Mark 5:2 kjv
And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Mark 5:2 nkjv
And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Mark 5:2 niv
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
Mark 5:2 esv
And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
Mark 5:2 nlt
When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him.
Mark 5 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 8:28 | And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils... | Parallel account, multiple demons. |
| Lk 8:27 | And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils... | Parallel account, emphasis on immediate encounter. |
| Mk 1:23 | And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit... | Jesus encounters an unclean spirit early in ministry. |
| Mk 1:27 | ...What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. | Jesus' authority over unclean spirits. |
| Matt 12:43 | When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest... | Nature of unclean spirits. |
| Lk 10:19 | Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy... | Believer's authority over evil. |
| Col 2:15 | And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them... | Christ's triumph over spiritual forces. |
| Eph 6:12 | For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world... | Spiritual warfare nature. |
| Jas 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Resisting evil. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | ...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. | Jesus' mission to counteract the devil. |
| Num 19:16 | ...whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. | Tombs as sources of ritual impurity. |
| Isa 65:4 | Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments... | Associations of dwelling among tombs with idolatry/spiritism. |
| Mk 3:11 | And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. | Unclean spirits recognize Jesus' identity. |
| Acts 8:7 | For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed... | Expulsion of unclean spirits by apostles. |
| Rev 20:1-3 | And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain... and laid hold on the dragon... and cast him into the bottomless pit... | Final defeat and binding of evil. |
| Mk 4:35-41 | ...And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship... | Immediate preceding event: Jesus calming nature. |
| Mk 11:2-5 | ...go your way into the village over against you; and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied... | Mark's use of "immediately" to indicate rapid action. |
| Job 26:5 | Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. | Tombs/the dead and their association. |
| Mt 8:31 | So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. | Demons' preference for habitation. |
| Jn 14:30 | Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. | Satan as the "prince of this world." |
Mark 5 verses
Mark 5 2 Meaning
Upon disembarking from the boat, Jesus was immediately confronted by a man who was deeply afflicted by an unclean spirit. This initial encounter highlights the immediate presence and challenge of spiritual evil in the area where Jesus had just arrived, specifically in a place associated with death and ritual impurity.
Mark 5 2 Context
Mark chapter 5 opens directly after Jesus calms a furious storm on the Sea of Galilee, a demonstration of His power over nature (Mk 4:35-41). Having miraculously subdued the wind and waves, Jesus and His disciples arrive on the eastern shore, in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes/Gergesenes in parallel accounts), which was largely Gentile territory. Verse 2 immediately follows Jesus disembarking, emphasizing the direct, unavoidable confrontation between the authority of Christ and profound spiritual darkness. The immediate sequence from subduing natural chaos to confronting demonic chaos highlights the comprehensive scope of Jesus' power and mission.
Mark 5 2 Word analysis
- And when he was come out (Greek: kai exelthontos autou): This phrase indicates the moment Jesus set foot on land. The aorist participle implies a completed action right before the subsequent event. It emphasizes that the encounter happened as soon as Jesus had disembarked, without delay.
- of the ship (Greek: ek tou ploiou): Refers to the vessel used for crossing the Sea of Galilee. His arrival on the "other side" (a largely Gentile area) often signifies a step beyond conventional Jewish boundaries, emphasizing the universality of His ministry.
- immediately (Greek: euthys): This characteristic Marcan adverb is crucial. It signals immediacy and directness. In Mark's Gospel, "immediately" frequently underscores the swift, decisive action of Jesus, portraying a sense of urgency and constant motion in His ministry. Here, it conveys that Jesus' presence in this spiritually hostile territory immediately provokes a confrontation with its dominating evil force.
- there met him (Greek: hypēntēsen autō): More than just "happened upon," this verb implies a deliberate going forth to encounter, or even to oppose. It suggests a pre-arranged or instinctual response from the demonic realm to Jesus' arrival, signifying the direct clash between two kingdoms.
- out of the tombs (Greek: ek tōn mnēmeiōn): These are burial places or graves, typically carved caves or structures. In Jewish custom, tombs and corpses caused ritual impurity (Num 19:16). This man dwelling among them emphasizes his complete defilement and social ostracism. It symbolizes spiritual death and decay, making it a fitting dwelling for an "unclean spirit" and representing a stronghold of demonic influence.
- a man (Greek: anthrōpos): Simple designation for a human being. It reminds us that despite his horrific state and demonic oppression, he remains a human being created in God's image, deserving of compassion and capable of deliverance.
- with an unclean spirit (Greek: en pneumati akathartō):
- spirit (pneuma): Here refers to a malevolent, non-physical entity, a demon.
- unclean (akathartos): Signifies impurity, unholy, defiled. This is a common term used in Mark for demons Jesus casts out, emphasizing their defiling nature—spiritually, morally, and often physically. It directly contrasts with the holy and pure presence of Jesus. The man is not the spirit himself but is "in" or "with" (possessed by) it, indicating oppression and control by this entity.
Words-Group Analysis
- "And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him...": This entire phrase sequence emphasizes the sudden and unavoidable nature of the confrontation. Jesus, having just demonstrated control over nature's chaos, is immediately plunged into a spiritual battlefield upon setting foot on land. It establishes that spiritual warfare is not a secondary aspect but a primary and immediate reality of Jesus' ministry. The divine invasion of a Gentile territory results in immediate opposition from its demonic inhabitant.
- "out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit": This group vividly paints a picture of extreme degradation and spiritual bondage. The man's dwelling place signifies his total separation from community and his complete spiritual defilement. The presence of the unclean spirit underscores the depth of his affliction and the malevolent force at work, representing a significant challenge to Jesus' authority. It juxtaposes the Lord of Life entering a domain of death and ritual impurity.
Mark 5 2 Bonus section
The eastern shore of Galilee, where Jesus landed, was predominantly Gentile territory, meaning that the encounter takes place outside traditional Jewish sacred space. The Jewish law considered contact with tombs and dead bodies as a major source of ritual impurity, rendering a person ceremonially defiled (Num 19:11-16). Yet, Jesus, embodying divine purity, directly enters this "unclean" environment to bring cleansing and deliverance, transcending the boundaries of ritual law for the sake of radical compassion and restoration. This setting subtly anticipates the broader scope of the Gospel's reach to all peoples, regardless of their ritual status or geographic location. The detailed description of the man and his dwelling highlights the radical nature of Jesus' love and power that reaches into the deepest forms of human suffering and demonic oppression.
Mark 5 2 Commentary
Mark 5:2 immediately draws the reader into the intensity of Jesus' ministry. No sooner does Jesus arrive on a largely Gentile shore, following His miraculous calming of the storm, than He encounters an epitome of spiritual darkness. The description of the man dwelling "out of the tombs" is potent, signaling extreme defilement and social alienation, a life lived literally among the dead, enslaved by an "unclean spirit." Mark's characteristic "immediately" emphasizes the direct, unavoidable clash between Jesus' divine authority and the deep-seated spiritual opposition. This initial confrontation is not accidental but orchestrated, showcasing that Jesus' mission extends beyond physical healing or controlling nature; it directly confronts and triumphs over the very forces of spiritual evil. It serves as an immediate, visceral illustration of Jesus bringing light into the deepest shadows and purity into the most defiled places.