Luke 8 29

Luke 8:29 kjv

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Luke 8:29 nkjv

For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

Luke 8:29 niv

For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Luke 8:29 esv

For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.)

Luke 8:29 nlt

For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power.

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 29 Meaning

Luke 8:29 explains the immediate context of Jesus' interaction with the Gerasene demoniac, revealing the severity and history of the man's possession. It underscores the profound suffering and complete lack of control the man endured due to the demon, highlighting how human attempts at restraint proved utterly futile against the demonically-empowered strength. This verse serves to magnify the immense authority and unique power of Jesus to effortlessly command and expel forces that completely overwhelmed human efforts.

Luke 8 29 Context

Luke 8:29 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' journey through Galilee and His powerful display of authority, particularly over nature and evil spirits. It immediately follows Jesus' inquiry to the demoniac, "What is your name?" (Luke 8:30a), providing the audience with an essential flashback to understand the man's horrific condition and why such an extreme state existed. This verse vividly describes the Gerasene demoniac's prolonged torment and the absolute inability of human society, with all its strength and precautions (chains, shackles, guards), to control him. The man's dwelling among tombs and his uncontrollable outbursts made him an outcast, underscoring his utter dehumanization by the demonic entity. Historically, the region of Gerasa (or Gadara, as in parallel accounts) was a Decapolis city with Gentile influences, further highlighting Jesus' authority extending beyond Jewish territory. The verse sets the dramatic scene, showcasing the monumental challenge Jesus faced, yet implicitly asserting that only divine power could succeed where human force failed.

Luke 8 29 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction introduces an explanation or justification. It clarifies why Jesus was commanding the spirit out before even asking its name, indicating Jesus' immediate awareness and decisive action against the possessing entity.
• He had commanded (παρήγγελλεν - parengellen): The imperfect tense of this verb implies a continuous or ongoing command, or a command that was already initiated and in effect, though perhaps the spirit had not yet fully complied. This subtly hints at the struggle, while reinforcing Jesus' active authority. It is not a sudden, new command, but a re-emphasis or ongoing one already established in Jesus' confrontation with the demon.
• the unclean spirit (τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἀκάθαρτον - to pneuma to akatharton): This standard term denotes a demonic entity that is impure or defiled, operating contrary to God's holy nature. It signifies spiritual contamination and separation from God's presence, highlighting the opposition between this entity and the holy Son of God.
• to come out (ἐξελθεῖν - exelthein): An infinitive emphasizing the desired action—expulsion. It highlights Jesus' intention for a complete deliverance, not merely control.
• of the man (ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - apo tou anthrōpou): Points to the separation from the individual. It underscores the restoration of the man's true humanity, freeing him from the alien occupying force.
• For it had seized him (γὰρ ἠρπάκει αὐτὸν - gar hērpatkei auton): The pluperfect tense of "seized" (from ἁρπάζω - harpazō, meaning to snatch, carry off by force) indicates an action completed in the past with ongoing effects. It signifies the demon's violent, repeated, and overwhelming grasp on the man's life.
• many times (πολλοῖς χρόνοις - pollois chronois): Literally "many times" or "for a long time." It emphasizes the prolonged suffering and chronic nature of the man's possession, making the impending deliverance even more remarkable.
• he was kept under guard (φυλασσόμενος - phylassomenos): A participle implying constant watching and restraint by others, usually for safety or prevention. It shows the extent of human efforts to control the man, reflecting communal fear and attempts to contain his violence.
• bound with chains (ἀλύσεσι - halysesin): Specifically metal chains, indicative of severe restraint for dangerous individuals.
• and shackles (πεδαῖς - pedais): Fetters or leg irons, indicating an attempt to incapacitate movement completely. Both words underscore the extreme measures taken due to his perceived danger.
• breaking the bonds (διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμά - diarrēssōn ta desma): The present participle suggests a repeated or characteristic action of the demoniac—repeatedly shattering his restraints. "Breaking through/bursting" (διαρρήσσω - diarrēssō) emphasizes the immense, unnatural strength he possessed. This is the demon's power manifesting through him, making human efforts futile.
• he was driven (ἠλαύνετο - ēlaveneto): Imperfect tense, showing a continuous or repeated forceful compulsion. It highlights the complete lack of self-control and personal agency for the man.
• by the demon (ὑπὸ τοῦ δαίμονος - hypo tou daimōnos): Clearly identifies the agent of coercion, attributing the man's erratic behavior directly to the malevolent spirit. It emphasizes that this was not merely madness but direct demonic manipulation.
• into the deserts (εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους - eis tas erēmous): "Wildernesses" or uninhabited, desolate places. In Jewish thought, these were often perceived as dwelling places for evil spirits, reinforcing the idea that the demon drove him to a realm consistent with its nature and separated him from human society.

