Luke 8 34

Luke 8:34 kjv

When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Luke 8:34 nkjv

When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.

Luke 8:34 niv

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,

Luke 8:34 esv

When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.

Luke 8:34 nlt

When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran.

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 34 Meaning

Luke 8:34 describes the immediate reaction of the swine herdsmen to the miraculous healing of the demon-possessed man and the subsequent destruction of their entire herd of pigs. Overwhelmed by what they witnessed—the demoniac's liberation and the substantial economic loss—they fled from the scene. Their flight was not merely an escape but a desperate rush to disseminate the news throughout the nearby city and the surrounding rural areas. This swift report, borne out of fear and astonishment, served to widely announce Jesus’ extraordinary power and the significant event that had just occurred in their region.

Luke 8 34 Context

Luke chapter 8 unfolds a sequence of significant events demonstrating Jesus' authority over nature, sickness, and spiritual forces. Prior to verse 34, Jesus calms a raging storm, showcasing His dominion over creation. Immediately following, He arrives in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes), encountering a man who has been severely tormented by a "legion" of demons. Through a powerful exorcism, Jesus casts these demons out of the man. The demons, by their own request, enter a large herd of pigs, which then rush down a steep bank into the lake and drown. This dramatic event forms the backdrop for Luke 8:34, which captures the herdsmen's response to this sudden and overwhelming demonstration of power, marked by both a miraculous liberation and significant economic destruction. The location, likely a Gentile area, is relevant due to the presence of pigs, considered unclean by Jewish law, and the differing reactions to Jesus' presence compared to typically Jewish regions.

Luke 8 34 Word analysis

• When the herdsmen (Ὃι δὲ βόσκοντες - Hoi de boskontes): The definite article "the" indicates specific individuals who were tending the pigs. βόσκοντες refers to "those feeding," "pasturing," or "herding." These individuals were directly responsible for the welfare and economic value of the large swine herd, making their role critical in the event.
• saw (εἶδον - eidon): This past tense verb means "they perceived with their eyes." It emphasizes that their understanding was based on direct, undeniable visual witness. This was not a rumor or hearsay, but a vivid, first-hand account, giving weight to their subsequent report.
• what had happened (τὸ γεγενημένον - to gegeneménon): This Greek phrase, using the perfect passive participle of γίνομαι (ginomai, "to become" or "to happen"), describes an event that has definitively occurred and whose effects are still present. It signifies the completed and irreversible nature of the dual phenomena: the formerly demonized man standing whole, and the entire herd of pigs drowned. The immensity and finality of this "happening" would have been profoundly impactful.
• they fled (ἔφυγον - ephugon): This verb means "they ran away," "escaped," or "took flight." Their immediate response was not to question or confront, but to escape from the overwhelming display of power and destruction. This flight was driven by shock, terror, and perhaps a profound sense of foreboding or accountability for the valuable lost livestock. It signifies an instinctive, desperate retreat.
• and reported it (καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν - kai apēggeilan): The conjunction "and" links their flight directly to their immediate action of reporting. ἀπήγγειλαν means "they announced," "reported," or "brought back a message." It implies a detailed, perhaps frantic, communication of the event. They became unwilling messengers, compelled by the intensity of what they had witnessed to spread the news widely and urgently.
• in the city (εἰς τὴν πόλιν - eis tēn polin): Refers to the main urban center nearby (Gerasa or Gadara). News spreading here would quickly reach civic leaders, landowners, and a broader populace, amplifying its impact and potentially causing political and economic alarm.
• and in the country (καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς - kai eis tous agrous): Refers to the surrounding rural areas, fields, farms, and smaller settlements. This indicates a comprehensive and widespread dissemination of the news, not limited to one place. It ensures that everyone in the region, including those not directly involved in pig farming, would hear about Jesus’ miracle and the tragic loss.

Luke 8 34 Bonus section

• Economic Impact: The drowning of 2,000 pigs represents a catastrophic financial loss for the community, a substantial capital asset completely destroyed. This loss becomes a key factor in the subsequent rejection of Jesus by the community.
• Role as Unintentional Messengers: Though fleeing in fear, the herdsmen serve an essential narrative function: they are the first to report the astounding events, preparing the local population for their direct encounter with Jesus. Their frightened report ironically acts as a precursor to the spread of the good news.
• Human Fear vs. Divine Power: The herdsmen’s reaction exemplifies a common human response to overwhelming divine intervention. Rather than rejoicing solely in the healed man, their primary concern, intensified by fear, focuses on the unsettling power that caused material destruction. This fear contrasts with the gratitude of the healed man who wanted to stay with Jesus.

Luke 8 34 Commentary

Luke 8:34 vividly portrays the immediate human reaction to a dramatic manifestation of divine power. The herdsmen, eyewitnesses to the sudden transformation of a terrorized man into a sane one and the inexplicable drowning of their livelihood, reacted with a primal mix of fear and urgency. Their flight was not merely escape but the involuntary propagation of startling news. They became reluctant evangelists of the astonishing power of Jesus, disseminating the unprecedented event far and wide, into both urban and rural centers. Their report, driven by an awe that perhaps mixed elements of terror, dread, and wonder, sets the stage for the wider community’s response. It underscores a consistent pattern in Jesus' ministry: profound encounters with divine power often elicit either reverence and faith or fear and rejection, particularly when economic interests are challenged. The incident challenges the prevailing view that prosperity is tied solely to material gain, highlighting the conflict between spiritual liberation and earthly security, prompting the inhabitants to react defensively to Jesus’ presence.