Luke 8 30

Luke 8:30 kjv

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Luke 8:30 nkjv

Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered him.

Luke 8:30 niv

Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him.

Luke 8:30 esv

Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," for many demons had entered him.

Luke 8:30 nlt

Jesus demanded, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, for he was filled with many demons.

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 30 Meaning

Luke 8:30 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' encounter with the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes. Jesus directly challenges the oppressive spiritual entity within the man, demanding its name. The response, "Legion," reveals the terrifying extent of the demonic control, indicating not merely one evil spirit but a vast, organized multitude, akin to a Roman military unit. This interchange immediately precedes Jesus' definitive act of liberation, showcasing His supreme authority over all forces of darkness.

Luke 8 30 Context

Luke chapter 8 begins with Jesus' itinerant ministry, accompanied by the Twelve and certain women, preaching the kingdom of God. Following parables about the sower and the lamp, Jesus and His disciples embark across the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus calms a furious storm, demonstrating His authority over creation. Immediately after, they land in the country of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes), a Gentile region, setting the stage for the dramatic encounter in verse 30.The historical and cultural context for this interaction includes the prevailing understanding of demonic possession in the ancient world, often attributing severe mental illness, social isolation, and superhuman strength to malevolent spirits. This particular man lived among tombs, naked, and uncontrollably strong, embodying the dire consequences of such affliction. Jesus' question, "What is thy name?" within this context, was not an inquiry born of ignorance, but a declarative act of power. In ancient beliefs, knowing the name of a spirit, demon, or god was believed to grant authority or control over it. By forcing the demons to reveal their collective identity as "Legion," Jesus asserted His absolute authority and power over a formidable spiritual foe, highlighting a direct confrontation with the kingdom of darkness.

Luke 8 30 Word analysis

• And Jesus asked him: This indicates Jesus' initiation of the interaction. It is not a request for information out of ignorance, but a commanding prelude to spiritual confrontation.
• saying, What is thy name?:
  • onoma (ὄνομα - Greek for name): In biblical and ancient Near Eastern thought, a "name" was often more than a label; it conveyed character, identity, nature, or even authority and destiny. To ask a demon its name was to expose its identity and assert dominion over it, signaling an imminent dispossession.
  • This question challenges the hidden identity and power of the evil spirits, forcing them into the light.
• And he said, Legion:
  • legiōn (λεγιών - Greek transliteration of Latin legio): A Roman military legion typically comprised 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers, organized into cohorts and centuries. It was a symbol of overwhelming, disciplined military power and occupation.
  • The use of this term by the demons themselves indicates an incredibly vast number of spirits, acting with organized force within the man, symbolizing intense, profound spiritual bondage and oppression. It also likely evoked fear, as the region was under Roman occupation.
• because many devils were entered into him:
  • daimonia (δαιμόνια - Greek for demons/evil spirits): This phrase directly explains why the name "Legion" was used, confirming the sheer quantity of the oppressive entities.
  • It clarifies that "Legion" refers to a multitude of individual demonic beings, not just a collective noun for one very powerful demon. This detail underscores the severe affliction and systematic invasion the man experienced.

Words-group analysis

• "Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name?": This group of words emphasizes Jesus' intentional, authoritative posture. His query is not investigative but confrontational, serving to reveal the scope of the demonic power for the benefit of observers and to prepare for His ultimate display of divine authority.
• "And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.": This full phrase is crucial. The naming of "Legion" (a military term) and its immediate clarification as "many devils" provides profound insight into the nature of demonic forces – not just numerous, but potentially organized and occupying like an invading army. It highlights the formidable opposition Jesus confronts, magnifying the power of His eventual triumph.

Luke 8 30 Bonus section

The act of naming in the biblical context often signifies relationship, identity, or authority. In ancient magical practices, knowing a spirit's name was often thought to provide control over it. While the demons revealed their name, they were not submitting to the authority of the inquirer, but to the divine command of Christ, highlighting that His power transcends human or occult practices. The demons themselves chose a name that symbolized Roman military might and occupation, suggesting a parallel between their oppressive control over the man and Rome's oppressive rule over the land. This serves as a powerful spiritual analogy for the subjugation under evil and the liberating power of Christ's kingdom which overthrows all other authorities, spiritual and temporal. The incident in Gerasene, a Gentile region, also foreshadows the Gospel's reach beyond Israel to the Gentile world, showcasing Jesus' power to deliver all who are oppressed, regardless of their background or location.

Luke 8 30 Commentary

Luke 8:30 serves as the dramatic turning point in the healing of the Gerasene demoniac. Jesus, ever the embodiment of divine authority, does not merely encounter the possessed man but confronts the spiritual realm that holds him captive. His command for the name, "What is thy name?", is not a sign of ignorance but an assertion of ultimate power. By compelling the spirits to identify themselves, Jesus strips away their anonymity and thus their perceived control. The revelation, "Legion," portrays an astonishing number of demons, signifying the man's complete and brutal spiritual occupation. This scene vividly illustrates that evil spiritual forces operate in multitudes and with a semblance of organization, aiming for total destruction and oppression. However, Christ's singular presence and simple query shatter this vast, malevolent dominion, demonstrating that no number of evil spirits, no matter how great or organized, can stand against the King of the universe. This narrative affirms Jesus' power over even the most overwhelming demonic bondage, bringing profound freedom and testifying to the inbreaking of God's Kingdom.