Mark 5

A Demon-possessed Gerasene Healed

1 And they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.

2 And [as] he was getting out of the boat, immediately from the tombs a man with an unclean spirit went to meet him,

3 who {lived} among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him any longer, not even with a chain,

4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the shackles had been shattered. And no one was strong [enough] to subdue him.

5 And during every night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was crying out and cutting himself with stones.

6 And [when he] saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him.

7 And crying out with a loud voice he said, "{What have I to do with you}, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!"

8 (For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!")

9 And he was asking him "{What is your name}?" And he said to him, "My name [is] Legion, because we are many."

10 And he was imploring him many [times] that he would not send them out of the region.

11 Now a large herd of pigs was there at the hill feeding,

12 and they implored him, saying, "Send us to the pigs so that we may enter into them."

13 And he permitted them. And the unclean spirits came out [and] entered into the pigs, and the herd--about two thousand--rushed headlong down the steep slope into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

14 And their herdsmen fled and reported [it] in the town and in the countryside, and they came to see what it was that had happened.

15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting [there] clothed and in his right mind--the one who had had the legion--and they were afraid.

16 And those who had seen [it] described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man, and about the pigs.

17 And they began to urge him to depart from their region.

18 And [as] he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed began to implore him that he could go with him.

19 And he did not permit him, but said to him, "Go to your home to your [people] and tell them all that the Lord has done for you, and [that] he has had mercy on you."

20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him, and they were all astonished.

A Woman Healed and a Daughter Raised

21 And [after] Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered to him, and he was beside the sea.

22 And one of the rulers of the synagogue came--Jairus by name--and [when he] saw him, he fell down at his feet.

23 And he was imploring him many [times], saying, "My little daughter {is at the point of death}! Come, lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and will live."

24 And he went with him, and a large crowd was following him and pressing around him.

25 And [there was] a woman who was {suffering from hemorrhages} twelve years.

26 And she had endured many [things] under many physicians, and had spent {all that she had} and had received no [help] at all, but instead {became worse}.

27 [When she] heard about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind [him] [and] touched his cloak,

28 for she was saying, "If I touch just his clothing, I will be healed!"

29 And immediately her {hemorrhage stopped} and she realized in her body that she was healed of her suffering.

30 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself [that] power had gone out from himself, turned around in the crowd [and] said, "Who touched my clothing?"

31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing upon you, and you say 'Who touched me?'"

32 And he was looking around to see the one who had done this.

33 So the woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.

34 But he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be well from your suffering."

35 [While] he was still speaking, they came from the synagogue ruler's [house] saying, "Your daughter has died. Why trouble the Teacher further?"

36 But Jesus, ignoring {what was said}, told the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid--only believe!"

37 And he did not allow anyone to follow along with him except Peter and James and John, the brother of James.

38 And they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and saw a commotion, and [people] weeping and wailing loudly.

39 And [when he] entered, he said to them, "Why are you agitated and weeping? The child is not dead, but is sleeping."

40 And they began laughing at him. But he sent [them] all out [and] took along the father and mother of the child, and those [who were] with him, and went in to where the child was.

41 And taking hold of the child's hand, he said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"),

42 and immediately the girl stood up and began walking around (for she was twelve years old). And {immediately they were utterly and completely astonished}.

43 And he commanded them strictly that no one should learn of this, and said to give her [something] to eat.

Mark 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The demoniac healed. (1-20) A woman healed. (21-34) The daughter of Jairus raised. (35-43)

Verses 1-20 Some openly wilful sinners are like this madman. The commands of the law are as chains and fetters, to restrain sinners from their wicked courses; but they break those bands in sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the devil in them. A legion of soldiers consisted of six thousand men, or more. What multitudes of fallen spirits there must be, and all enemies to God and man, when here was a legion in one poor wretched creature! Many there are that rise up against us. We are not a match for our spiritual enemies, in our own strength; but in the Lord, and in the power of his might, we shall be able to stand against them, though there are legions of them. When the vilest transgressor is delivered by the power of Jesus from the bondage of Satan, he will gladly sit at the feet of his Deliverer, and hear his word, who delivers the wretched slaves of Satan, and numbers them among his saints and servants. When the people found that their swine were lost, they had a dislike to Christ. Long-suffering and mercy may be seen, even in the corrections by which men lose their property while their lives are saved, and warning given them to seek the salvation of their souls. The man joyfully proclaimed what great things Jesus had done for him. All men marvelled, but few followed him. Many who cannot but wonder at the works of Christ, yet do not, as they ought, wonder after him.

Verses 21-34 A despised gospel will go where it will be better received. One of the rulers of a synagogue earnestly besought Christ for a little daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. Another cure was wrought by the way. We should do good, not only when in the house, but when we walk by the way, De. 6:7 . It is common with people not to apply to Christ till they have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as certainly they will, physicians of no value. Some run to diversions and gay company; others plunge into business, or even into intemperance; others go about to establish their own righteousness, or torment themselves by vain superstitions. Many perish in these ways; but none will ever find rest to the soul by such devices; while those whom Christ heals of the disease of sin, find in themselves an entire change for the better. As secret acts of sin, so secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus. The woman told all the truth. It is the will of Christ that his people should be comforted, and he has power to command comfort to troubled spirits. The more simply we depend on Him, and expect great things from him, the more we shall find in ourselves that he is become our salvation. Those who, by faith, are healed of their spiritual diseases, have reason to go in peace.

Verses 35-43 We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when sickness is there? Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not. He raised the dead child to life by a word of power. Such is the gospel call to those who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given. All who saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and Him that wrought it. Though we cannot now expect to have our dead children or relatives restored, we may hope to find comfort under our trials.

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, the Sea of Galilee
• [b]. Most later manuscripts read "Gadarenes," while other manuscripts read "Gergesenes" here
• [c]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was getting out")
• [d]. Literally "had his dwelling"
• [e]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [f]. Literally "what to me and to you"
• [g]. Literally "what name to you"
• [h]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [i]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [j]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [k]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was getting")
• [l]. The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to implore")
• [m]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had crossed over")
• [n]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [o]. Literally "has finally"
• [p]. Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [q]. Literally "with a flow of blood"
• [r]. Literally "all with her"
• [s]. Literally "came back for the worse"
• [t]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [u]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [v]. Literally "flow of blood was dried up"
• [w]. Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [x]. Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [y]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("turned around") has been translated as a finite verb
• [z]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("speaking")
• [aa]. *Here "[house]" is implied since the synagogue ruler himself is directly addressed (and therefore present) in the remainder of this verse
• [ab]. Or "overhearing"
• [ac]. Literally "the report that was spoken"
• [ad]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("entered") which is understood as temporal
• [ae]. The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began laughing")
• [af]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("sent ... out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ag]. The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began walking around")
• [ah]. Literally "immediately they were astonished with great astonishment"
• [ai]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation