Mark 5 3

Mark 5:3 kjv

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Mark 5:3 nkjv

who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,

Mark 5:3 niv

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.

Mark 5:3 esv

He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain,

Mark 5:3 nlt

This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain.

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 3 Meaning

Mark 5:3 profoundly describes the desperate state of the man possessed by an unclean spirit, encountered by Jesus in the region of the Gerasenes. It portrays his habitation in the desolate and ritually unclean tombs, signifying extreme social ostracization and deep spiritual defilement. Crucially, the verse highlights the supernatural strength bestowed upon him by the demonic legion, demonstrating that all human attempts to restrain or control him—even with the strongest chains—were utterly futile. This emphasizes the magnitude of the spiritual bondage and sets the stage for Jesus' unparalleled authority over such forces.

Mark 5 3 Context

Mark 5:3 is part of the account of Jesus' encounter with the Gerasene demoniac, which immediately follows the calming of the storm (Mk 4:35-41) and precedes the healing of Jairus's daughter and the woman with a hemorrhage. The Gerasene territory, being Gentile land, sets the scene for Jesus' ministry extending beyond Jewish boundaries. The verse vividly details the man's profound spiritual, social, and physical degradation. He is not merely an outcast but one whose demonic affliction has made him a danger to others and impervious to all human attempts at restraint. His dwelling among the tombs emphasizes his complete separation from society, the profound depth of his defilement according to Jewish law (contact with dead), and the macabre reality of his existence before the liberating power of Christ. This intense backdrop underscores the severity of the demonic grip and amplifies the transformative power Jesus will demonstrate.

Mark 5 3 Word analysis

• Who (ὃς - hos): Refers directly back to the man from the tombs mentioned in Mk 5:2. This connective word establishes continuity, identifying the subject of this description.
• had his dwelling (τὴν κατοίκησιν εἶχεν - tēn katoikēsin eichen):
  • κατοίκησιν (katoikēsin): Literally means "dwelling place," "habitation." This term suggests a settled, regular, or even permanent abode, rather than a transient visit. It signifies his established life within this abnormal environment.
  • εἶχεν (eichen): "he had." Together, it paints a picture of his adopted residence, emphasizing the long-term nature of his condition and extreme displacement from normal human society.
• among (ἐν - en): Indicates the location, "in" or "among."
• the tombs (τοῖς μνήμασιν - tois mnēmasin):
  • μνήμασιν (mnēmasin): Refers to graves, burial places, or rock-cut tombs. These were considered ritually unclean in Jewish law (e.g., Num 19:16) and were often isolated outside settlements. Living there meant complete defilement and social alienation, underscoring the severity of his condition. They were also popularly associated with evil spirits in ancient folklore.
• and no man (καὶ οὐδὲ εἷς - kai oude heis):
  • οὐδὲ εἷς (oude heis): An emphatic negative meaning "not even one" or "no one." It powerfully asserts the absolute failure of human attempts to control him, emphasizing the unmanageable nature of his condition.
• could bind him (ἠδύνατο αὐτὸν δῆσαι - ēdynato auton dēsai):
  • ἠδύνατο (ēdynato): "was able," "had the power to." The imperfect tense indicates continuous, repeated attempts in the past that were always unsuccessful.
  • αὐτὸν (auton): "him."
  • δῆσαι (dēsai): "to tie," "to bind." This speaks of restraint, attempts to control his violent behavior.
• no, not with chains (οὐκέτι οὐδὲ ἁλύσεσιν - ouketi oude halysesin):
  • οὐκέτι (ouketi): "no longer." This indicates a point where attempts to bind him became futile.
  • οὐδὲ (oude): "not even," an intensified negative, further stressing the futility.
  • ἁλύσεσιν (halysesin): "with chains." These were strong, metal restraints used for securing criminals or dangerous individuals. Their failure here dramatically highlights the demonic, superhuman strength of the man, distinguishing his affliction from mere madness.

Mark 5 3 Bonus section

• Polemics against human limitation: The verse directly contrasts human inability with divine power. The futile attempts to bind the man, even with strong chains, underscore the profound limits of human strength and solutions when faced with intense spiritual oppression.
• Symbolic "death": Living among tombs can be seen as symbolic of a spiritual death or a life devoid of normal human connection and experience, highlighting the destructive nature of the demonic presence.
• Preparatory narrative: This verse serves to escalate the intensity of the man's condition, making his subsequent healing all the more astonishing and demonstrating the unparalleled authority of Jesus over the forces of darkness. It sets a clear benchmark for the power Jesus would manifest.

Mark 5 3 Commentary

Mark 5:3 paints a stark portrait of profound human degradation and supernatural oppression. The man's "dwelling among the tombs" signifies an existence utterly cut off from human society, religious purity, and the very concept of life. This chosen residence amplifies his desperate state; it's a place of death, defilement, and isolation. Furthermore, the repeated failures of anyone to "bind him, no, not with chains" is critical. This detail goes beyond simply describing his wildness; it communicates that the power manifesting through him transcended normal human capabilities and physical restraints. Chains were the ultimate means of control for violent individuals in the ancient world, yet they were rendered useless by the demonic strength. This helplessness of human society against the "strong man" (a New Testament reference to Satan, cf. Mt 12:29) serves to magnify the impending display of Jesus' supreme and undisputed authority. He is introduced as the only one who can confront and conquer a power that has utterly defeated human ingenuity and strength, thereby preparing the audience for a demonstration of divine intervention.