Mark 5 7

Mark 5:7 kjv

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

Mark 5:7 nkjv

And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."

Mark 5:7 niv

He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name don't torture me!"

Mark 5:7 esv

And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."

Mark 5:7 nlt

With a shriek, he screamed, "Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don't torture me!"

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 7 Meaning

Mark 5:7 records a powerful and desperate cry from a demon-possessed man, who, speaking through the demonic spirit, immediately recognized Jesus' true identity and supreme authority. The demon confesses Jesus as the "Son of the Most High God" and, fearing immediate and ultimate judgment, pleads with Jesus not to torment it. This declaration, though hostile, serves as an undeniable testimony to Jesus' divine nature and His absolute power over all spiritual forces of evil.

Mark 5 7 Context

Mark 5:7 is situated within the account of Jesus encountering the Gerasene demoniac, shortly after calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41). Jesus and His disciples have crossed into gentile territory on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, a region predominantly populated by Gentiles and known for pig-farming (which was anathema to Jews). The man described as possessed by "Legion" was uncontrollably violent, living among tombs, and binding himself with chains only to break free. This extreme depiction emphasizes the overwhelming power of the demonic presence. Upon seeing Jesus, the demon-possessed man immediately ran to Him, bowing down in involuntary homage before uttering this declaration. The passage highlights Jesus' undisputed authority over spiritual darkness, even in a non-Jewish setting, and serves as a foundational instance where a non-human entity identifies Jesus with explicit divine titles.

Mark 5 7 Word analysis

• And crying out (κραυγάζων - krazogzōn) with a loud voice (φωνῇ μεγάλῃ - phōnē megalē):
  • "Crying out": Signifies a strong, often distressed, shout or wail. It implies an involuntary and intense outburst, not a polite address. This "cry" is compelled by Jesus' presence and authority.
  • "with a loud voice": Emphasizes the public, undeniable nature of the declaration. It was not a private thought but a forceful, audible proclamation meant to be heard. The sound carries the urgency and terror of the demonic entity. This vocalization is an uncontrolled eruption of recognition and fear, serving to highlight the raw power of Jesus that evokes such a response.
• he said (εἶπεν - eipen):
  • Refers to the demon, speaking through the man, articulating its thoughts directly. Despite its 'cry,' the speech is intelligible, conveying a direct challenge and plea.
• “What have you to do with me (Τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί - Ti emoi kai soi), Jesus, Son (Υἱὲ - Huie) of the Most High God (τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ Ὑψίστου - tou Theou tou Hupsistou)?”
  • "What have you to do with me?": This is a direct translation of a common Semitic idiom expressing opposition, protest, or an attempt to establish distance and boundary. It's a statement of "Leave me alone!" or "Why are you interfering with me?" The demon tries to assert its territory and autonomy against Jesus' encroaching presence. It's a protest against Jesus' rightful intrusion into its domain, implicitly acknowledging Jesus' right to interfere, but resisting it.
  • "Jesus": The personal name is used, indicating precise recognition. It carries inherent authority, representing "YHWH saves." Even demons acknowledge this name's power.
  • "Son of the Most High God": A profound and ironic theological confession coming from a demon.
    • "Son": Points to a unique, filial relationship with God, denoting divine essence and shared nature. This is a claim to divinity and absolute authority, recognized by the demonic realm.
    • "the Most High God": Translates the Hebrew El Elyon, an Old Testament title emphasizing God's supremacy, transcendence, and universal sovereignty. This title suggests God is above all other gods, powers, and spiritual forces, highlighting Jesus' connection to the ultimate authority in the universe. The demon's confession is a coerced admission of Jesus' supreme divine identity, standing over all created and spiritual beings, even those in rebellion. It acknowledges Jesus' ultimate heavenly origin and authority.
• I implore (ὁρκίζω σε - horkizō se) you by God (τὸν Θεόν - ton Theon), do not torment me (μὴ με βασανίσῃς - mē me basanisēis).”
  • "I implore you": Literally, "I put you under oath" or "I adjure you." This is a solemn plea, attempting to invoke a higher divine authority (God Himself) to bind Jesus or constrain His actions. It is a desperate, yet cunning, tactic, trying to leverage divine principles against the Divine Son. The demon is not begging for mercy based on kindness but trying to compel Jesus by a sacred bond.
  • "by God": Reinforces the attempt to adjure. The demon appeals to God, implying that if Jesus acts, it would somehow go against God's divine timing or plan for their judgment. This indicates the demons' belief in God's ultimate justice and authority, even over Jesus' immediate power.
  • "do not torment me": This is the core of their desperate plea.
    • "torment" (βασανίζω - basanizō): Means to afflict with great pain, distress, or torture, physically or mentally. This is a common term for divine judgment and eternal suffering of the wicked and fallen angels.
    • The phrase expresses the demons' fear of their rightful and impending punishment, particularly anticipating their eternal dwelling in fire (Rev 20:10, Matt 25:41). They fear both an immediate punitive action from Jesus and the eschatological judgment they know awaits them "before the time" (Matt 8:29). This reveals the terror and future understanding of the demonic realm concerning God's judgment.

