Mark 5:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus permits it; the spirits enter the pigs, and the whole herd stampedes down the slope into the sea and drowns.
What Does Mark 5:13 Mean?
With a word of permission the spirits leave the man, and the effect on the herd is instantaneous: about two thousand swine stampede down the steep bank into the sea and drown. The violence that had been hidden inside one human being becomes visible across an entire hillside.
The drowning herd reveals what the spirits had been working in the man all along -- a headlong drive toward destruction and death. He had been preserved from their full intent; the pigs were not. And the scene states heaven's scale of values without apology: one man's deliverance outweighs any quantity of property. It is a costly mercy, and Jesus does not hesitate over the price.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 5:13
What does Mark 5:13 mean?
Jesus permits it; the spirits enter the pigs, and the whole herd stampedes down the slope into the sea and drowns.