“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The demon's plural "us" is a subtle but powerful detail, revealing that this isn't just an individual tormented soul, but a collective of evil powers speaking through one voice. It highlights the expansive reach of spiritual darkness that Jesus' arrival immediately confronts.
“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just taught with surprising authority in a synagogue in Capernaum, astounding everyone. Suddenly, a man controlled by an evil spirit cries out, recognizing Jesus and his divine mission but also revealing the spiritual conflict and fear his presence instills. This outburst is the demon's terrified reaction to Jesus' power, which he knows will ultimately lead to his own defeat.
Imagine the scene: Jesus, teaching with authority, is interrupted by a wild cry. The man possessed by an unclean spirit screams, 'What have you to do with us?' It’s a desperate plea, a recognition of an unwelcome intruder.
This cry, 'What have we to do with you?' (or 'What is there to us and to you?'), reveals a stark divide. The demon world and Jesus are fundamentally incompatible. The demon isn't asking for friendship; it's asking to be left undisturbed in its domain of impurity and control. The demon recognizes Jesus as someone who doesn't belong in its world and whose presence signals the end of its reign.
This 'unclean' nature is key. The impurity associated with evil spirits is a direct opposite to God's holiness. Jesus, the Holy One, has come to confront and expel this uncleanness, not to coexist with it. The demon’s horror stems from the realization that its very existence is threatened by Jesus’ arrival.
The demon's next words are chillingly accurate: 'I know who you are—the Holy One of God.' Yet, this isn't a confession of faith, but a terrified acknowledgment of impending judgment.
The demon knows Jesus’ true identity. It recognizes Him not just as Jesus of Nazareth, but as 'the Holy One of God.' This title speaks of Jesus’ unique, divine nature, set apart and consecrated by God. The demon understands that this holiness is diametrically opposed to its own nature.
The phrase 'Have you come to destroy us?' reveals the demon’s deepest fear. Jesus’ mission is indeed to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). His authority over demons isn't merely to cast them out, but to dismantle their power and kingdom. This confession is therefore less about acknowledging Jesus' identity and more about recognizing the inescapable doom His presence signifies for them.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
hagios tou Theou · Greek Adjective
A title acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah or the one uniquely set apart for God's divine purpose. It signifies His absolute purity and His divine commission.
The encounter with the demon in the synagogue at Capernaum highlights the immediate recognition of Jesus's divine authority by the spiritual realm, even amidst the political and social tensions of Roman-occupied Judea.
c. 4 BC
Herod the Great dies
The death of Herod the Great leads to a period of instability and division of his kingdom among his sons. This political fragmentation sets the stage for Roman involvement and local unrest.
c. AD 6
Judea becomes a Roman province
After the deposition of Herod Archelaus, Judea is incorporated into the Roman province of Syria, increasing Roman military and administrative presence in the region.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus begins his public ministry
Jesus begins teaching, healing, and casting out demons, gaining a reputation that spreads throughout Galilee. This period includes his visit to the synagogue in Capernaum.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection
The central events of Christian faith, leading to the rapid spread of the early Church and the continued proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God.
c. AD 60-62
Luke writes his Gospel
The Gospel of Luke is written, meticulously recording the events of Jesus's life, ministry, and the testimony of witnesses, including this account of the demon-possessed man.
This passage features a demon crying out to Jesus, echoing the phrase 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?' highlighting the demons' recognition of Jesus' divine authority and their desperate plea for him to leave them alone.
1 Samuel 16:14The verse speaks of an evil spirit troubling King Saul, showing the pervasive influence of malevolent spiritual forces that Jesus' arrival and power directly confront.
James 2:19This verse directly states that 'the demons believe—and shudder!' reinforcing the idea presented in Luke 4:34 that even demonic entities have a terrifying awareness of God's power and holiness.
1 John 3:8This passage explains that 'the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work,' providing the theological backdrop for the demon's fearful question to Jesus about coming to destroy them.
John 10:36Jesus himself is called 'the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world' in this passage, directly linking to the demon's identification of Jesus as 'the Holy One of God' and affirming His unique divine mission.
jfbLuke 4:33-37: "And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,"
Lu 4:33-37. Demoniac Healed.33. unclean—The frequency with which this character of impurity is applied to evil spirits is worthy of notice.cried out, &c.—(See Mt 8:29; Mr 3:11).
vincentLuke 4:34: "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God."
What have we to do with thee (τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί)?Lit., what is there to us and to thee? i.e., what have we in common? So Wyc.
The demon's plural "us" is a subtle but powerful detail, revealing that this isn't just an individual tormented soul, but a collective of evil powers speaking through one voice. It highlights the expansive reach of spiritual darkness that Jesus' arrival immediately confronts.
Jesus has just taught with surprising authority in a synagogue in Capernaum, astounding everyone. Suddenly, a man controlled by an evil spirit cries out, recognizing Jesus and his divine mission but also revealing the spiritual conflict and fear his presence instills. This outburst is the demon's terrified reaction to Jesus' power, which he knows will ultimately lead to his own defeat.
Jesus has just taught with surprising authority in a synagogue in Capernaum, astounding everyone. Suddenly, a man controlled by an evil spirit cries out, recognizing Jesus and his divine mission but also revealing the spiritual conflict and fear his presence instills. This outburst is the demon's terrified reaction to Jesus' power, which he knows will ultimately lead to his own defeat.
"“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”" — The demon's plural "us" is a subtle but powerful detail, revealing that this isn't just an individual tormented soul, but a collective of evil powers speaking through one voice. It highlights the exp…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026