Luke 8:37 kjv
Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
Luke 8:37 nkjv
Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
Luke 8:37 niv
Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
Luke 8:37 esv
Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
Luke 8:37 nlt
And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.
Luke 8 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 8:34 | And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region. | Parallel account of rejection after demonic deliverance. |
| Mk 5:17 | And they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. | Parallel account of the plea for Jesus to leave. |
| Job 21:14 | Therefore they say to God, ‘Depart from us! For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.’ | Rejecting God due to preference for their own ways. |
| Ps 73:27 | For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all who desert You for harlotry. | Perishing when people turn away from God. |
| Isa 30:11 | Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” | Israel’s desire for God to be absent due to sin. |
| Jer 7:13 | "And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking... | Rejection despite God's repeated outreach. |
| Amos 2:12 | "But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’" | Silencing divine messengers. |
| Matt 27:24 | When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed... | Opting for crowd pleasing over righteous decision. |
| Jn 1:11 | He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. | General rejection of Christ by His own people. |
| Jn 3:19-20 | "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than... | People rejecting light due to their deeds. |
| Lk 4:29 | and they rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their... | Another instance of Jesus being rejected/expelled. |
| Lk 5:8 | When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” | Fear of divine holiness leading to sense of unworthiness, yet drawn to Jesus. |
| Exod 20:19 | Then they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." | Fear of God's direct presence and power. |
| Deut 5:25 | "Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD... | Fear of God's consuming presence. |
| Mk 4:41 | And they feared a great fear, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" | Disciples' fear, mixed with awe, at Jesus' power over nature. |
| Rom 8:7 | Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. | Human enmity towards divine authority/ways. |
| 1 Cor 1:21 | For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness... | World's inability or refusal to understand divine truth. |
| Heb 12:28 | Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve... | Contrast with trembling at God’s power; instead, worship. |
| 1 Jn 4:18 | There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not... | Contrast: Their fear was terror, not loving reverence. |
| 2 Tim 4:3-4 | For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because... | People turning away from truth for self-interest. |
| Isa 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter... | Rejecting divine works by misinterpreting them. |
| Acts 7:51 | “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you." | Consistent resistance to the Spirit’s work. |
Luke 8 verses
Luke 8 37 Meaning
Luke 8:37 describes the immediate reaction of the people from the region of the Gerasenes after Jesus cast a legion of demons out of a man, causing the demons to enter a herd of pigs that then rushed down a steep bank into the lake and drowned. The entire population, overwhelmed by intense fear, requested Jesus to leave their territory. Jesus, in response, complied with their request by boarding a boat and returning from their region. This verse highlights the profound and unsettling impact of Jesus' divine power on those who prioritized their material well-being and established order over the spiritual reality he manifested.
Luke 8 37 Context
Luke 8:37 occurs immediately after Jesus' miraculous deliverance of the Gerasene demoniac, a man afflicted by a multitude of demons so powerful that he could not be bound and lived in tombs, crying out and cutting himself. This is a dramatic display of Jesus' authority over demonic forces. Upon seeing the man healed, clothed, and in his right mind, the local swineherds spread the news throughout the surrounding cities and countryside. When the "whole multitude" arrived, they witnessed the astonishing transformation of the formerly demon-possessed man. However, instead of glorifying God for this profound act of healing and liberation, their focus shifted to the catastrophic economic loss (the herd of approximately 2,000 pigs drowning) that accompanied the miracle. Their "great fear" was not reverent awe of divine power, but a deep terror induced by the disruption of their social and economic order by a force they could not comprehend or control. This incident likely took place in a predominantly Gentile region, as pig farming was forbidden for Jews, highlighting the residents' secular or non-Jewish lifestyle. Their request for Jesus to leave indicates a preference for their status quo, even if it meant remaining untouched by transformative divine power.
Luke 8 37 Word analysis
Then the whole multitude (ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος - hapan to plēthos):
- whole (ἅπαν - hapan): Signifies all or entire, emphasizing the collective and unanimous decision. This was not a segmented reaction but a complete communal response. It indicates pervasive fear that gripped everyone present.
- multitude (πλῆθος - plēthos): Refers to a large crowd or common people. Their sheer number underscores the widespread panic and shared desire for Jesus to leave. It suggests a prevailing mindset among the populace.
of the surrounding region (περιχώρου - perichōrou):
- surrounding region: Implies the area immediately around where the miracle occurred, not just a few curious onlookers but people from the broader geographical area impacted by the event. It specifies the local populace rather than visitors. This region would encompass communities in the Decapolis.
of the Gerasenes (Γερασηνῶν - Gerasēnōn):
- Refers to the inhabitants of the region of Gerasa. There is ancient geographical debate regarding Gerasa, Gadara, and Gergesa. Luke's use of "Gerasenes" often refers to the broader territory or region, which encompassed multiple towns, possibly including Gadara (as in Matt 8:28) or Gergesa (Mark 5:1). This points to the likelihood of it being a Gentile or Hellenized Jewish area due to the pig-rearing. The name anchors the event to a specific, identifiable locale in Transjordan.
asked Him to depart from them (ἠρώτησαν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν - ērōtēsan apelthein ap' autōn):
- asked (ἠρώτησαν - ērōtēsan): While translatable as "asked" or "inquired," in this context, it carries the strong connotation of a plea, a fervent request, almost a demand. It wasn't a casual question but an earnest petition to be rid of His unsettling presence.
- to depart (ἀπελθεῖν - apelthein): To go away, leave. This is a direct request for His physical removal. It highlights their discomfort and unwillingness to have such power in their midst.
- from them (ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν - ap' autōn): Emphasizes a complete separation, a desire for Him to be completely away from their community and affairs. It implies a boundary they wished to establish.
for they were seized with great fear (φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνεἴχοντο - phobō megalō syneichonto):
- seized with (συνείχοντο - syneichonto): Literally "held together" or "constrained." It indicates being gripped, overwhelmed, or held captive by an emotion. The fear was not just present but dominant and controlling.
- great fear (φόβῳ μεγάλῳ - phobō megalō): This isn't respectful reverence (phobos can mean awe for God) but rather dread, terror, or panic. It stemmed from the tangible economic loss and the sheer, incomprehensible display of power over forces beyond their control. This fear was likely rooted in the disruption of their livelihood and their understanding of the natural order. It signifies an unwillingness to embrace a power that might demand radical change.
And He got into the boat and returned (ἀναβὰς δὲ εἰς πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν - anabas de eis ploion hypestrepsen):
- He got into the boat (ἀναβὰς δὲ εἰς πλοῖον - anabas de eis ploion): Jesus immediately complies. He doesn't argue or try to convince them to change their minds. This demonstrates His respect for their free will, even in their rejection. It signifies His itinerant ministry style across the Sea of Galilee.
- and returned (ὑπέστρεψεν - hypestrepsen): He went back from where He came. This emphasizes His departure from their specific location and perhaps their territory. It seals the consequence of their fear and rejection.
Words-group analysis:
- "the whole multitude...asked Him to depart from them": This phrase captures the unanimous and active rejection of Jesus by an entire community. Their unified voice reveals a collective apprehension about Jesus' disruptive power.
- "for they were seized with great fear": This explains the motivation behind their request. It was not a theological or spiritual aversion, but a visceral reaction to immense power impacting their economic and social stability. The "great fear" was one of terror, leading to a desire to expel the source of such overwhelming and unpredictable force. This fear stemmed from an immediate threat to their comfort and security.
Luke 8 37 Bonus section
- The Irony of Rejection: The very people who had cause to rejoice for a liberated fellow citizen were the ones who desired Jesus' departure. Their material loss overshadowed the spiritual victory, showcasing a tragic irony where physical comfort was prioritized over spiritual deliverance.
- Jesus' Immediate Obedience: Jesus does not argue or try to persuade them. He respects their decision to reject Him and promptly leaves, highlighting a key aspect of His dealings with humanity—He does not force Himself on those who desire His absence.
- Contrast with Peter's Fear: While Peter, after the miraculous catch of fish, similarly said "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (Lk 5:8), his fear was born of a humbling realization of his unworthiness before divine holiness, leading to surrender. The Gerasenes' fear was one of outright expulsion due to terror and perceived threat to their economic stability.
- Mission Field Transition: This departure led to Jesus commissioning the healed man to "declare how much God has done for you" (Lk 8:39), transforming a rejected presence into a scattered testimony, and foreshadowing the Gentile mission.
Luke 8 37 Commentary
Luke 8:37 succinctly captures a profound human reaction to divine power. After witnessing a monumental miracle—the liberation of a man possessed by a "legion" of demons, which also resulted in the drowning of a large herd of pigs—the entire community of the Gerasenes was "seized with great fear." This was not the reverent awe that leads to worship or inquiry, but a paralyzing terror stemming from material loss and the sheer incomprehensibility of Jesus' authority over unseen forces. Their primary concern was not the healed man's salvation but the immense economic damage and the unsettling disruption to their ordered lives. They preferred their familiar reality, even if it meant coexisting with demon-possessed individuals, to the unpredictable power of God's kingdom breaking into their midst.
Their request for Jesus to "depart from them" stands in stark contrast to the delivered man's plea to stay with Jesus (Lk 8:38). While the newly freed man yearned to remain in Jesus' transforming presence, the community desperately wanted Him gone. This highlights a recurring biblical theme: the rejection of divine light and truth by those who prioritize comfort, self-interest, or control over the transformative (and often challenging) presence of God. Jesus, respecting their free will, immediately left, signifying the consequences of human choice in the face of spiritual revelation. This verse serves as a sober reminder that encountering God's power does not always lead to repentance and acceptance; it can also expose the depths of human fear, materialism, and resistance to divine authority.