Mark 5:16
New International Version
Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well.

New Living Translation
Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs.

English Standard Version
And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs.

Berean Standard Bible
Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs.

Berean Literal Bible
And those having seen it related to them how it happened to the one being possessed by demons, and concerning the pigs.

King James Bible
And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

New King James Version
And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.

New American Standard Bible
Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs.

NASB 1995
Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine.

NASB 1977
And those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine.

Legacy Standard Bible
And those who had seen it recounted to them how this had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine.

Amplified Bible
Those who had seen it described [in detail] to the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man, and [told them all] about the pigs.

Christian Standard Bible
Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs.

American Standard Version
And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.

Contemporary English Version
Everyone who had seen what had happened told about the man and the pigs.

English Revised Version
And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with devils, and concerning the swine.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those who saw this told what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs.

Good News Translation
Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the man with the demons, and about the pigs.

International Standard Version
The people who had seen it told them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs.

Majority Standard Bible
Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs.

NET Bible
Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs.

New Heart English Bible
And those who saw it declared to them how it happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they that saw it told them how it befell him that was possessed with the demon, and also concerning the swine.

Weymouth New Testament
And those who had seen it told them the particulars of what had happened to the demoniac, and all about the swine.

World English Bible
Those who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and those having seen [it], declared to them how it had come to pass to the demoniac, and about the pigs;

Berean Literal Bible
And those having seen it related to them how it happened to the one being possessed by demons, and concerning the pigs.

Young's Literal Translation
and those having seen it, declared to them how it had come to pass to the demoniac, and about the swine;

Smith's Literal Translation
And they having seen, recounted to them how it was to him possessed with the demon, and concerning the swine.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they that had seen it, told them, in what manner he had been dealt with who had the devil; and concerning the swine.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And those who had seen it explained to them how he had dealt with the man who had the demon, and about the swine.

New American Bible
Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine.

New Revised Standard Version
Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And those who saw it told them just how it happened to the lunatic and also to the swine.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And those who had seen how it had been with him whom the evil spirits had possessed, reported to them, and also about those swine.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And those who had seen it told them how it had happened to the demoniac, and also concerning the swine.

Godbey New Testament
And those seeing, related to them how it happened to the demonized man and concerning the swine.

Haweis New Testament
And they who saw the transaction, told them how it had been with the demoniac, and concerning the swine.

Mace New Testament
and when the eye-witnesses had related what had pass'd with respect to the demoniack, and to the swine:

Weymouth New Testament
And those who had seen it told them the particulars of what had happened to the demoniac, and all about the swine.

Worrell New Testament
And those who saw it declared to them how it befell the demoniac, and concerning the swine.

Worsley New Testament
And when those that saw it told them what had happened to the demoniac,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Demons and the Pigs
15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs. 17And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.…

Cross References
Matthew 8:33
Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men.

Luke 8:36
Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

Matthew 9:31
But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.

Luke 8:37
Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.

John 11:45-46
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him. / But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Acts 4:16
“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.

Matthew 12:22-24
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see. / The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” / But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”

Luke 11:14-15
One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed, / but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”

John 9:26-34
“What did He do to you?” they asked. “How did He open your eyes?” / He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” / Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses. ...

Acts 19:17
This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

Exodus 4:14-16
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. / You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do. / He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and it will be as if you were God to him.

1 Samuel 10:5-6
After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. / Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.

1 Kings 18:38-39
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench. / When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

2 Kings 5:14-15
So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean. / Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

Isaiah 35:5-6
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. / Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.


Treasury of Scripture

And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

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Account Befell Declared Demon Demoniac Demon-Possessed Demons Described Devil Evil Fate Pigs Possessed Related Spirits Swine
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Account Befell Declared Demon Demoniac Demon-Possessed Demons Described Devil Evil Fate Pigs Possessed Related Spirits Swine
Mark 5
1. Jesus delivering the possessed of the legion of demons,
13. they enter into the pigs.
22. He is entreated by Jairus to go and heal his daughter.
25. He heals the woman subject to bleeding,
35. and raises Jairus' daughter from death.














