And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The demons' request to enter the pigs isn't just about finding a new place to live; it reveals their destructive nature. They didn't want to simply exist in the pigs, but rather to unleash their chaos and bring about ruin, even to innocent animals. This highlights their deep-seated desire for destruction, far beyond merely avoiding judgment.
And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just calmed a violent storm at sea, demonstrating his authority over nature, and now encounters two fierce demon-possessed men near the tombs. After Jesus commands the evil spirits to leave the men, the demons, acknowledging Jesus' divine power, plead not to be sent into the abyss but instead to be allowed to enter a nearby herd of pigs.
Why would demons, beings of pure evil, dread a place of confinement? Their request to enter pigs reveals a desperate fear of something even worse.
When Jesus confronts the demon-possessed man, the demons don't resist his power outright. Instead, they plead for an alternative. Their request to be sent into the herd of pigs isn't just about causing destruction; it's about avoiding a more terrifying fate.
A Plea for Any Place But There
The Gospel accounts show the demons were afraid of being sent 'into the deep' (Luke 8:31) or 'out of the country' (Mark 5:10). 'The deep' is a reference to the abyss, a place of utter confinement and judgment for evil spirits. They desperately want to avoid this eternal punishment.
Pigs as a Lesser Evil
Their request to inhabit the pigs reveals their primary desire: to continue their destructive existence among humanity, even if it means inhabiting unclean animals. It's a choice between continued, albeit restricted, mischief and absolute, eternal judgment.
The demons know Jesus is powerful, but their interaction with Him reveals the extent of His authority – even over the forces of chaos.
This encounter is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' absolute authority over the demonic realm. The demons recognize Him immediately and respond out of fear and an acknowledgment of His power.
The Name 'Legion'
The confession of 'Legion' (meaning thousands of soldiers) signifies a multitude of demons. This isn't just one or two spirits, but a vast, organized force inhabiting the man. Yet, even this immense power is subject to Jesus' command.
Ask a follow-up
Permission, Not Command, for Pigs
Jesus grants their request to enter the pigs. This is not because He endorses their desire but to reveal their true nature and to demonstrate His sovereign control. He permits their action, but the devastating outcome for the pigs and the resulting fear in the town underscore His ultimate power. He is in charge, even when allowing destructive forces to operate.
Understand the original words
daimones · Greek Noun
Spiritual beings who serve Satan and are hostile toward God and humanity. They are fallen angels or spirits who seek to possess, influence, or torment people and oppose the kingdom of God.
ekballeis · Greek Verb
In a biblical context, to drive out or expel spiritual entities from a person or place through authority, specifically the authority of Jesus or His name. It signifies a forceful removal of an oppressor.
The request of the demons to enter the herd of pigs underscores the 'unclean' nature of their dwelling and their association with practices forbidden by Jewish law, highlighting the stark contrast between Jesus' holy power and the defilement represented by the demons and the pigs in this Gentile territory.
Early 1st century AD
Roman Rule in Judea and Galilee
Jesus ministered during a time of Roman occupation, which significantly impacted the political and social landscape of Judea and Galilee. This context influenced local customs and economics, including the presence of Gentile populations and their practices, such as raising pigs.
Early 1st century AD
Jewish Purity Laws and Gentile Regions
The region of the Gadarenes (or Gergesenes) was predominantly Gentile, a fact significant to the Jewish audience of Matthew's Gospel. The presence of a large herd of pigs, an animal considered unclean under Jewish law, highlights the Gentile identity of the area and the strict separation observed by many Jews.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
The Ministry of Jesus
Jesus' ministry involved encounters with individuals deeply oppressed by demonic forces. These encounters often occurred in public spaces, but also in more remote or desolate areas, showcasing the reach of both demonic influence and Jesus' power.
Early 1st century AD
Destruction of the Swine
After the demons entered the pigs, the entire herd rushed down a steep bank into the sea and drowned. This dramatic event not only confirmed the power of Jesus but also had significant economic consequences for the swineherds and the local community.
Early 1st century AD
Local Reaction to Jesus
The owners of the swine and the townspeople, upon witnessing the loss of their livelihood and the power displayed by Jesus, became afraid and asked Him to leave their region. This fear and rejection contrasted sharply with the healed man's desire to follow Jesus.
This passage directly parallels Matthew's account, highlighting the demons' fear of being sent 'into the abyss' (hell), emphasizing their desperate plea for a less severe fate than eternal judgment.
Mark 5:12Mark's Gospel records the demons specifically asking Jesus to send them into the pigs, corroborating the specific request made in Matthew and revealing the demons' immediate, destructive intent.
1 Timothy 6:10This verse speaks to the 'love of money' as a root of all kinds of evil. The Gadarenes' reaction, prioritizing their pigs over Jesus' presence, illustrates how material possessions can blind people to spiritual truth and even lead them to reject salvation.
Job 1:12In Job's story, Satan is permitted by God to afflict Job but is forbidden to take his life. This shows a similar divine permission granted to the demons to enter the pigs, highlighting that even demonic actions are ultimately under God's sovereign control.
Revelation 9:2This passage describes the smoke from the Abyss rising and darkening the sun, and then locusts being released. It echoes the demons' fear of being sent into the abyss, suggesting a connection between the 'bottomless pit' and the dwelling place of these malevolent spirits.
calvinMatthew 8:28-34: "And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way."
- And when he had come to the opposite bank, [542] into the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs, who had come from among the tombs, met him: and they were fierce beyond measure, so that no man could pass along that road. 29. And, lo, they cried out, saying, What have we to d…
meyerMatthew 8:31: "So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine."
Matthew 8:31 . Εἰς … χοίρων ] They mean: into the bodies of the swine that were feeding . To the unclean spirits in the possessed Jews, anticipating, as they certainly do, their inevitable expulsion, it appears desirable, as well as most easily attainable, that they should find an abode for themselves in impure animals. Eisenmenger, entdecktes Judenth . II. p. 447 f. The request…
The demons' request to enter the pigs isn't just about finding a new place to live; it reveals their destructive nature. They didn't want to simply exist in the pigs, but rather to unleash their chaos and bring about ruin, even to innocent animals. This highlights their deep-seated desire for destruction, far beyond merely avoiding judgment.
Jesus has just calmed a violent storm at sea, demonstrating his authority over nature, and now encounters two fierce demon-possessed men near the tombs. After Jesus commands the evil spirits to leave the men, the demons, acknowledging Jesus' divine power, plead not to be sent into the abyss but instead to be allowed to enter a nearby herd of pigs.
Jesus has just calmed a violent storm at sea, demonstrating his authority over nature, and now encounters two fierce demon-possessed men near the tombs. After Jesus commands the evil spirits to leave the men, the demons, acknowledging Jesus' divine power, plead not to be sent into the abyss but instead to be allowed to enter a nearby herd of pigs.
"And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”" — The demons' request to enter the pigs isn't just about finding a new place to live; it reveals their destructive nature. They didn't want to simply exist in the pigs, but rather to unleash their ch…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026