28And when he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two men under the power of demons met him, coming out of the tombs, so violent that no one could pass that way. [8:29] And they cried out, "What do you have to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" [8:30] Now a large herd of pigs was feeding at a distance from them. [8:31] And the demons pleaded with him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs." [8:32] And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. [8:33] The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they reported everything, including what had happened to the men under the power of demons. [8:34] And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they urgently appealed to him to leave their region.
MAT 8:28-34
The Demons and the Pigs
In the world it was spoken into
In the region of the Gadarenes, a predominantly Gentile area east of the Sea of Galilee, the presence of pigs indicates a non-Jewish population, as pigs were unclean according to Jewish purity laws. The tombs, often seen as unclean places, were associated with death and impurity, making the demon-possessed men doubly marginalized. Demons were understood as malevolent spiritual beings causing physical and mental torment, and their recognition of Jesus as 'Son of God' reflects a common belief in the ancient world that spiritual beings had knowledge of divine identities. The demons' fear of torment before 'the time' suggests an awareness of an impending divine judgment. The request to enter the pigs, unclean animals, underscores the destructive nature of the demons, as their entry causes the herd to rush into the sea, resulting in economic loss for the local community. The townspeople’s plea for Jesus to leave reflects fear of further disruption to their social and economic stability.
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How other translations render this
MAT 8:28
- KJV
- And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
- BSB
- When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, He was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
- Koinōnos
- And when he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two men under the power of demons met him, coming out of the tombs, so violent that no one could pass that way.
MAT 8:29
- KJV
- 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?
- BSB
- “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
- Koinōnos
- And they cried out, "What do you have to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?
MAT 8:30
- KJV
- And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
- BSB
- In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.
- Koinōnos
- Now a large herd of pigs was feeding at a distance from them.
MAT 8:31
- KJV
- So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
- BSB
- So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
- Koinōnos
- And the demons pleaded with him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.
MAT 8:32
- KJV
- And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
- BSB
- “Go!” He told them. So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the waters.
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
MAT 8:33
- KJV
- And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
- BSB
- Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men.
- Koinōnos
- The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they reported everything, including what had happened to the men under the power of demons.
MAT 8:34
- KJV
- And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
- BSB
- Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.
- Koinōnos
- And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they urgently appealed to him to leave their region.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 8:28
- being demonised:The word translated 'being demonised' describes someone under the power or influence of a demonic spirit, often resulting in physical or mental affliction. It indicates a state of being controlled, not merely possessed.
- violent:The word translated 'violent' here suggests something harsh, difficult to bear, or grievous. It describes a quality that causes pain or trouble, rather than just physical aggression.
MAT 8:29
- time:The word translated 'time' in this context is actually a verb meaning 'to torture' or 'to torment'. The demons are asking if Jesus has come to inflict suffering upon them before their appointed time.
MAT 8:34
- they begged [Him]:The word translated 'they begged Him' carries a sense of earnest appeal, entreaty, or even exhortation. It implies a strong plea, often with a sense of urgency or persuasion.