Matthew 8:28 kjv

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Matthew 8:28 nkjv

When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.

Matthew 8:28 niv

When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

Matthew 8:28 esv

And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.

Matthew 8:28 nlt

When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.

Matthew 8 verses

Matthew 8 28 Meaning

Matthew 8:28 recounts Jesus' arrival on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, a region largely inhabited by Gentiles, where He immediately encounters two severely demon-possessed men emerging from the tombs. These men were so violent and dangerous that they rendered the road impassable for travelers. The verse highlights the depth of human suffering under demonic influence and sets the stage for a powerful demonstration of Jesus' absolute authority over evil spiritual forces.

Matthew 8 28 Context

Matthew 8 follows the Sermon on the Mount, immediately showcasing Jesus' divine authority through powerful actions, validating His teachings. The chapter begins with Jesus healing a leper (8:1-4), then the Roman centurion's servant (8:5-13), and Peter's mother-in-law (8:14-15), demonstrating His authority over sickness and disease, extending even to Gentiles and women. After calming a storm on the sea (8:23-27), illustrating His power over nature, Jesus proceeds to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This deliberate move into Gentile territory (the Gadarene/Gerasene region, part of the Decapolis) demonstrates His mission extending beyond Jewish borders, a crucial element for understanding this encounter with demon-possessed individuals dwelling in a ritually unclean place (tombs). The sequence of miracles underscores Jesus' comprehensive dominion: over disease, nature, and now over the very forces of spiritual evil. This confrontation directly challenges prevailing superstitions and showcases His unique divine power.

Matthew 8 28 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A transitional conjunction, linking this event directly to Jesus calming the storm, highlighting a continuous sequence of divine manifestations of power.
• when He had come (ἐλθόντος αὐτοῦ - elthontos autou): Signifies a purposeful arrival. Jesus intentionally journeyed to this region, demonstrating His proactive engagement with areas outside traditional Jewish ministry.
• to the other side (εἰς τὸ πέραν - eis to peran): Refers to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, a distinct geographical and cultural shift from Jewish Galilee. This denotes entering primarily Gentile territory.
• into the region of the Gadarenes (εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν - eis tēn chōran tōn Gadarenōn): Identifies the specific locale. While parallel accounts use "Gerasenes," Gadara was a prominent Hellenistic city in the Decapolis, emphasizing the non-Jewish, Greco-Roman setting. It signals Jesus’ ministry breaking geographical and ethnic boundaries.
• two men (δύο ἀνθρωποι - duo anthrōpoi): Matthew uniquely mentions two men where Mark and Luke state one. This often aligns with Matthew’s emphasis on the validity of testimony through multiple witnesses (cf. Dt 19:15) or highlights the magnitude of the problem Jesus faced. It underscores the severity of the demonic stronghold.
• possessed with demons (δαιμονιζόμενοι - daimonizomenoi): Indicates actual control or influence by evil spirits, not mere mental illness. It speaks to a supernatural affliction, showing the pervasive nature of spiritual darkness in the world.
• coming out of the tombs (ἐκ τῶν μνημείων ἐξερχόμενοι - ek tōn mnēmeiōn exerchomenoi): Tombs were considered highly ritually unclean in Jewish tradition (Num 19:16). Their dwelling in such places signifies utter social ostracization, spiritual defilement, and a profound alienation from human society, mirroring their bondage to death and evil. This habitat symbolizes their utter brokenness and separation from life.
• met Him (ὑπήντησαν αὐτῷ - hypēntēsan autō): Suggests an immediate, perhaps confrontational, encounter upon Jesus' arrival. The demons, through the men, recognized Jesus' presence and divine authority instantly, indicating they were not seeking help but rather encountered the One who came to confront them.
• exceedingly fierce (χαλεποὶ λίαν - chalepoi lian): "Difficult," "dangerous," "savage," or "violent." This emphasizes the profound and destructive nature of their demonic affliction, highlighting the significant threat they posed to anyone approaching them.
• so that no one could pass by that road (ὥστε μὴ ἰσχύειν τινὰ παρελθεῖν διὰ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἐκείνης - hōste mē iskhyein tina parelthein dia tēs hodou ekeinēs): Illustrates the extent of their uncontrolled violence and the complete disruption they caused to daily life and travel. It demonstrates the real and debilitating power of the demonic realm on human existence and society.

Matthew 8 28 Bonus section

This episode highlights several significant theological points often observed in scholarly discussions:

• Jesus' Intentionality: Jesus did not accidentally stumble upon these men. His journey across the sea into unclean territory signals a purposeful confrontation with evil and an extension of His redemptive work to those most marginalized and defiled.
• Jewish Polemic: Dwelling in tombs was abhorrent to Jewish sensibility (Num 19:16; Isa 65:4). By liberating those enslaved in such a place, Jesus implicitly challenges the Jewish legalistic understanding of defilement versus His power to purify.
• The Number of Demoniacs: Matthew’s inclusion of two men (versus Mark and Luke’s one) might serve several purposes: strengthening the witness (as per Jewish law needing two or three witnesses), emphasizing the scale of spiritual opposition, or showing that Jesus' power is not diminished by increased resistance. It further demonstrates the comprehensiveness of His authority.
• Preparation for Gentile Mission: This healing foreshadows the widespread Gentile mission preached by the apostles after Jesus' resurrection, demonstrating Jesus' authority to bring salvation and freedom to all peoples, regardless of their background or current state of spiritual bondage.

Matthew 8 28 Commentary

Matthew 8:28 is a pivotal verse, shifting Jesus' power demonstration from physical ailments and natural forces to direct confrontation with spiritual evil. Jesus' deliberate journey to the region of the Gadarenes signifies the expansive reach of His kingdom beyond Jewish boundaries into Gentile lands. The setting—tombs—symbolizes the profound spiritual and physical defilement and isolation of the demoniacs, representing humanity’s extreme brokenness under the dominion of death and evil. The description of the men as "exceedingly fierce" and impassable underscores the overwhelming destructive power of demonic oppression. This verse immediately sets up a direct, undeniable clash between the divine authority of Jesus, the Son of God, and the forces of darkness, revealing His absolute supremacy over every adversary and initiating His conquest in regions previously thought to be completely under demonic sway. It illustrates Jesus’ ministry not merely as one of healing, but as a spiritual warfare campaign against Satan's kingdom, showcasing His unmatched authority to reclaim what is lost and bring light to the deepest places of darkness.