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 5:9 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:9 contains a brief dialogue between Jesus and a man possessed by an unclean spirit. When Jesus asks the man his name, the response is "My name is Legion: for we are many." In this context, "Legion" is significant.

It is a term with military connotations, referring to a unit of the Roman army that comprised several thousand soldiers. The man essentially conveys that he is possessed not by a single entity but by an overwhelming multitude of spirits, indicating the severity of his demoniac condition.

The verse highlights the power of these unclean spirits, yet also sets the stage for demonstrating the superior authority of Jesus Christ over these forces.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark was written in a first-century Greco-Roman context, where Jewish and pagan beliefs about spirits and demon possession were prevalent.

During that time, the Roman legions were well-known and symbolized formidable military strength.

The use of the term "Legion" would relate to the readers or listeners of the Gospel with strong imagery of an occupying force, signifying not only the number of spirits but also the oppressive nature of the possession.

Furthermore, this encounter occurs in the region of the Gerasenes, which was predominantly Gentile territory, introducing a dynamic where Jesus' authority is recognized beyond the Jewish population.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this passage reinforces several key insights:

Demonology: It establishes the reality and recognition of demonic forces within Christian theology.
Authority of Christ: It highlights the supreme authority of Jesus over evil spirits and thus, over all spiritual realms.
Redemption and Restoration: The eventual exorcism of the man can symbolize Jesus' ability to redeem and cleanse individuals from sin and evil influences.
Spiritual Warfare: From an evangelical viewpoint, the passage can be seen as a demonstration of spiritual warfare, with Jesus challenging and overcoming the forces of darkness.

Practical Applications

The verse can be applied in various ways, including:

Dependence on Christ: Emphasizing reliance on Jesus' power to overcome personal struggles, whether they be spiritual, emotional, or physical in nature.
Understanding Evil: Encouraging awareness that evil is real and multifaceted, but not beyond God's control.
Compassion: Motivating believers to have compassion for those who are struggling with issues beyond their control, much like the man possessed by Legion.
Spiritual Authority: Encouraging believers to seek spiritual maturity and authority to deal with spiritual matters effectively.

Cross-References

Luke 8:30 - "And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him."
Ephesians 6:12 - "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Matthew 8:29 - "And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

Language Study

The name "Legion" (λεγιών) used in the verse is directly borrowed from the Roman military unit.

The term implies a collective, structured, and significant presence, which is reinforced by the phrase "for we are many" (ὅτι πολλοί εσμέν), highlighting the multiplicity of this demonic presence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within other cultural and religious interpretations, the concept of a person being inhabited by multiple spirits is not unique to Christianity.

For example, shamans in various cultures are believed to interact with spirits, and exorcism practices are found in many religions.

In Hinduism, there are accounts of possessions by asuras (demons), and in ancient Greek culture, there were beliefs about being overcome by various gods or spirits.

Scientific Perspectives

The modern scientific community generally does not support the concept of demon possession, favoring psychological and neurological explanations for behavior that was historically attributed to demons.

Conditions such as schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, and epilepsy could have symptoms that might be interpreted as possession in a less scientifically advanced culture.

Commentaries

Commentators over the centuries have provided varying insights on this verse:

Augustine of Hippo emphasized that evil spirits are subject to the authority of Christ.
John Calvin interpreted the story as showing that the devil seeks to destroy humankind and that only Christ can overcome such evil.
Matthew Henry commented on the misery of the possessed man and the mercy of Christ in providing liberation and healing.
Modern-day scholars, like N.T.

Wright, might view the story as both a demonstration of Jesus' power and as a metaphor for the Roman occupation, with Jesus casting out an oppressive 'legion.'

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:9 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 5:9 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?