Luke 8:31

KJV

And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they besought {G3870}{G3870} him {G846} that {G3363} he would {G2004} not {G3363} command {G2004} them {G846} to go out {G565} into {G1519} the deep {G12}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They begged Yeshua not to order them to go off into the Bottomless Pit.

Berean Standard Bible

And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

American Standard Version

And they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the abyss.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 8:31 captures the desperate plea of the demonic "Legion" inhabiting the Gerasene man, who, recognizing Jesus' divine authority, begged Him not to command them into the "deep." This pivotal moment vividly demonstrates Christ's absolute sovereignty over all spiritual forces, revealing the demons' profound fear of a dreaded place of confinement and their acknowledgment of Jesus' power to consign them there.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the dramatic narrative of Jesus' encounter with the Gerasene demoniac, a man so violently possessed that he lived among tombs and could not be restrained by chains. Immediately preceding this verse, the demons, speaking through the man, confront Jesus, identifying Him as the "[Son of the Most High God](/luke/8-28 "Luke 8:28 - Demons Recognize Jesus")" and pleading with Him not to torment them. Their request in [Luke 8:31](/luke/8-31 "Luke 8:31 - Demons' Plea to Jesus") is a specific, desperate appeal to avoid a particular fate—being sent into the abyss—and sets the stage for their subsequent request to enter a herd of swine, which Jesus grants in [Luke 8:32](/luke/8-32 "Luke 8:32 - Demons Enter Swine"). This episode is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority, following His calming of the storm in [Luke 8:22-25](/luke/8-22-25 "Luke 8:22-25 - Jesus Calms the Storm"), further establishing His dominion over both nature and the spiritual realm.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The event takes place in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes, in Matthew's account), a predominantly Gentile area on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. The presence of a large herd of swine, animals considered unclean by Jewish law, confirms this Gentile setting. In the ancient world, belief in demonic possession was widespread, and individuals afflicted like the Gerasene demoniac were often ostracized and feared. The concept of a "deep" or "abyss" (Greek: _ábyssos_) was familiar in both Jewish apocalyptic literature and Hellenistic thought, often referring to a primordial chaos, the underworld, or a place of imprisonment for rebellious spiritual beings. The demons' fear of this specific destination reflects a common understanding of it as a dreaded spiritual prison.
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 8:31](/luke/8-31 "Luke 8:31 - Demons' Plea to Jesus") powerfully underscores several core themes. Foremost is **Jesus' Unquestionable Authority** over all spiritual forces; the demons do not challenge His power but rather plead for mercy concerning their destination, acknowledging His absolute command. This highlights the theme of **Demonic Recognition and Fear of Judgment**, as these evil spirits, unlike many humans, immediately perceive Jesus' divine identity and the ultimate judgment that awaits them. Their aversion to being sent "into the deep" introduces the theme of **The Abyss as a Place of Confinement**, a spiritual prison for rebellious entities, a concept further developed in apocalyptic literature like [Revelation 20](/revelation/20 "Revelation 20 - Satan Bound in the Abyss"). Ultimately, the passage reinforces the overarching theme of **Christ's Triumph Over Evil**, demonstrating that no force, however numerous or powerful, can withstand His sovereign will.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **besought (Greek, _parakaléō'_):** This word signifies to "call near," implying an earnest invitation, imploration, or fervent entreaty. It conveys a sense of desperate pleading, not merely a polite request. The demons are not negotiating but begging, acknowledging Jesus' superior power and their own vulnerability before Him.
* **command (Greek, _epitássō'_):** Derived from _epí_ (upon) and _tássō_ (to arrange, order), _epitássō_ means "to arrange upon" or "to order." It denotes a forceful, authoritative directive, an injunction. The demons understand that Jesus' word carries absolute power and that His command would be immediately effective and unavoidable.
* **deep (Greek, _ábyssos'_):** From _A_ (a negative particle) and a variation of _bythós_ (depth), _ábyssos_ literally means "depthless" or "bottomless." It refers not merely to deep water but to a profound, unfathomable chasm, often associated with the underworld, the primeval chaos, or, critically in biblical contexts, a place of confinement and punishment for rebellious spiritual beings. This is the "bottomless pit" mentioned in Revelation, a dreaded spiritual prison.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they besought him":** This phrase immediately reveals the posture of the demons: one of supplication and desperation. The "they" refers to the multitude of demons, identified as "Legion" in the preceding verses, who speak as one entity through the possessed man. Their act of beseeching underscores their recognition of Jesus' overwhelming power and authority over them, indicating that they are not merely encountering a powerful human, but a divine being before whom they must plead.
* **"that he would not command them":** This clause highlights the demons' understanding of Jesus' absolute authority. They do not question His ability to issue a command or its efficacy; rather, they seek to avert a specific command. Their fear is not of Jesus' presence alone, but of the specific directive He might issue regarding their fate. This implicitly acknowledges His right and power to determine their destiny.
* **"to go out into the deep":** This is the core of their desperate plea and reveals their greatest fear. "The deep" (ábyssos) is not merely a geographical location but a spiritual prison, a place of confinement and torment reserved for rebellious spiritual entities. The demons' aversion to this destination indicates their awareness of its nature as a place of judgment and suffering, and their desire to avoid this premature consignment, preferring even to inhabit unclean animals.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several literary devices to enhance its theological and dramatic impact. **Personification** is evident as the demons, spiritual entities, are depicted as speaking, pleading, and expressing fear, giving them agency and highlighting the reality of spiritual warfare. The demons' plea to avoid the "deep" serves as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the ultimate fate of Satan and his demonic forces, who will eventually be cast into this very abyss, as described in apocalyptic literature. There is also a subtle **Dramatic Irony**, as the demons immediately recognize Jesus' divine identity and authority, calling Him the "Son of the Most High God," while many human onlookers and even Jesus' own disciples frequently struggle to grasp the full extent of His power and identity. This contrast underscores the spiritual insight of even fallen beings when confronted with divine power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 8:31 serves as a profound theological statement on Christ's cosmic authority and the reality of spiritual warfare. The demons' immediate recognition of Jesus as the "Son of the Most High God" and their desperate plea to avoid the "deep" unequivocally affirm His supreme dominion over all spiritual powers, visible and invisible. This passage teaches us that even the most formidable forces of evil are utterly subject to Christ's command, acknowledging His power to confine and judge them. It reinforces the biblical truth that evil is not an independent force, but a subjugated one, awaiting its ultimate and inevitable defeat. This provides immense comfort and assurance to believers, knowing that the One who commands the cosmos also commands the unseen forces of darkness.

