afflicted person.

This shows the power Jesus has over evil and his ability to restore individuals to health and community.

The deeper meaning reflects the spiritual deliverance and liberation that Jesus brings to those who are oppressed or tormented by forces beyond their control.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The event described in Mark 5:8 is situated in the broader story of Jesus healing a man possessed by a legion of demons in the region of the Gerasenes.

This region was a mostly non-Jewish, Gentile area, located to the east of the Sea of Galilee.

In the historical context of 1st-century Judea and its surrounding regions, belief in spirits and demonic possession was common.

Exorcism was a recognized practice among Jewish rabbis and other religious figures.

The New Testament reflects a worldview in which spiritual beings could interact with and impact the physical world, and Jesus' miracles, including exorcisms, demonstrated his authority and power, and served as a sign of the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations can be drawn from Mark 5:8:

Christological Perspective: The act of casting out demons is seen as a testament to Jesus' divine authority, proving that he is the Son of God with power over evil.
Eschatological Perspective: This exorcism is seen as a sign that the end times are near, wherein the forces of evil are being overcome by the coming Kingdom of God.
Soteriological Perspective: Reflects on themes of salvation; just as the man was saved from demonic possession, so can sinners be saved from the spiritual bondage of sin through Jesus.

Practical Applications

Mark 5:8 carries several applications for daily life:

Spiritual Warfare: Followers of Jesus can be reminded that there is a broader spiritual battle being waged and that they can call upon the name and authority of Jesus in their struggle against evil.
Compassion for the Afflicted: This passage encourages believers to show compassion and seek to help those who are struggling with mental, emotional, or spiritual problems.
Empowerment through Faith: Encourages believers to understand the power of faith and the reality that what seems overpowering can be overcome through spiritual faith in Jesus.

Cross-References

Several verses in the Bible relate to the theme of Jesus casting out demons:

Luke 4:35: "And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him..."
Matthew 8:16: "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word..."
Mark 1:25: "And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Mark 5:8 offer deeper insights:

ἔλεγεν (elegen): "He said" - conveys an ongoing action; Jesus was possibly repeating the command, emphasizing its firmness.
Ἀκάθαρτε (Akatharte): "Unclean" - this adjective not only suggests impurity but also that the spirit is contrary to God's holiness.
πνεῦμα (pneuma): "Spirit" - refers to a non-corporeal being, in this context, a harmful supernatural entity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient Near East, exorcism was a practice found in various cultures.

Many civilizations such as the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks had rituals for dealing with evil spirits. Comparatively, Jewish exorcisms typically involved the invocation of God's name, prayer, and sometimes the use of specific rituals or substances.

Scientific Perspectives

Contemporary scientific interpretations might categorize the behaviors described as possession in terms of psychological or neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia or seizures.

Today, the descriptions of possession in ancient texts are often viewed through the lens of mental health.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have provided interpretations of Mark 5:8:

John Calvin: Emphasized Jesus' authority over demons, suggesting that the true encounter with the power of Christ compels even evil spirits to obey.
William Barclay: Suggested that the healing miracles, including exorcisms, showed the power of Jesus and his compassion for the afflicted in all aspects of their being, body, mind, and spirit.
**Joel B.

Green**: Points out the social implications, noting how the man was isolated and how his healing allowed him to be reintegrated into the community.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:8 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 5:8 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?