Matthew 8:30-34 Meaning: Why the Pigs? Jesus’ Authority Over Evil
30Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.
31The demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs.”
32He said to them, “Go!” They came out and went into the herd of pigs; and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water.
33Those who fed them fled and went away into the city and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons.
34Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.
30And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
33And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
34And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
30Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.
31And the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.
32And he said unto them, Go. And they came out, and went into the swine: and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea, and perished in the waters.
33And they that fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, and what was befallen to them that were possessed with demons.
34And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart from their borders.
30And there was far off from them a herd of many swine feeding,
31and the demons were calling on him, saying, `If thou dost cast us forth, permit us to go away to the herd of the swine;'
32and he saith to them, `Go.' And having come forth, they went to the herd of the swine, and lo, the whole herd of the swine rushed down the steep, to the sea, and died in the waters,
33and those feeding did flee, and, having gone to the city, they declared all, and the matter of the demoniacs.
34And lo, all the city came forth to meet Jesus, and having seen him, they called on him that he might depart from their borders.
30Now there was, a great way off from them, a herd of many swine feeding;
31and the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.
32And he said to them, Go. And they, going out, departed into the herd of swine; and lo, the whole herd [of swine] rushed down the steep slope into the sea, and died in the waters.
33But they that fed them fled, and went away into the city and related everything, and what had happened as to those possessed by demons.
34And behold, the whole city went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged [him] to go away out of their coasts.
Meaning in one sentence
In Matthew 8:30-34, Jesus casts demons into pigs, revealing his authority over evil.
Context
Jesus has just climbed out of a boat after calming a storm that terrified his disciples. Now he stands on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in a region called the country of the Gadarenes. Two men come to meet him, men so fierce with demons that no one could pass that road. They live among tombs, cut off from family and worship. This is the setting for Matthew’s final display of divine power in chapter 8, first over sickness, then over nature, now over the spiritual forces that hold people captive. The herd of pigs and the reaction of the town are not an afterthought. They are the answer to the question the story raises: what will people do when Jesus’ power costs them something?
Key Words
The Greek word for “begged” or “besought” appears twice in this passage, and it is the same word both times: parakaleō. In verse 31, the demons use it to plead with Jesus, let us go into the pigs. In verse 34, the whole town uses it to plead, please leave our region. The same verb, two opposite requests. The demons want permission to destroy; the townspeople want distance from the One who just freed two men. The word itself means “to call to one’s side,” to urgently appeal. Both parties draw near to Jesus and appeal, but with very different aims.
The other key word is hormaō, translated “rushed” in verse 32. It means to set in rapid motion, to stampede, to start forward violently. The demons do not gently guide the pigs into the sea. They drive them. This is the nature of evil: it cannot help but destroy, even when it gets what it wants. Jesus permits it, and the destruction becomes a visible sign of what evil truly intends, not just for pigs, but for everything it touches.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian commentators have read this story in several ways. Wesley and Clarke, both Methodist, note that keeping pigs was against Jewish law, so the destruction may have been a judgment on unlawful practice. Calvin, a Reformed theologian, sees Jesus allowing the demons to enter the pigs as a test for the Gadarenes, would they value the miracle or the loss? They failed the test. Others from the Anglican tradition focus on the demons’ own destructive urge: they cannot help but ruin what they inhabit. Still others have pointed out that the townspeople’s fear is understandable; losing two thousand pigs was a major economic blow. But across traditions, the common thread is a sobering warning: it is possible to see Jesus’ power and still ask him to leave, if his presence costs too much.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that Jesus was cruel or reckless to let the pigs die. In fact, the demons asked permission, and Jesus said “Go.” The destruction came from the demons themselves, they rushed the herd into the sea. Several commentators also note that these pigs were probably kept unlawfully in a Jewish region, so their loss may have carried an element of divine justice. The real tragedy is not the pigs, but that the townspeople saw a miracle of deliverance and responded by begging Jesus to leave.
Living This Out
Something similar can happen in your life. You can witness Jesus doing something good, healing, freeing, restoring, and still feel uneasy if it costs you. Maybe the “pigs” in your life are a comfortable sin, a reputation, a financial security you’ve built in a way that doesn’t honor God. The townspeople lost livestock; you might lose something smaller or bigger. This week, quietly ask yourself: is there anything I am holding so tightly that I would rather Jesus leave than let it go? That’s a question worth sitting with, no rush to answer.
Main takeaway: Jesus has complete authority over all evil, and he invites us to welcome his presence even when it costs us something we value.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus is stronger than any demon. Some people were sad because they lost their pigs, but they forgot to be happy that Jesus freed two men. You can always be happy to have Jesus near.
For ages 9, 12
The townspeople saw Jesus set two men free from demons, but they only cared about the pigs they lost. That’s a warning for us. Sometimes we get so focused on what we might lose that we miss the amazing things God is doing. Jesus is worth more than anything we could hold onto.
Questions People Ask
Why were there pigs in Jewish territory?
The Law of Moses called pigs unclean and forbade keeping them (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8). Some commentators think the region was partly Gentile, or that the pigs were kept unlawfully by Jews. This may explain why Jesus allowed them to be destroyed, as a judgment on lawbreaking. Either way, the pigs' presence highlights that Jesus was in a mixed or disobedient area.
Did Jesus cause the pigs to die?
Jesus gave permission for the demons to enter the pigs, but the demons themselves rushed the herd into the sea. The Greek word hormaō (rushed) implies violent, self-driven movement. The destruction reveals the murderous nature of evil spirits. Jesus permitted it, but the demons carried it out.
Why did the townspeople ask Jesus to leave?
They were afraid of his power and more concerned about their economic loss than the deliverance of the two men. As Wesley noted, they loved their swine more than their souls. The same word for “begged” used for the demons is used for the townspeople, they urgently wanted Jesus gone.
Why does Matthew mention two demoniacs while Mark and Luke mention only one?
This is a difference in detail, not a contradiction. Mark and Luke may have focused on the more prominent or outspoken of the two. Matthew often pairs accounts (two blind men, two demoniacs) to emphasize the full extent of Jesus' power. Both versions affirm the same event.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study