Words-group analysis:

• "For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times;": This entire introductory phrase establishes Jesus' immediate authority contrasted with the demon's long-standing grip. The repetition of "For" serves as a double explanation: Jesus was acting because the spirit needed to leave, and its oppressive hold was deeply established, requiring powerful intervention.
• "and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and breaking the bonds, he was driven by the demon into the deserts.": This longer section vividly paints the picture of human inability and demonic control. It highlights the escalation of the problem: human attempts at restraint were not only ineffective but routinely shattered by the demon's power, resulting in the man's ultimate expulsion into isolated, hostile environments. This sequence underscores the man's suffering and the complete breakdown of his life due to this spiritual affliction, preparing the reader for the extraordinary deliverance Jesus would bring.

Luke 8 29 Bonus section

• The Gerasene demoniac account (Lk 8:26-39) parallels the healing narratives in Mk 5:1-20 and Mt 8:28-34, emphasizing Jesus' divine power over both sickness and the demonic realm.
• The use of imperfect tenses ("had commanded," "was kept under guard," "was driven") in the Greek paints a dynamic picture of ongoing struggle and continuous past action, making the reader fully appreciate the entrenched nature of the man's affliction prior to Jesus' complete deliverance.
• The fact that human efforts involved physical restraints (chains, shackles) while Jesus employed only a verbal command underscores a profound theological distinction: human strength is earthly and limited, whereas divine authority operates in the spiritual realm, directly affecting spiritual entities.
• The demon driving the man "into the deserts" (Greek: plural for erēmoi) may not literally refer to vast sandy deserts but could denote wild, uninhabited, or barren places, which in Jewish apocalyptic literature and popular belief were often associated as habitations for evil spirits. This relocation into such places suggests a complete expulsion from civilized human life, isolating the man within the demon's preferred dominion.
• This specific verse sets up a dramatic foil to Jesus' miracle; the more severe and impossible the man's case appears, the greater Jesus' glory in his deliverance.

Luke 8 29 Commentary

Luke 8:29 serves as a crucial bridge, linking Jesus' initial, powerful command to the detailed manifestation of the Gerasene demoniac's extreme state. It functions as an explanatory interlude, illustrating the man's prolonged suffering under oppressive demonic control and the sheer impotence of human intervention. The historical details of chaining and shackling speak to the desperation and fear the man invoked, demonstrating that all human attempts to secure and treat him had failed spectacularly due to the demon's supernatural strength. The driving into "deserts" symbolizes his complete isolation and alienation, confined to places deemed impure and dangerous, suitable only for the unclean spirit that possessed him. This verse does not merely describe the demoniac's condition but implicitly elevates Jesus' power; what mere men, using the strongest physical restraints, could not contain, Jesus' simple, declarative command effectively challenged. It is a powerful pre-deliverance portrayal of the spiritual darkness and human futility that Christ's presence definitively overturns, signifying that Jesus’ kingdom authority directly confronts and defeats even the most formidable demonic oppression.