* [Revelation 20:1-3](/revelation/20-1-3 "Revelation 20:1-3 - Satan Bound in the Abyss"): Describes an angel seizing Satan and binding him for a thousand years in the abyss, emphasizing its role as a temporary prison for evil.
* [2 Peter 2:4](/2_peter/2-4 "2 Peter 2:4 - Angels in Chains of Darkness"): States that God did not spare angels who sinned but cast them into Tartarus (a concept related to the abyss), delivering them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until judgment.
* [Jude 1:6](/jude/1-6 "Jude 1:6 - Angels Kept in Eternal Chains"): Similarly speaks of angels who did not keep their proper domain but left their own abode, whom God has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 8:31 offers powerful and practical applications for the believer's life. It fundamentally reassures us of Jesus' absolute sovereignty over all spiritual forces, reminding us that no demonic power, however formidable, can stand against His authority. In a world where evil and spiritual oppression are very real, this passage provides immense comfort and courage. We are reminded that our Lord has already triumphed over the powers of darkness, and His victory is complete. This should inspire us to live in confidence, knowing that the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. It also calls us to a deeper trust in Christ's protective power, encouraging us to seek His authority in every area of our lives, especially when facing spiritual challenges or temptations. Our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces, and our victory is found in Christ alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the demons' recognition of Jesus' authority deepen your understanding of His divine nature?**
* **What comfort do you find in knowing that Christ has absolute power over all spiritual forces, including those that cause fear or oppression?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to more fully surrender to Christ's command, trusting His sovereignty over all circumstances, seen and unseen?**
* **How does this passage encourage you to engage in spiritual warfare, knowing that ultimate victory belongs to Christ?**

### FAQ
**What is "the deep" mentioned in Luke 8:31?**
Answer: The Greek word translated as "the deep" is _ábyssos_ (G12), which means "bottomless pit" or "abyss." It refers not merely to deep water but to a profound, unfathomable chasm, a spiritual prison. In biblical eschatology, it is depicted as a place of confinement for rebellious spiritual entities, including Satan himself, before their final judgment. The demons' fear of being sent there indicates it is a place of dread and torment for them, a precursor to their ultimate condemnation.

**Why were the demons so afraid of being sent into "the deep"?**
Answer: The demons were terrified of being sent into "the deep" because it represents a place of confinement, torment, and premature judgment for them. Unlike their current state of roaming the earth and afflicting humanity, being cast into the abyss would mean being stripped of their power and freedom, held captive in a dark, bottomless pit. This is a temporary, yet dreaded, prison for evil spirits, a foretaste of their ultimate and eternal punishment. Their desperate plea to avoid it, even preferring to enter unclean swine, highlights the severity of this spiritual confinement.

**Does this passage suggest that demons have free will or are they merely instruments?**
Answer: While demons are inherently evil and operate within their nature, their desperate plea in [Luke 8:31](/luke/8-31 "Luke 8:31 - Demons' Plea to Jesus") suggests a degree of agency and a desire to avoid a specific fate. They are not mindless automatons but intelligent, malevolent beings capable of recognizing divine authority, experiencing fear, and making requests (albeit within the bounds of God's sovereign permission). Their actions show a will to avoid punishment and a strategic attempt to mitigate their immediate circumstances, even if their ultimate destiny is sealed by God's judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 8:31, with the demons' terrified plea to avoid the "deep," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the broader narrative of redemption. Jesus' authority to command these malevolent spirits into the abyss foreshadows His ultimate victory over all the powers of darkness, which held humanity captive. The "deep" represents the spiritual prison of sin and death, from which Christ, through His atoning work on the cross, liberates humanity. His incarnation was a direct assault on the kingdom of darkness, as He came to "destroy the works of the devil" ([1 John 3:8](/1_john/3-8 "1 John 3:8 - Jesus Destroys the Devil's Works")). The cross, far from being a defeat, was the decisive blow against the spiritual forces that enslaved humanity, disarming "principalities and powers" and triumphing over them ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). By His resurrection, Jesus demonstrated His triumph over death itself, the ultimate consequence of sin, and through His ascension, He was exalted far above "all rule and authority and power and dominion" ([Ephesians 1:20-22](/ephesians/1-20-22 "Ephesians 1:20-22 - Christ's Exaltation")). Thus, the power Jesus wields over the abyss in [Luke 8:31](/luke/8-31 "Luke 8:31 - Demons' Plea to Jesus") is a vivid demonstration of His cosmic dominion, assuring believers that He has indeed conquered the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ Delivers from Fear of Death")), and offers true freedom from spiritual bondage.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:41

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 19:20

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Job 1:11

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Revelation 20:14

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:15

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 17:8

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Philippians 2:10

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;