Mark 5:11 kjv
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
Mark 5:11 nkjv
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.
Mark 5:11 niv
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.
Mark 5:11 esv
Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,
Mark 5:11 nlt
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.
Mark 5 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 8:30-32 | "And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding… he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine…" | Synoptic parallel: Demons entering swine. |
| Luke 8:32-33 | "And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain… them they went out of the man into the swinę…" | Synoptic parallel: Demons entering swine. |
| Lev 11:7-8 | "And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat…" | Swine are explicitly unclean animals. |
| Deut 14:8 | "And the hog, because it divides the hoof… but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. You shall not eat their flesh…" | Reinforces the unclean status of swine. |
| Acts 10:9-16 | "And he saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending… wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts… unclean. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." | Vision about unclean food, symbolic of Gentile inclusion. |
| Col 1:16 | "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible… all things were created by him, and for him…" | Christ's sovereignty over all creation, visible (animals) and invisible (spirits). |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…" | Demonic destructive intent. |
| Job 1:12 | "And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand." | Satan's (demons') power is limited by God's permission. |
| Job 2:6 | "And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life." | Divine permission for destructive action, but with limits. |
| Matt 12:43-45 | "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none… and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself…" | Unclean spirits seek dwelling places, showing their aversion to being disembodied. |
| Rev 18:2 | "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen… and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." | Demonic association with unclean things/places. |
| Ps 50:10-12 | "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills… the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." | God's absolute ownership over all creation, including animals. |
| Prov 1:18-19 | "And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof." | Speaks to prioritizing gain over spiritual deliverance. |
| Matt 16:26 | "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" | Contrast of material wealth (pigs) with spiritual value (human soul). |
| Mark 5:13 | "And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea." | Immediate fulfillment of the request and outcome, showing demons' destructive nature. |
| Mark 5:17 | "And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts." | Local people's reaction: valuing financial loss (pigs) over Jesus' presence and spiritual power. |
| Acts 11:2-3 | "And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." | Early church's struggle with Gentile inclusion, which the setting in Mark foreshadows. |
| Isa 65:4 | "Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;" | Swine eating as an abominable act by those turning away from God. |
| Mark 1:27 | "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him." | Christ's authority over unclean spirits. |
| Phil 3:18-19 | "For many walk, of whom I have told you often… Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." | Connects valuing earthly things (like pigs/wealth) over spiritual truth with destruction. |
Mark 5 verses
Mark 5 11 Meaning
Mark 5:11 precisely sets the scene for the fate of the "Legion" of demons, indicating the immediate availability of a vast herd of pigs near the mountains. This detail is crucial, establishing the geographical and cultural context of the Gerasene/Gadarene region as Gentile territory where the raising of such unclean animals was permissible, and preparing the narrative for the demons' desperate request to enter the swine rather than be sent out of the region.
Mark 5 11 Context
This verse is embedded within the powerful narrative of Jesus casting out "Legion" from the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20). The immediately preceding verses (Mark 5:1-10) describe Jesus' arrival in the region, the confrontation with the severely tormented man, and the demons' recognition of Jesus as the Son of the Most High God, pleading with Him not to torment them or send them out of the country. Verse 11 introduces a critical detail that will satisfy the demons' desire to inhabit a physical body, setting up the request for them to enter the herd of pigs and highlighting the nature of the region. This area, part of the Decapolis, was predominantly Gentile, distinguishing it sharply from Jewish territories where pigs, as unclean animals, would not be kept in large herds for economic purposes. This context emphasizes Jesus' reach into non-Jewish lands and foreshadows the universal scope of His ministry.
Mark 5 11 Word analysis
- Now (Greek: kai, "and" or "now"): Connects the present detail seamlessly to the preceding events, suggesting a continuous unfolding of the narrative.
- there was there (Greek: ēn ekei, "there was there"): Simply indicates existence and location, emphasizing the immediate presence of the herd.
- nigh (Greek: pros, "near," "unto," "at"): Denotes close proximity, indicating that the herd was within the man's, and Jesus's, view. This proximity is vital for the ensuing narrative.
- unto the mountains (Greek: to oros, "the mountain"): Suggests a geographical setting typical for grazing, providing natural terrain where a large herd could feed. It specifies the type of landscape.
- a great herd (Greek: agelē megalē, "herd large"):
- agelē (ἀγέλη): A group or herd, commonly used for animals that graze together.
- megalē (μεγάλη): "Large," "great," emphasizing the substantial size of the herd. Later, Mark specifies "about two thousand" pigs (Mark 5:13), underscoring the massive scale and economic value of this asset to the local community.
- of swine (Greek: choirōn, "of pigs/swine"):
- choirōn (χοίρων): Genitive plural of choiros, "pig" or "hog." This is the pivotal detail for a Jewish audience. Pigs were strictly forbidden as food and unclean under Mosaic Law (Lev 11:7-8, Deut 14:8). Their presence unequivocally marks this region as Gentile and thus distinct from Jewish cultural and religious norms.
- feeding (Greek: boskomēna, "being fed" or "grazing"): Implies the herd's active state and purpose, indicating they were domesticated and under someone's care, thus a significant economic venture.
Words-group analysis
- Now there was there nigh unto the mountains: This phrase establishes the immediate proximity and geographical location of the crucial element introduced next. It grounds the supernatural event in a very specific, observable earthly reality.
- a great herd of swine: This collective noun phrase is loaded with significance. "Great herd" conveys scale and economic importance, while "of swine" instantly communicates the non-Jewish, Gentile setting of the Decapolis region, contrasting sharply with Jewish dietary and religious laws. The sheer number of pigs, later revealed to be 2000, suggests significant local investment.
- feeding: This word emphasizes the normalcy of the pigs' activity, which will be dramatically interrupted by the entry of the demons, highlighting the destructive contrast of demonic presence with the peace of ordinary life.
Mark 5 11 Bonus section
The number "two thousand" pigs (Mark 5:13) mentioned after their destruction, indicates that the herd was substantial enough to represent a major source of livelihood for many people in the local economy. This scale likely explains why the villagers, witnessing the miracle, reacted not with awe and repentance but with a demand for Jesus to leave their territory (Mark 5:17), fearing further financial ruin or perhaps the disruptive power of God. The incident subtly poses the question of whether a community would prioritize their economic stability and familiar customs over the transformative presence and power of the Son of God.
Mark 5 11 Commentary
Mark 5:11, though concise, serves as a profoundly significant verse in the narrative of the Gerasene demoniac. Its primary function is to introduce the vehicle for the demons' desired expulsion—the vast herd of pigs. This detail immediately grounds the supernatural event in the socio-cultural landscape of the time, revealing the Decapolis region's Gentile character. For a Jewish reader, the mention of "swine" instantly evokes the concept of uncleanness, highlighting the contrast between Jewish law and the context of Jesus' ministry. The "great herd" (later specified as 2,000) also indicates a substantial economic asset to the local inhabitants, whose eventual reaction to its destruction emphasizes a prevailing preference for worldly possessions over spiritual deliverance. This verse thus lays the critical groundwork for the Legion's immediate departure into the animals, demonstrating not only Jesus' absolute authority over demonic forces but also the devastating and self-destructive nature of evil spirits when given corporeal form, even in "unclean" bodies. It subtly prepares the reader for the shocking display of demonic power in their destruction of the pigs, indirectly underscoring the terrible torment endured by the man possessed.