Luke 8 27

Luke 8:27 kjv

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Luke 8:27 nkjv

And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.

Luke 8:27 niv

When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

Luke 8:27 esv

When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.

Luke 8:27 nlt

As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 27 Meaning

This verse initiates the account of Jesus' encounter with a man in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes). Upon landing after crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus immediately meets a deeply afflicted man. The description highlights his severe and prolonged demon possession, evidenced by his rejection of societal norms – he was unclothed, did not live in a house, and dwelt instead in burial grounds, signifying profound spiritual and social alienation. This stark portrayal sets the scene for a demonstration of Jesus' unparalleled power over forces of evil.

Luke 8 27 Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, a powerful demonstration of His authority over creation. Luke 8:27 sets the stage for the healing of the Gerasene demoniac, an event primarily focused on Jesus' supreme authority over the demonic realm. The setting is Gentile territory (Gerasa/Gadara, east of Galilee), indicating Jesus' ministry extended beyond Jewish communities, crossing geographical and cultural boundaries. The man's desperate condition, naked and living among tombs, vividly portrays the profound spiritual and social degradation caused by demonic oppression, a state utterly contrary to human dignity and Jewish purity laws. The narrative serves as a direct confrontation between the Kingdom of God and the forces of evil.

Luke 8 27 Word analysis

• And when he went forth to land (Καὶ ἐξελθόντι αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν):
  • "He": Refers to Jesus, picking up from the previous verse, highlighting His intentional movement to a specific region.
  • "Went forth to land": Signifies disembarking from the boat. Gē (γῆ) here refers to the specific region or shore, emphasizing His arrival at a destination immediately met by challenge.
• there met him (ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ):
  • Hypēntēsen (ὑπήντησεν): From hypantao, meaning "to meet, encounter." This verb can imply a spontaneous, sometimes challenging, meeting. The immediate nature of the encounter upon Jesus' arrival suggests a direct confrontation with the pervasive spiritual darkness of the region.
• out of the city (ἐκ τῆς πόλεως):
  • Poleōs (πόλεως): city. Although the man lived outside, this indicates he originated from or wandered near a populated area, emphasizing his forceful exclusion or self-imposed exile from normal society.
• a certain man (ἀνήρ τις):
  • Anēr tis (ἀνήρ τις): Literally "a man, certain." This emphasizes his human identity and tragic reality despite his subhuman condition, allowing for empathy and underscoring the potential for his restoration.
• which had devils long time (ἔχων δαιμόνια χρόνῳ ἱκανῷ):
  • "Had devils": Daimonia (δαιμόνια) refers to demons or evil spirits, indicating a supernatural spiritual affliction. The plural form (devils/demons) denotes multiple entities, hinting at a severe, complex case (later identified as "Legion").
  • "Long time": Chronō hikanō (χρόνῳ ἱκανῷ) translates to "sufficient time" or "considerable time." This phrase underscores the chronic and prolonged nature of his suffering, emphasizing that no human intervention or time itself could alleviate his condition.
• and ware no clothes (καὶ ἱμάτιον οὐκ ἐνεδιδύσκετο):
  • Himaton ouk enedidyto (ἱμάτιον οὐκ ἐνεδιδύσκετο): "And he was not clothed with a garment." Nakedness in this context was a profound marker of extreme destitution, mental derangement, spiritual bondage, and public shame, signifying a complete loss of dignity, modesty, and personal control imposed by the demonic influence.
• neither abode in any house (καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν):
  • En oikia ouk emenen (ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν): "And in a house he did not remain/dwell." This detail reinforces his absolute social exclusion and separation from civilized human dwelling. Houses represent safety, family, community, and normalcy, all of which were denied to him.
• but in the tombs (ἀλλ᾽ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν):
  • Mněmasin (μνήμασιν): Tombs, graves, burial monuments. For the original Jewish audience, dwelling in tombs was deeply shocking. These places were considered highly ritually impure (Num 19:16) and associated with death, isolation, and defilement. Living there signified total alienation from clean society, utter spiritual degradation, and potentially an attraction to or coercion into the realm of the dead, indicative of profound demonic control.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs": This cumulative description paints a chilling portrait of utter degradation, profound suffering, and complete social and spiritual alienation caused by severe demonic subjugation. Each element amplifies the man's pitiable state, highlighting the extensive nature of the evil from which Jesus is uniquely able to deliver him. The physical manifestation (nakedness, living in tombs) vividly expresses the depth of his internal, spiritual bondage and separation from human dignity.

Luke 8 27 Bonus section

The graphic portrayal of the Gerasene demoniac's misery in this verse (and subsequent verses) serves to magnify the divine power of Jesus Christ. The greater the suffering and degradation depicted, the more glorious and astonishing is the restoration performed by Jesus, proving His absolute supremacy over the kingdom of darkness. This encounter in Gentile territory further broadens the scope of Jesus' mission, indicating that His saving power is not confined to Jewish lands or people, but extends to all who are enslaved by spiritual forces, demonstrating the universal applicability of the Gospel. The contrast between the man's initial state of complete dehumanization and his subsequent clothed, sane, and witnessing self (Lk 8:35, 39) offers a powerful biblical illustration of transformation through Christ's authority.

Luke 8 27 Commentary

Luke 8:27 profoundly portrays the extreme nature of demonic oppression that Jesus confronted directly upon His arrival in a predominantly Gentile region. The man's condition – lengthy possession by multiple demons, forced nakedness, and habitation among tombs – highlights a total loss of humanity, dignity, and societal belonging. He was an outcast, both physically and spiritually defiled according to cultural and Mosaic law, living in the realm of the dead. This stark contrast serves to underscore the devastating effects of evil. Furthermore, it sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of Jesus' unique authority, not just over physical ailments or the elements, but decisively over the very powers of darkness that held people captive, demonstrating His capacity to restore individuals from the most desperate spiritual bondage to sanity and communion. His presence in this "unclean" territory and direct engagement with an "unclean" person shows His compassion and universal reach of salvation, transcending ritual barriers to heal the deeply wounded.