Mark 5:1-12 Meaning: Jesus Meets Legion
1They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs.
3He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,
4because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him.
5Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,
7and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.”
8For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
10He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.
12All the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.”
1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
1And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
2And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;
4because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.
5And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;
7and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.
8For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man.
9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many.
10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.
12And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
1And they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gadarenes,
2and he having come forth out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3who had his dwelling in the tombs, and not even with chains was any one able to bind him,
4because that he many times with fetters and chains had been bound, and pulled in pieces by him had been the chains, and the fetters broken in pieces, and none was able to tame him,
5and always, night and day, in the mountains, and in the tombs he was, crying and cutting himself with stones.
6And, having seen Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed before him,
7and having called with a loud voice, he said, `What--to me and to thee, Jesus, Son of God the Most High? I adjure thee by God, mayest thou not afflict me!'
8(for he said to him, `Come forth, spirit unclean, out of the man,')
9and he was questioning him, `What is thy name?' and he answered, saying, `Legion is my name, because we are many;'
10and he was calling on him much, that he may not send them out of the region.
11And there was there, near the mountains, a great herd of swine feeding,
12and all the demons did call upon him, saying, `Send us to the swine, that into them we may enter;'
1And they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
2And immediately on his going out of the ship there met him out of the tombs a man possessed by an unclean spirit,
3who had his dwelling in the tombs; and no one was able to bind him, not even with chains;
4because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn asunder by him, and the fetters were shattered; and no one was able to subdue him.
5And continually night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying and cutting himself with stones.
6But seeing Jesus from afar off, he ran and did him homage,
7and crying with a loud voice he says, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.
8For he said to him, Come forth, unclean spirit, out of the man.
9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he says to him, Legion is my name, because we are many.
10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11Now there was there just at the mountain a great herd of swine feeding;
12and they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine that we may enter into them.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus crosses to Gentile territory and meets a man possessed by a legion of demons. What does this account reveal about His authority and the location debate?
Context
Mark describes Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee to the eastern shore, a Gentile region called the country of the Gadarenes (some manuscripts say Gerasenes or Gergesenes). This was a land of tombs and pigs, unclean by Jewish standards. As soon as Jesus steps out of the boat, a man possessed by an unclean spirit confronts Him. The man lives among the tombs, breaks every chain, spends nights and days crying out and cutting himself with stones. Nobody can subdue him. He runs to Jesus and falls down before Him, but the voice that speaks is not his own. The demons identify themselves as Legion, an army of spirits. They beg Jesus not to send them out of the region and instead ask permission to enter a nearby herd of pigs. This opening scene sets up one of the most dramatic demonstrations of Jesus’ authority over evil anywhere in the Gospels.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this story. First, Legion (legeōn) was a Roman military unit of up to six thousand soldiers. By using that name, the spirits reveal the scale of the man’s oppression, not one demon but a multitude. Second, unclean spirit (pneuma akathartos) is more than moral impurity; in this setting it means a spirit connected to death, tombs, and everything set apart from God. Third, the demons beg Jesus not to torment them (basanisēs). The word originally meant testing metal with a touchstone, but here it signals severe distress. The spirits know Jesus has the power to judge them. For the reader, these words say: whatever darkness you face, Jesus sees it clearly, knows its size, and holds final authority over it.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read this account as a real event demonstrating Jesus’ power over evil. Reformed commentators like Calvin emphasize that the man’s supernatural strength came from Satan, and Christ’s compassion in freeing him magnifies grace. Catholic teaching sees the healing as a sign of liberation from bondage, with the man’s restoration prefiguring baptismal deliverance. Some modern scholars note the location variations between Gadarenes, Gerasenes, and Gergesenes, attributing them to different manuscript traditions or local geography, but all agree the core point stands: Jesus enters enemy territory and wins.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, think about one thing that feels like it has you cornered, a habit you can’t break, a fear that keeps you up at night, a wound that still cuts. The man ran to Jesus from a distance, even in his chaos. You don’t have to get yourself together first. Jesus already knows your name and the name of whatever holds you. Bring it to Him honestly. He is not intimidated by the size of your struggle.
Main takeaway: Jesus has complete authority over any power that holds you captive, no matter how many or how strong.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus went to a place where a very sad and scary man lived among tombs. Jesus told the bad spirits to leave, and the man was happy again. Jesus can help us when we feel scared or angry.
For ages 9, 12
This man was so controlled by evil spirits that he couldn’t be chained. He hurt himself and lived in a cemetery. But when Jesus came, the man ran to Him. Jesus asked the spirits their name, Legion, meaning thousands. He sent them into pigs. The man was healed and calm. This shows that no dark power is too big for Jesus. He can set anyone free.
Questions People Ask
Why do the Gospel accounts call the location Gadarenes, Gerasenes, or Gergesenes?
The different names reflect manuscript variations for the region. Gadara and Gerasa were nearby cities; Gergesa is a small village on the eastern shore. This doesn't change the story's meaning, Jesus entered Gentile territory to demonstrate his authority over evil.
What does 'Legion' mean in Mark 5:9?
A legion was a Roman military unit of about 6000 soldiers. The demons used this name to show they were many, a multitude of evil spirits controlling the man. It emphasizes the scale of oppression Jesus overcame.
Why did the demons ask to go into the pigs?
The demons begged not to be sent out of the region or into the abyss (Luke 8:31). They preferred to enter the pigs rather than be cast out without a dwelling. This shows their desperate nature and desire to inhabit something. Jesus permitted it, likely to demonstrate the reality of the exorcism.
Why did the people ask Jesus to leave after the pigs drowned?
The people were afraid, they had just seen a powerful display of spiritual authority and the loss of their herd. They valued economic security over the presence of Jesus. This reaction shows how fear can keep us from embracing God's saving power.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study