This poor victim of a dark tyrant power was endowed with superhuman strength, and scorned restraint. Terrible to others, he endured untold misery himself, and sought relief in tears and self-inflicted torture. The evil spirit who inflicted torment was also in dread of torment from the gentle Savior, as one whose eyes are inflamed dreads the light. What an admixture of man and demons-he answered, We are many! And how malignant! The demons dread disembodiment and prefer a swine's body to none. Many in our midst are held by a similar diabolic power, against which, because they yielded at first by imperceptible degrees, they now struggle in vain. Yet for such there is absolute deliverance in Christ. The emblem of a sinner, a very Samson in evil-doing, this man gives encouragement to all those who are driven to evil by demon power.
Distinguish between the sinner and the evil spirits that have control of him, and do their will. The demon that torments a man loves mischief, and would rather destroy swine than be idle. It was not Christ who destroyed these animals, but the spirit of evil. Hast thou been redeemed? Go forth and win others for thy Lord. Tell them what he has done for thee! [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 5
1Jesus delivering the possessed of the legion of demons, 13they enter into the pigs 22He is entreated by Jairus to go and heal his daughter 25He heals the woman subject to bleeding, 35and raises Jairus' daughter from death
Greek Commentary for Mark 5:6
Ran and worshipped [εδραμεν και προσεκυνησεν] “At first perhaps with hostile intentions. The onrush of the naked yelling maniac must have tried the newly recovered confidence of the Twelve. We can imagine their surprise when, on approaching, he threw himself on his knees” (Swete). [source]
Afar off [ἀπὸ μακρόθεν] Peculiar to Mark, as is also he ran. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 5:6
Luke 8:28Fell down [προσεπεσεν] Second aorist active of προσπιπτω prospiptō to fall forward, towards, prostrate before one as here. Common verb. Mark 5:6 has προσεκυνησεν prosekunēsen (worshipped). [source]
Revelation 18:10Standing afar off [απο μακροτεν εστηκοτες] Perfect active (intransitive) participle of ιστημι histēmi Vivid picture of the terrible scene, fascinated by the lurid blaze (cf. Nero‘s delight in the burning of Rome in a.d. 64), and yet afraid to draw near. On απο μακροτεν apo makrothen see Mark 5:6. There is a weird charm in a burning city. They feared the same fate (cf. Revelation 18:7 for βασανισμου basanismou torment). [source]
What do the individual words in Mark 5:6 mean?
Andhaving seen-Jesusfromafarhe ranfell on his kneesbefore Him
Greek Commentary for Mark 5:6
“At first perhaps with hostile intentions. The onrush of the naked yelling maniac must have tried the newly recovered confidence of the Twelve. We can imagine their surprise when, on approaching, he threw himself on his knees” (Swete). [source]
Peculiar to Mark, as is also he ran. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 5:6
Second aorist active of προσπιπτω prospiptō to fall forward, towards, prostrate before one as here. Common verb. Mark 5:6 has προσεκυνησεν prosekunēsen (worshipped). [source]
Perfect active (intransitive) participle of ιστημι histēmi Vivid picture of the terrible scene, fascinated by the lurid blaze (cf. Nero‘s delight in the burning of Rome in a.d. 64), and yet afraid to draw near. On απο μακροτεν apo makrothen see Mark 5:6. There is a weird charm in a burning city. They feared the same fate (cf. Revelation 18:7 for βασανισμου basanismou torment). [source]