Matthew 8:31

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

The demons begged him, "If you are going to drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."

Berean Standard Bible:

So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

American Standard Version:

And the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

So^{G1161} the devils^{G1142} besought^{G3870} him^{G846}, saying^{G3004}, If^{G1487} thou cast^{G1544} us^{G2248} out^{G1544}, suffer^{G2010} us^{G2254} to go away^{G565} into^{G1519} the herd^{G34} of swine^{G5519}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Revelation 20:1

¶ And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

Revelation 20:2

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Mark 5:12

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

Luke 8:30

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Luke 8:33

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Mark 5:7

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.

Revelation 12:12

¶ Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

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Commentary for Matthew 8:31

Matthew 8:31 is part of the narrative where Jesus encounters two demon-possessed men in the region of the Gadarenes, also known as the Gerasene demoniac in some manuscripts. This event occurs shortly after Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating His authority over nature. The verse captures a moment within a larger story of exorcism and deliverance, reflecting the theme of Jesus' power over the spiritual realm and the forces of evil.

In the historical context of the time, demon possession was a reality acknowledged by Jewish and Hellenistic cultures. The presence of a herd of swine indicates a Gentile area, as Jews considered pigs unclean and did not raise them. The request of the demons to be cast into the swine reveals their understanding that they cannot remain in the presence of Jesus, who embodies divine holiness and authority. It also foreshadows the destructive nature of evil, as the subsequent verses describe the demons entering the swine, causing them to rush down a steep bank into the sea, leading to their drowning.

The themes of this verse include the stark contrast between the holy and the unclean, the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, and the mercy of Jesus in delivering the afflicted from the grasp of demonic forces. The dialogue between the demons and Jesus underscores the respect that even the demonic realm has for Jesus' divine authority. This event serves as a powerful sign to the onlookers of Jesus' identity as the Messiah with authority over spiritual forces and anticipates the broader mission of Jesus to confront and ultimately defeat evil through His death and resurrection.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Strong's Number: G1142
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δαίμων
Transliteration: daímōn
Pronunciation: dah'-ee-mown
Description: from (to distribute fortunes); a dæmon or supernatural spirit (of a bad nature):--devil.
Strong's Number: G3870
There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: παρακαλέω
Transliteration: parakaléō
Pronunciation: par-ak-al-eh'-o
Description: from παρά and καλέω; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
Strong's Number: G1487
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰ
Transliteration: ei
Pronunciation: i
Description: a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μή(γε), εἰ καί, εἰ μή, εἰ μή τι, εἴ περ, εἴ πως, εἴ τις, ἐκ. See also ἐάν.
Strong's Number: G1544
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐκβάλλω
Transliteration: ekbállō
Pronunciation: ek-bal'-lo
Description: from ἐκ and βάλλω; to eject (literally or figuratively):--bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out).
Strong's Number: G2248
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἡμᾶς
Transliteration: hēmâs
Pronunciation: hay-mas'
Description: accusative case plural of ἐγώ; us:--our, us, we.
Strong's Number: G2010
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπιτρέπω
Transliteration: epitrépō
Pronunciation: ep-ee-trep'-o
Description: from ἐπί and the base of τροπή; to turn over (transfer), i.e. allow:--give leave (liberty, license), let, permit, suffer.
Strong's Number: G2254
There are 167 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἡμῖν
Transliteration: hēmîn
Pronunciation: hay-meen'
Description: dative case plural of ἐγώ; to (or for, with, by) us:--our, (for) us, we.
Strong's Number: G565
There are 2564 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀπέρχομαι
Transliteration: apérchomai
Pronunciation: ap-erkh'-om-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ἔρχομαι; to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or figuratively:--come, depart, go (aside, away, back, out, … ways), pass away, be past.
Strong's Number: G1519
There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰς
Transliteration: eis
Pronunciation: ice
Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G34
There are 1427 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀγέλη
Transliteration: agélē
Pronunciation: ag-el'-ay
Description: from ἄγω (compare ἄγγελος); a drove:--herd.
Strong's Number: G5519
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χοῖρος
Transliteration: choîros
Pronunciation: khoy'-ros
Description: of uncertain derivation; a hog:--swine.

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