And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} asked {G1905} him {G846}, saying {G3004}, What {G5101} is {G2076} thy {G4671} name {G3686}? And {G1161} he said {G2036}, Legion {G3003}: because {G3754} many {G4183} devils {G1140} were entered {G1525} into {G1519} him {G846}.
Yeshua asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he said, because many demons had entered him.
“What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; for many demons were entered into him.
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Matthew 26:53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? -
Luke 8:2
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, -
Mark 16:9
¶ Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first [day] of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. -
Matthew 8:29
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? -
Mark 5:9
And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many.
Luke 8:30 records a pivotal moment in Jesus' encounter with a man severely tormented by evil spirits. After crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and His disciples arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, where they were immediately met by this demon-possessed man.
Context of Luke 8:30
This verse is part of the dramatic narrative of the Gerasene demoniac, also recounted in Matthew 8:28-34 and Mark 5:1-20. Jesus had just demonstrated His power over nature by calming a storm, and now He confronts the most intense spiritual darkness. The man, who had been living among tombs, was so violent that no one could bind him. Jesus' direct question, "What is thy name?", is not out of ignorance but to expose the depth and nature of the spiritual oppression, setting the stage for a powerful deliverance from the many devils.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The crucial word in this verse is "Legion" (Greek: λεγιών, legiōn). This is a Latin loanword referring to a major unit of the Roman army, typically comprising 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. By using this term, the demons convey:
The term "devils" (Greek: δαιμόνια, daimonia) refers to malevolent spirits, distinct from Satan himself. This gives a vivid picture of the overwhelming spiritual oppression the man was experiencing, making Jesus' subsequent act of deliverance even more profound and demonstrating His power over spiritual warfare.
Practical Application
Luke 8:30 offers several timeless truths for believers today:
This verse powerfully underscores Jesus' identity as the Son of God with unparalleled authority, capable of bringing light and freedom even to the darkest corners of human experience.