Matthew 8:30 kjv
And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
Matthew 8:30 nkjv
Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.
Matthew 8:30 niv
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.
Matthew 8:30 esv
Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.
Matthew 8:30 nlt
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance.
Matthew 8 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 5:11 | Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. | Synoptic parallel of the event, reinforcing location and animal type. |
| Lk 8:32 | And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain. | Synoptic parallel, again confirming the herd's presence. |
| Lev 11:7 | And the swine, though he divide the hoof... unclean to you. | Establishes the ritual impurity of pigs for Jews. |
| Deut 14:8 | And the swine is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh. | Reiterates the prohibition against pigs as food and unclean animals. |
| Isa 65:4 | Which remain among the graves... which eat swine's flesh. | Links consuming pork with idolatry and defilement in Old Testament prophecy. |
| Isa 66:17 | They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens... eating swine's flesh. | Connects eating pork with those facing divine judgment. |
| Matt 8:28-29 | And when he was come to the other side... two possessed with devils... saying, What have we to do with thee...? | Immediate preceding context: the encounter with the demoniacs and demons recognizing Jesus. |
| Matt 8:31 | So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. | Demons' direct request to enter the pigs, building on their presence. |
| Matt 8:32 | And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place. | Jesus' command and the subsequent destruction of the herd. |
| Matt 4:24 | And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people... and those which were possessed with devils. | Jesus' reputation for healing and exorcism established early in Matthew. |
| Matt 12:43-45 | When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. | Explains the nature of unclean spirits seeking places to dwell or finding rest. |
| Matt 12:28 | But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. | Jesus' exorcisms are evidence of God's Kingdom breaking in. |
| Mk 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. | Emphasizes Jesus' unparalleled authority over unclean spirits. |
| Lk 4:36 | And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. | Further demonstration of Jesus' unique authority over demons. |
| Acts 10:9-16 | Peter's vision where unclean animals are declared clean, preparing him for ministry to Gentiles. | Illustrates the broader theme of God moving beyond traditional Jewish distinctions for a greater purpose. |
| Rom 14:14-17 | I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. | Paul's teaching on food laws in the New Covenant, though specific to pigs in this context, the presence here signifies the spiritual battle taking precedence. |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. | Refers to rebellious spiritual beings reserved for judgment, similar to what the demons feared (the "abyss"). |
| 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. | Connects unclean spirits with places of spiritual defilement. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. | States the fundamental purpose of Jesus' ministry regarding demonic forces. |
| Mk 5:1 | And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. | Establishes the Gentile region where the event occurred. |
| Lk 8:26 | And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. | Confirms the setting as Gentile territory across from Galilee. |
Matthew 8 verses
Matthew 8 30 Meaning
Matthew 8:30 describes a specific detail within the account of Jesus casting out demons in the region of the Gadarenes. It establishes that, at a considerable distance from where Jesus and the two demon-possessed men were, there was a large herd of pigs engaged in feeding. This seemingly simple observation is crucial, as it sets the immediate stage for the demons' plea to enter these very animals, thus preparing the narrative for the powerful display of Jesus' authority over spiritual forces and the subsequent destructive outcome. It also highlights the location's cultural context, likely a predominantly Gentile area, where pig farming, an abomination to Jews, was common.
Matthew 8 30 Context
Matthew 8:30 is part of a larger section (Matthew 8:23-9:38) demonstrating Jesus' divine authority over various elements: nature (stilling the storm, 8:23-27), disease (healing the leper, centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, many others, 8:1-17), and finally, demons (8:28-34). Specifically, this verse occurs in the account of Jesus' exorcism of two demon-possessed men in the country of the Gadarenes (or Gerasenes in other Gospels). This region was part of the Decapolis, a Hellenized area primarily populated by Gentiles. The presence of pigs, animals ritually unclean and forbidden for Jews (Lev 11:7, Deut 14:8), signals this Gentile cultural context, which is significant for understanding the local inhabitants' livelihood and their subsequent reaction to the destruction of their herd. The verse serves to set the stage for the dramatic and powerful request by the demons to be sent into these pigs.
