Mark 5:5

He was crying out, and cutting himself with stones (hn krazwn kai katakoptwn eauton liqoi). Further vivid details by Mark. Night and day his loud scream or screech could be heard like other demoniacs (cf. Luke 1:26 ; Luke 3:11 ; Luke 9:26 ). The verb for cutting himself occurs here only in the N.T., though an old verb. It means to cut down (perfective use of kata-). We say cut up, gash, hack to pieces. Perhaps he was scarred all over with such gashes during his moments of wild frenzy night and day in the tombs and on the mountains. Periphrastic imperfect active with hn and the participles.