Mark 5:1

¶ And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

And {G2532} they came over {G2064} unto {G1519} the other side {G4008} of the sea {G2281}, into {G1519} the country {G5561} of the Gadarenes {G1046}.

Yeshua and his talmidim arrived at the other side of the lake, in the Gerasenes' territory.

On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.

And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.

Commentary

Context

Mark 5:1 follows immediately after the dramatic account of Jesus calming a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating His divine authority over creation. This verse marks a significant geographical transition for Jesus and His disciples. They cross the sea from the Jewish region of Galilee to the eastern shore, "unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes." This area was predominantly Gentile territory, part of the Decapolis, a league of ten Hellenistic (Greek-influenced) cities. This journey sets the stage for one of Jesus' most powerful encounters, highlighting His ministry's reach beyond the conventional Jewish boundaries.

Key Themes

  • Geographical Transition and Scope of Ministry: The deliberate crossing into the country of the Gadarenes underscores Jesus' mission to all people, not just the Jews. It foreshadows the universal reach of the Gospel.
  • Divine Purpose in Journey: This seemingly simple journey is not merely travel but a purposeful movement guided by God. Jesus goes to this specific Gentile region because there is a great need and a significant miracle waiting to unfold, as seen in the subsequent verses with the demon-possessed man.
  • Jesus' Authority and Direction: Having just demonstrated power over nature, Jesus now directs His disciples to a new, potentially challenging, mission field. His leadership is clear and purposeful.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Gadarenes" refers to the region associated with the city of Gadara, a prominent city of the Decapolis southeast of the Sea of Galilee. While Matthew's account (Matthew 8:28) uses "Gergesenes" and Luke (Luke 8:26) uses "Gerasenes," these names likely refer to different towns or regions within the broader territory under Gadara's influence, all located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. The KJV's use of "Gadarenes" broadly identifies this non-Jewish, Hellenistic area where Jesus was about to perform a remarkable miracle of deliverance.

Practical Application

Mark 5:1 reminds us that God often calls us to step out of our comfort zones and familiar environments to reach those who are different or in great need. Jesus' willingness to cross cultural and geographical boundaries challenges believers today to extend compassion and the message of hope to all people, regardless of their background, beliefs, or location. Every journey, whether physical or spiritual, can be part of God's sovereign plan to bring light into new territories.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
An Introduction to the Gospel of Mark: Jesus the Servant The Exorcisms of Jesus: Authority Over Darkness Raising Jairus's Daughter from the Dead The Raising of Jairus's Daughter Healing the Woman with the Issue of Blood

Cross-References

  • Luke 8:26

    And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

  • Luke 8:39

    Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

  • Matthew 8:28

    ¶ And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

  • Matthew 8:34

    And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought [him] that he would depart out of their coasts.

  • Mark 4:35

    ¶ And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
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