Luke 8:31

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

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}.

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

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

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

Luke 8:31 is a pivotal moment in the account of Jesus healing the Gerasene demoniac, revealing the profound spiritual realities at play and the absolute authority of Christ. This verse captures the plea of the demons inhabiting the man, who recognize Jesus' power and fear their ultimate judgment.

Context

This verse is part of the powerful narrative of Jesus' encounter with a man possessed by many demons in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes, depending on the Gospel account). This man, often referred to as the Gerasene demoniac, lived among the tombs and was uncontrollable. Upon seeing Jesus, the demons immediately recognized Him as the "Son of the Most High God" (Luke 8:28) and pleaded with Him not to torment them. Their desperate request in verse 31 was a plea to avoid being sent to a dreaded place of confinement, even preferring to enter a herd of swine as an alternative (Luke 8:32).

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Unquestionable Authority: The demons' plea underscores Jesus' supreme power over all spiritual forces, even those as numerous and powerful as "Legion" (Luke 8:30). They do not question His ability to command them.
  • Demonic Recognition and Fear of Judgment: Evil spirits know God's ultimate plan and their destined fate. They fear the "deep" because it represents a place of confinement and punishment, a precursor to their final judgment.
  • The Abyss as a Place of Confinement: The demons' aversion to being sent "into the deep" highlights a biblical concept of a spiritual prison for rebellious entities, a place of dread for them.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated as "the deep" in KJV is abyssos (ἄβυσσος), from which we get the English word "abyss." It doesn't simply mean deep water, but rather a profound, bottomless pit or chasm, often associated with the underworld or a place of confinement for evil spirits. In biblical eschatology, the abyssos is depicted as a temporary prison for Satan and his angels (Revelation 20:1-3) before their final judgment. This understanding explains the demons' intense fear and desperate plea to avoid being sent there prematurely.

Practical Application

Luke 8:31 offers powerful assurances for believers today:

  • God's Sovereignty Over Evil: This passage vividly demonstrates that no spiritual force, however dark or powerful, is beyond Christ's control. He holds ultimate authority over all creation, visible and invisible.
  • Comfort in Spiritual Warfare: For those who face spiritual oppression or simply navigate a world where evil exists, this verse provides comfort. We serve a God who has already conquered the powers of darkness.
  • Assurance of Future Victory: The demons' fear of the abyss points to the ultimate defeat of evil. There is a destined place of confinement and judgment for all who oppose God, reinforcing the promise of God's final victory over Satan and his forces.

This account reminds us to place our trust in Jesus, whose power is absolute and whose victory is sure.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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;

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