The presence of the large herd of pigs, which were unclean animals according to Jewish law, immediately signals that Jesus has crossed into Gentile territory. This detail isn't just descriptive; it underscores the stark cultural and religious divide between Jews and Gentiles in that region.
Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from calming the storm, Jesus lands in Gadara, a region with a mixed population where the rearing of pigs, an animal unclean by Jewish law, was common. He is immediately confronted by a man so violently demon-possessed that no one could control him; this man, inhabited by a "legion" of demons, begs Jesus not to send them into the abyss but instead into a nearby herd of pigs. Jesus permits this, and the demons rush into the pigs, causing the entire herd to plunge into the sea and drown.
Why would Jesus, the Son of God, go to a place where pigs were raised?
This wasn't just any hillside; it was a place steeped in spiritual and cultural conflict. The presence of a large herd of pigs immediately signals that Jesus has entered Gentile territory, specifically the region of the Decapolis. For observant Jews, pigs were unclean animals, forbidden by the Law (Leviticus 11:7). Their prominent presence here highlights the cultural and religious boundaries Jesus crossed. This setting underscores that Jesus' mission wasn't confined to Jewish people; he came to bring His power and healing to all, even into the heart of a pagan land where God's law was disregarded.
Why would demons even want to go into pigs?
The pigs aren't just a detail; they are the temporary vessel for a powerful demonic force. The demons, recognizing Jesus' divine authority, fear being sent into the 'abyss' – their ultimate place of torment. They plead with Jesus to send them into the herd of swine instead. This request reveals their desperate desire to continue their destructive work, even if it's in animals. It shows that demons are not content to be powerless; they actively seek to possess and cause harm. Jesus' permission for the demons to enter the pigs demonstrates His absolute authority over the spiritual realm and His willingness to confront even the most chaotic manifestations of evil.
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choiros · Greek Noun
In biblical law, animals that are prohibited for food or ritual use because they do not chew the cud and divide the hoof. Their presence in a narrative often highlights a Gentile setting or a state of ritual impurity.
pneuma akatharton · Greek Noun Phrase
Spiritual beings opposed to God who inhabit or influence human beings to cause suffering, moral corruption, or madness. They are subject to the absolute authority of Jesus Christ.
The presence of a large herd of pigs near the mountains in the Gadarene region points to the mixed cultural landscape of the Decapolis, a Hellenistic league of cities where Jewish law was not strictly observed, creating a distinct context for Jesus' ministry.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Pompey the Great conquers Judea, incorporating it into the Roman sphere of influence. This event begins a period of Roman political and military dominance in the region.
c. 20 BC
Herod the Great's Reign
Herod the Great, a Roman client king, begins his extensive building projects, including the refortification of cities and the construction of pagan temples. This era saw increased Hellenistic influence and economic ties with Gentile populations.
c. AD 4
Formation of Decapolis
The Decapolis, a league of ten Greco-Roman cities in southeastern Syria and Jordan, was likely formed around this time. These cities, largely Gentile, maintained their distinct cultural and economic practices, often including the raising of swine.
c. AD 25-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God. This period marks the specific events of Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee into the Decapolis region.
c. AD 30
Expulsion of Demons into Swine
Jesus encounters and heals a man possessed by a 'legion' of demons in the Decapolis. The demons are cast out and enter a herd of about two thousand swine, which then rush into the sea and drown.
c. AD 30
Gadarenes Request Jesus to Leave
The people of the Gadarene region, upon seeing the destruction of their valuable swine, fear Jesus and ask him to depart from their territory, highlighting the economic and cultural clash.
This verse explicitly states that the pig is an unclean animal, making the herd's presence in this region particularly noteworthy for its religious and cultural context.
Matthew 8:28-32This parallel account in Matthew describes the same event, specifically mentioning two demon-possessed men and the pigs' destruction, offering a slightly different perspective on the narrative.
Luke 8:32-36Luke's Gospel also recounts this incident, focusing on the transformation of the demoniac and the fear of the local people, reinforcing the impact of Jesus' power.
Deuteronomy 14:8This passage reiterates the prohibition against eating pork, underscoring why a large herd of swine would be considered particularly offensive and significant in a Jewish context.
expositorsMark 5:1-20: "And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes."
Chapter 5CHAPTER 5:1-20 (Mark 5:1-20)THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; because that he had been often bound with fetters and…
gillMark 5:11: "Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding."
Now there was there, nigh unto the mountains,.... Where this man often was, Mark 5:5 according to Beza, the mountains of Galaad, which ran through that country, or the mountains that surrounded Tiberias. Some copies, as the Alexandrian copy and others, read "at", or "about the mountain", in the singular number. The Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions read, "about the mountain". The Syriac and Ethiopic, "at the…
The presence of the large herd of pigs, which were unclean animals according to Jewish law, immediately signals that Jesus has crossed into Gentile territory. This detail isn't just descriptive; it underscores the stark cultural and religious divide between Jews and Gentiles in that region.
Fresh from calming the storm, Jesus lands in Gadara, a region with a mixed population where the rearing of pigs, an animal unclean by Jewish law, was common. He is immediately confronted by a man so violently demon-possessed that no one could control him; this man, inhabited by a "legion" of demons, begs Jesus not to send them into the abyss but instead into a nearby herd of pigs. Jesus permits this, and the demons rush into the pigs, causing the entire herd to plunge into the sea and drown.
Fresh from calming the storm, Jesus lands in Gadara, a region with a mixed population where the rearing of pigs, an animal unclean by Jewish law, was common. He is immediately confronted by a man so violently demon-possessed that no one could control him; this man, inhabited by a "legion" of demons, begs Jesus not to send them into the abyss but instead into a nearby herd of pigs. Jesus permits this, and the demons rush into the pigs, causing the entire herd to plunge into the sea and drown.
"Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering a…" — The presence of the large herd of pigs, which were unclean animals according to Jewish law, immediately signals that Jesus has crossed into Gentile territory. This detail isn't just descriptive; it u…
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Last reviewed October 2026
