Mark 5:4

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.

Mark 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 5:4

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and
chains
Trial had been made several times, to no purpose; his arms had been bound with chains, and his feet with fetters, which was very proper to prevent doing hurt to himself, and injury to others:

and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters
broken in pieces;
as if they had been twine threads; such was his strength, through the force of madness, and the possession of Satan, and his diabolical influence:

neither could any man tame him;
by any methods whatever; even such who undertook the cure of madness, or to exorcise those that were possessed: this man was so furious and outrageous, that he was not to be managed any way, either by art or force.

Mark 5:4 In-Context

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.