Matthew 8 30 Word analysis
- Now (δέ - de): This Greek particle functions as a narrative conjunction, often translated as "and," "but," or "now." It indicates a slight break or transition in the narrative, subtly shifting the focus to a new detail within the scene. It highlights the unfolding of events in immediate sequence.
- a long way off (μακρὰν ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν - makran ap' autōn): The phrase denotes significant distance. It signifies that the herd was not immediately adjacent to where Jesus and the men were. This spatial separation might emphasize that the destination for the demons was already present but distinct, and their choice to enter the pigs was a deliberate request within Jesus' sovereign permission. It also means the event wasn't a sudden, unprompted panic for the pigs.
- from them (αὐτῶν - autōn): "Them" primarily refers to the demon-possessed men, implying their vicinity as the reference point for the distance. By extension, it also includes Jesus and His disciples, who are the central figures interacting with the men.
- a large herd (ἀγέλη πολλῶν - agelē pollōn): "Agelē" refers to a flock or herd, specifically of swine or cattle. "Pollōn" means "many" or "large." The size of the herd is emphasized across the Synoptic Gospels (Luke mentions "about two thousand"), indicating its significant economic value to the local community. This highlights the substantial material loss the local people were about to incur, influencing their later reaction to Jesus.
- of pigs (χοίρων - choiron): This is a critical word. In Jewish law and culture (Lev 11:7; Deut 14:8), pigs were considered supremely unclean animals. Their very presence implies a non-Jewish, likely Gentile, community that farmed them for sustenance or commerce. The irony of demons (unclean spirits) desiring to enter unclean animals is profound, and this detail would have underscored the severity of the demonic presence for Jewish readers while placing the story in a fitting locale for the broader narrative of Jesus' ministry to all.
- was feeding (βοσκομένη - boskomenē): This verb in the imperfect tense signifies an ongoing action in the past: the pigs were habitually, or at that moment, grazing or eating. It depicts a peaceful, routine scene immediately prior to the supernatural upheaval and violent destruction that was about to take place, highlighting the sudden and radical disruption caused by the demons.
Words-group analysis:
- "long way off... of many swine feeding": This phrase collectively sets the stage for the pivotal event. The "long way off" indicates the demons’ specific, conscious desire to enter that particular herd. The detail about "many swine feeding" makes clear what kind of animals were present, emphasizing their unclean nature and economic importance in the largely Gentile region, directly preceding the demons' petition. This phrase prepares the reader for the dramatic request and subsequent destructive action.
Matthew 8 30 Bonus section
The seemingly minor detail of the pigs' location ("a long way off") may highlight that the demons, even in their bound state before Jesus, possessed foresight or awareness of their surroundings, choosing a specific vessel. The selection of pigs as their destination might also reflect the destructive and unclean nature of evil itself. Spiritually, demons are destructive; materially, their chosen vessel brings economic destruction. This verse, by painting a vivid, mundane picture (a herd feeding), then amplifies the jarring contrast with the immediate spiritual disruption, demonstrating that even commonplace things can become instruments in the battle between divine authority and demonic malevolence. It foreshadows the townsfolk's preference for their livelihood over spiritual salvation, a recurrent theme throughout the Gospels.
Matthew 8 30 Commentary
Matthew 8:30 serves as a succinct but highly significant stage-setting verse within the Gadarene demoniac account. It strategically places a crucial detail – a large herd of unclean animals – within the immediate narrative space, yet at a distance that implies their fate was not random but a precise target for the disembodied demons. The explicit mention of "pigs" underscores the location's Gentile nature, reminding the Jewish reader of the spiritual and cultural boundaries Jesus was crossing with His ministry. This detail prepares the way for the demons' desperate request to inhabit these specific animals, revealing their aversion to the "abyss" (Lk 8:31) and their cunning attempt to persist on earth. The large number of pigs suggests a significant economic interest for the local community, subtly hinting at the conflict between the spiritual deliverance Jesus offers and the material values of humanity, which ultimately leads to the people of the region rejecting Jesus rather than embracing the freedom from demonic oppression. Thus, the verse, though simple, is dense with contextual and theological implications.