Words-group analysis

• "And crying out with a loud voice, he said": This opening sets a scene of urgent, undeniable proclamation. The sheer volume and intensity highlight the compelling force Jesus' presence has on the spiritual realm. It is not a gentle address but a compelled shout of terror and recognition.
• “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”: This is a dramatic juxtaposition. It combines an expression of antagonism and territorial defiance ("What have you to do with me?") with the highest possible recognition of divine identity and authority ("Jesus, Son of the Most High God"). It encapsulates the paradox of demonic rebellion: they know Jesus' supreme authority yet resist it, implicitly recognizing their doomed fate. This serves as a powerful, involuntary confession of Jesus' deity.
• "I implore you by God, do not torment me.”: This phrase reveals the depth of demonic fear and their understanding of their ultimate destiny. The "implore by God" is a desperate, perhaps calculated, attempt to avert or postpone their rightful suffering. It underscores that spiritual forces know of divine judgment and eternal punishment. They do not fear Jesus as a mere man, but as the one holding ultimate authority over their fate.

Mark 5 7 Bonus section

• The Unsolicited Confession: It's significant that a demon delivers one of the most explicit confessions of Jesus' divinity early in His ministry, especially in gentile territory. This starkly contrasts with the often-misguided or incomplete understanding of human onlookers or even disciples.
• Divine vs. Demonic Knowledge: While the demons possess true theological knowledge of Jesus' identity, this knowledge does not lead to worship or obedience but to fear and a desperate attempt to avoid judgment. This highlights the distinction between mere intellectual assent to truth and true saving faith (Jas 2:19).
• "Their Time": The phrase "before the time" in Matthew's parallel (Matt 8:29) points to the demons' awareness of a specific, divinely appointed eschatological judgment. This implies they have foreknowledge of their final doom but attempt to forestall or circumvent it.
• Polemics against Idolatry: By identifying Jesus as the "Son of the Most High God," this demon implicitly rejects all other deities or spirits that might be worshipped in that region, placing Jesus, and the God He represents, as supreme over all pagan gods and their influence. It's an affirmation of monotheism from an enemy source.

Mark 5 7 Commentary

Mark 5:7 is a striking moment that lays bare the spiritual hierarchy of the cosmos. The demon, representing a legion of evil spirits, immediately recognizes Jesus' true identity as the "Son of the Most High God." This spontaneous, unprompted confession is profound because it comes from an unexpected, hostile source, validating Jesus' divine nature even before many human beings grasp it. The "Most High God" title highlights God's absolute sovereignty and transcendence, placing Jesus firmly within that ultimate authority. The demon's desperate plea, "do not torment me," reveals its understanding of its inevitable fate: eternal judgment and suffering for rebellious spiritual beings. Their fear is not merely of physical pain, but of immediate punitive action and their predetermined eschatological torment, for which "their time" has not yet fully arrived (Matt 8:29). This verse powerfully illustrates Jesus' absolute power over all demonic forces, proving Him to be the Christ, the true King whose presence directly threatens the kingdom of darkness. It teaches that even evil spirits believe in God and tremble, not out of saving faith, but out of fear of divine justice.