Luke 8:31

31 And they prayed him, that he should not command them, that they should go into hell [that they should go into the deepness].

Luke 8:31 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 8:31

And they besought him
That is, all the devils, the whole legion of them, entreated Jesus, under whose power, and at whose dispose they were:

that he would not command them to go out into the deep;
meaning, not the deep waters of the sea, for thither they ran the swine at their own request; but the bottomless pit of hell, where others of these spirits lay in chains of darkness; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "into hell": they desired, that when they went out of this man, they might not be ordered thither, or remanded to their former prison; for they knew that if he gave the word of command, they must obey; but that they might be suffered to continue in that country, and range about on earth, or be any where, rather than in hell.

Luke 8:31 In-Context

29 For he commanded the unclean spirit, that he should go out from the man. For he took him oft times, and he was bound with chains, and kept in stocks, and when the bonds were broken [and, the bonds broken], he was led of the devil into desert.

30 And Jesus asked him, and said [saying], What name is to thee? And he said, A legion; for many devils were entered into him.

31 And they prayed him, that he should not command them, that they should go into hell [that they should go into the deepness].

32 And there was a flock of many swine pasturing in an hill, and they prayed him, that he should suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33 And so the devils went out from the man, and entered into the swine; and with a rush the flock went headlong into the pool, and was drowned [and with rush the flock went headlong into the lake of water, and was strangled].