Mark 5:2

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

And {G2532} when he {G846} was come {G1831} out of {G1537} the ship {G4143}, immediately {G2112} there met {G528} him {G846} out of {G1537} the tombs {G3419} a man {G444} with {G1722} an unclean {G169} spirit {G4151},

As soon as he disembarked, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the burial caves to meet him.

As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs.

And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Commentary

Context

Mark 5:2 introduces a dramatic encounter immediately after Jesus and His disciples have crossed the Sea of Galilee. This crossing, described in Mark 4:35-41, involved Jesus calming a great storm, demonstrating His authority over creation. Upon landing in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes, depending on the manuscript tradition), Jesus is met by a man in an unexpected and unsettling location: "out of the tombs." This setting is crucial, as tombs were associated with death, decay, and ritual impurity, making it a place avoided by most. The man's dwelling place immediately signals his severe spiritual and social isolation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Confrontation with Evil: The immediate appearance of a "man with an unclean spirit" signals a direct confrontation between Jesus and the forces of evil. This highlights Jesus' mission to destroy the works of the devil.
  • Jesus' Authority: The fact that the demon-possessed man immediately approaches Jesus, even from such an isolated and wild place, subtly foreshadows Jesus' unquestionable authority over these powerful spiritual entities. They recognize Him and are compelled to confront Him.
  • Compassion for the Outcast: The man living among the tombs was a complete outcast, feared and perhaps forgotten by society. Jesus does not shy away from this defiled place or the afflicted individual, demonstrating His boundless compassion for the marginalized and suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "immediately" is euthys (εὐθύς), a characteristic adverb used frequently by Mark. It emphasizes the swiftness and urgency of events in Jesus' ministry, indicating that this encounter was not a coincidence but a direct, immediate challenge. The term "unclean spirit" (Greek: pneuma akatharton - πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον) is a common New Testament phrase for a demon. It signifies a spirit that is morally and spiritually impure, opposed to God and His holiness, and causing defilement and torment.

Significance and Cross-References

This verse sets the stage for the powerful narrative of the Gerasene demoniac's deliverance, detailed in Mark 5:1-20 (also found in Matthew 8:28-34 and Luke 8:26-39). It underscores Jesus' supreme power over demonic forces, a recurring theme throughout the Gospels. Unlike human attempts to restrain the man (Mark 5:4), Jesus' authority is absolute and immediate, leading to the man's complete restoration.

Practical Application

Mark 5:2 reminds us that Jesus is willing to meet us in our darkest, most isolated, and "unclean" places. No person or situation is beyond His reach or compassion. For those struggling with spiritual oppression, or feeling like outcasts and marginalized by society, this verse offers immense hope that Jesus' power is greater than any evil force, and His desire is to bring freedom and restoration. It also encourages believers to recognize that spiritual battles are real and that Jesus is the ultimate victor over all forms of darkness.

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Cross-References

  • Mark 1:23 (7 votes)

    ¶ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

  • Mark 5:8 (5 votes)

    For he said unto him, Come out of the man, [thou] unclean spirit.

  • Isaiah 65:4 (4 votes)

    Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable [things is in] their vessels;

  • Luke 9:42 (3 votes)

    And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare [him]. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

  • Mark 1:26 (2 votes)

    And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

  • Mark 7:25 (2 votes)

    For a [certain] woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

  • Luke 8:27 (2 votes)

    And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in [any] house, but in the tombs.