Mark 5 · Verse 12

Mark 5:12

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
Mark 5:12, King James Version

Mark 5:12 in other translations

BSBSo the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”
WEBAll the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.”
ASVAnd they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
YLTand all the demons did call upon him, saying, ‘Send us to the swine, that into them we may enter;'
DARBYand they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine that we may enter into them.
BBEAnd they said to him, Send us into the pigs, so that we may go into them.
WebsterAnd all the demons besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

What does Mark 5:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. And all the devils besought him, saying--"if thou cast us out" (Mt 8:31). Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them--Had they spoken out all their mind, perhaps this would have been it: "If we must quit our hold of this man, suffer us to continue our work of mischief in another form, that by entering these swine, and thus destroying the people's property, we may steel their hearts against Thee!"

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12.

(y) "besought him" Job 1:10,12, 2:5,6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 All the devils - Παντες, all, is omitted by many MSS. and versions; Griesbach leaves it out of the text. Οἱ δαιμονες is omitted also by several: Griesbach leaves it doubtful. Probably it should be read thus, And they besought him, saying.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 5:1-20

Some openly wilful sinners are like this madman. The commands of the law are as chains and fetters, to restrain sinners from their wicked courses; but they break those bands in sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the devil in them. A legion of soldiers consisted of six thousand men, or more. What multitudes of fallen spirits there must be, and all enemies to God and man, when here was a legion in one poor…

Read the full comment on Mark 5:1-20 →

Mark 5:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
παρεκάλεσανparekalesanthey beggedG3870
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
πάντεςpantesallG3956
οἱhoi<the>G3588
δαίμονεςdaimonesdemonsG1142
λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004
πέμψονpempsondo sendG3992
ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165
εἰςeisintoG1519
τοὺςtoustheG3588
χοίρουςchoirouspigsG5519
ἵναinaso thatG2443
εἰςeisintoG1519
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
εἰσέλθωμεν.eiselthōmenlet us enter.G1525

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 5:12

  • 1 Peter 5:8

    Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

  • 2 Corinthians 2:11

    Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

  • Luke 22:31-32

    And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

  • Job 1:10-12

    Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

  • Job 2:5

    But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 1:10-12; 2:5; Lu 22:31,32; 2Co 2:11; 1Pe 5:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 5:11

    Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

  • Mark 5:12

    And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

  • Mark 5:13

    And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

Read all of Mark 5

Mark 5:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y le rogaron todos los demonios, diciendo: Envíanos á los puercos para que entremos en ellos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils le prièrent, disant: Envoie-nous dans les pourceaux, afin que nous entrions en eux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie baten ihn und sprachen: Schicke uns in die Schweine, daß wir in sie fahren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et deprecabantur eum spiritus, dicentes: Mitte nos in porcos ut in eos introëamus.