Matthew 8:31 kjv

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

Matthew 8:31 nkjv

So the demons begged Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine."

Matthew 8:31 niv

The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."

Matthew 8:31 esv

And the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs."

Matthew 8:31 nlt

So the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs."

Matthew 8 verses

Matthew 8 31 Meaning

This verse describes the plea of the demons, recognizing Jesus' authority to cast them out, and requesting permission to enter a nearby herd of pigs. It highlights the demons' desperation to avoid being left without a body or consigned to an undesirable spiritual realm, demonstrating their preference for possessing any physical host rather than enduring such a state.

Matthew 8 31 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' mighty works in Matthew Chapter 8, following His calming of the storm and preceding the return of the Gaderenes. Having just displayed authority over nature, Jesus now demonstrates His unparalleled authority over spiritual forces. The two demon-possessed men in the country of the Gergesenes/Gadarenes are terrifying, and local people live in fear. These demons recognize Jesus' divine authority and His impending judgment upon them. Their request to enter the herd of pigs is born out of fear of greater punishment, specifically being sent to the "abyss" (as detailed in parallel accounts), and a preference for any physical dwelling. The region itself, populated by Gentiles (evidenced by the pig herds), sets a stage for Jesus' power extending beyond Israel, challenging traditional Jewish boundaries regarding clean/unclean, and hinting at the universality of His redemptive mission.

Matthew 8 31 Word analysis

• And the demons: (Greek: δαιμόνια, daimonia). This term refers to malevolent spiritual beings. The plural indicates a multitude, confirmed by parallel accounts that describe a "Legion." Their direct communication signifies conscious, intelligent, and spiritual entities, not mere psychological phenomena. They were aware of Jesus' identity and power, despite humans not fully comprehending it.
• begged him: (Greek: παρεκάλουν, parekaloun). This word is in the imperfect tense, suggesting repeated or ongoing pleading. It indicates a desperate supplication, highlighting their total submission to Jesus' will. They were not negotiating as equals but appealing to a superior authority for leniency, revealing their lack of inherent power against Jesus.
• saying: Indicates direct vocal communication from the spiritual realm into the physical.
• 'If you cast us out,': (Greek: εἰ ἐκβάλλεις ἡμᾶς, ei ekballeis hēmas). This is a conditional clause, acknowledging Jesus' power and intent to expel them forcibly (ekballeis means to "throw out" or "expel"). It shows their awareness of His purpose to liberate the men. This also suggests they are aware of consequences for the unrighteous in relation to "leaving their own proper dwelling."
• send us away into: (Greek: πέμψον ἡμᾶς εἰς, pempson hēmas eis). This is a command to Jesus, but one made as a desperate plea. They desire a specific destination rather than being left disembodied or confined to the abyss (Lk 8:31), a place of severe restriction and pre-judgment.
• the herd of pigs: (Greek: τὴν ἀγέλην τῶν χοίρων, tēn agelēn tōn choirōn). A literal herd of unclean animals. The demons prefer even this unholy dwelling over being "bodiless" or consigned to the dreaded abyss. This choice reflects their malevolent nature, possibly aiming for destruction or simply grasping for any temporary refuge. From a Jewish perspective, pigs were ceremonially unclean (Lev 11:7-8), further highlighting the demonic embrace of impurity.
• 'If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs': This entire phrase encapsulates the demons' strategic negotiation. They acknowledge Jesus' irresistible power to expel them and their powerlessness to resist it. Their request to enter the pigs is a preference for a lesser evil, a temporary dwelling that still allows for activity, rather than direct judgment or a state of complete restriction in the "abyss." It suggests a fundamental demonic fear of being deprived of physical bodies to inhabit and influence, a preference seen in other scriptures where spirits seek rest in "waterless places" (Lk 11:24) when unhoused. This also demonstrates their cunning nature, possibly aiming to cause economic damage to the region or simply exert their will on anything they could.

Matthew 8 31 Bonus section

• Demonic Intelligence and Recognition: The demons here (and elsewhere in the Gospels, Mk 1:24, Lk 4:34) demonstrate supernatural knowledge, recognizing Jesus as the "Son of God" or "Holy One of God." This recognition far surpasses that of most people at the time and reveals their understanding of divine hierarchy and ultimate judgment.
• The Problem of Unclean Animals: For a Jewish audience, the very presence of a large herd of pigs underscored the gentile nature of the Gadarene region. This context subtly highlights Jesus' ministry reaching beyond Jewish boundaries and challenging their notions of ritual cleanness. While Jews could not consume pigs, their economic value to Gentiles was substantial.
• The Villagers' Response: Subsequent to this verse, the townspeople react to the immense loss of their herd by asking Jesus to leave (Mt 8:34). This unfortunate response often points to people prioritizing economic stability and worldly comfort over spiritual liberation and the presence of God's saving power. It underscores humanity's struggle to embrace the spiritual at material cost.
• The "Abyss" and Demonic Fear: While Matthew 8:31 does not explicitly mention the "abyss," parallel accounts (Lk 8:31) do. The Greek word abyssos (ἀβύσσος) refers to a bottomless pit or primordial chaos. In Jewish and early Christian understanding, it was often seen as a temporary prison for evil spirits or a place of initial judgment for some demons, to be cast into the eternal lake of fire later (Rev 20:1-3). The demons' plea to enter pigs rather than the abyss reveals their profound fear of this spiritual confinement and immediate pre-judgment.

Matthew 8 31 Commentary

Matthew 8:31 is a potent demonstration of Jesus' absolute and sovereign authority over the spiritual realm. Even malevolent spiritual beings like demons are utterly subject to Him. Their "begging" reveals their lack of power in His presence, indicating that they could only act by His permission. They acknowledged His capacity to "cast them out" unconditionally, implying they understood their expulsion was inevitable. Their subsequent plea to enter the pigs highlights a critical aspect of demonic nature: their strong desire for embodiment, even in animals, to exert their influence or avoid immediate confinement in the dreaded abyss, a concept shared with fallen angels (Jude 1:6). Jesus granting this permission, though seemingly curious, served to expose the true destructive power and nature of the demons when they subsequently drowned the herd of pigs. This tragic outcome clearly illustrates the inherent malice of evil spirits, prioritizing even the destruction of animals over spiritual desolation, and serves as a powerful testament to the severity of what Jesus extracted from the men. This miracle reaffirms that Jesus' ministry was not merely about physical healing but also liberation from the most formidable spiritual bondage.