Those who had seen it
This phrase refers to the eyewitnesses of the miraculous event. In the context of Mark 5, these are likely the herdsmen who were tending the pigs. Eyewitness testimony is a critical element in the Gospels, providing credibility and authenticity to the accounts of Jesus' miracles. The presence of witnesses underscores the public nature of Jesus' ministry and the undeniable impact of His works.

described what had happened
The act of describing indicates a detailed recounting of events. This suggests that the witnesses were compelled to share the extraordinary nature of what they observed. In the cultural context of the time, oral tradition was a primary means of communication, and such testimonies would spread rapidly. This aligns with the biblical theme of bearing witness to God's power and glory, as seen in other scriptural accounts where witnesses play a crucial role in spreading the news of Jesus' works (e.g., John 4:39).

to the demon-possessed man
The man in question was possessed by a legion of demons, indicating a severe spiritual affliction. This highlights Jesus' authority over the spiritual realm, a recurring theme in the Gospels. The deliverance of the man is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' compassion and power to restore individuals to wholeness. This event fulfills the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 61:1, where the Messiah is described as one who will proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

and also to the pigs
The pigs, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned. This dramatic event serves as a visible sign of the demons' departure and the extent of their destructive power. The loss of the pigs also reflects the economic impact on the local community, which may have contributed to their fear and request for Jesus to leave the region. Theologically, this incident illustrates the cost of spiritual deliverance and the value of a human soul over material possessions, echoing Jesus' teaching in Matthew 16:26 about the worth of a soul.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
- The central figure in the Gospel of Mark, who performs the miracle of casting out demons.

2. Demon-Possessed Man
- A man tormented by a legion of demons, living among the tombs, and unable to be restrained by chains.

3. The Pigs
- A herd of about two thousand pigs that the demons enter after being cast out of the man, subsequently rushing down a steep bank into the sea and drowning.

4. The Gerasenes
- The region where this event takes place, located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

5. Witnesses
- Those who observed the miracle and reported it to others, including the townspeople and those tending the pigs.
Teaching Points
Authority of Christ
Jesus demonstrates His supreme authority over the spiritual realm, reminding us of His power to deliver us from any bondage.

Transformation
The radical change in the demon-possessed man illustrates the transformative power of Christ in a believer's life.

Witnessing
The role of the witnesses in spreading the news of Jesus' miracle encourages us to share our testimonies of His work in our lives.

Value of Human Life
The loss of the pigs highlights the value Jesus places on human life and spiritual well-being over material possessions.

Fear and Faith
The reaction of the townspeople, who were afraid and asked Jesus to leave, challenges us to respond to Jesus' power with faith rather than fear.Verses 16, 17. - How it befell him that was pessessed with devils, and concerning the swine. The loss of the swine. They could not get over that. They thought far more of the worldly loss than of the spiritual gain; and they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. St. Luke (Luke 8:37) says that "they were taken (συνείχοντο) [literally, were holden] with great fear." This was the dominant feeling. They did not entreat him to depart out of humility, as though they felt themselves unworthy of his presence; but out of servile, slavish fear, lest his continued presence among them might bring upon them still greater losses. They saw that Jesus, a Jew according to the flesh, was holy, powerful, Divine. But they knew that they were Gentiles, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. Wherefore they feared lest he should punish them more grievously, both on account of their being Gentiles and on account of their past sins. It was not, therefore, so much on account of hatred, as out of a timorous fear, that they besought Jesus that he would depart out of their borders.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Those
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

who had seen [it]
ἰδόντες (idontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

described
διηγήσαντο (diēgēsanto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1334: To relate in full, describe, narrate. From dia and hegeomai; to relate fully.

what
πῶς (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

had happened
ἐγένετο (egeneto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

demon-possessed man
δαιμονιζομένῳ (daimonizomenō)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1139: To be possessed, be under the power of an evil-spirit or demon. Middle voice from daimon; to be exercised by a d?Mon.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[also to]
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

pigs.
χοίρων (choirōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5519: A swine, hog, sow. Of uncertain derivation; a hog.


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