Mark 5:11 - The Demons and the Pigs

There on the nearby hillside
The setting of this passage is the region of the Gerasenes, located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This area was predominantly Gentile, which is significant given the presence of pigs, animals considered unclean by Jewish law (Leviticus 11:7). The mention of a hillside suggests a rural, pastoral landscape, common in this region. Hillsides in this area often provided grazing land for livestock, indicating a community engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.

a large herd of pigs
The presence of pigs highlights the Gentile nature of the region, as Jews would not typically raise pigs due to their dietary laws. The herd's size, described as "large," suggests a significant economic investment, indicating the importance of pig farming to the local economy. This detail underscores the cultural and religious divide between Jesus and the local population, as pigs were considered unclean and detestable in Jewish culture (Deuteronomy 14:8). The large herd also sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow, emphasizing the magnitude of the miracle Jesus is about to perform.

was feeding
The act of feeding implies a routine, everyday activity, which contrasts with the extraordinary events that follow. This detail grounds the narrative in a real-world setting, emphasizing the normalcy of life before Jesus' intervention. The feeding of the pigs also serves as a backdrop to the spiritual feeding and liberation that Jesus offers to the demon-possessed man. This phrase can be seen as a metaphor for sustenance and provision, themes that are prevalent throughout Jesus' ministry, as He provides spiritual nourishment and deliverance to those in need.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus
Central figure in the Gospel of Mark, performing miracles and teaching with authority.

2. Gerasenes
The region where this event takes place, located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

3. Demon-Possessed Man
A man afflicted by a legion of demons, living among the tombs and unable to be restrained.

4. Herd of Pigs
A large group of pigs feeding on a hillside, significant in the account as they become the destination for the expelled demons.

5. Demons
Spiritual beings opposed to God, possessing the man and later entering the pigs.

Teaching Points

Authority of Jesus
Jesus demonstrates His divine authority over the spiritual realm, showcasing His power to deliver and restore.

Cultural Context
Understanding the Jewish view of pigs as unclean animals helps us appreciate the shock and significance of the event.

Spiritual Warfare
This passage reminds believers of the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for reliance on Christ's power for deliverance.

Compassion and Restoration
Jesus' willingness to cross cultural and religious boundaries to heal the demon-possessed man illustrates His compassion and mission to restore the broken.

Response to Jesus' Power
The reaction of the townspeople, who ask Jesus to leave, challenges us to consider our own response to His authority and work in our lives.

Verse 11. - Now there was there nigh unto the mountains - literally, on the mountain side (πρὸς τὰ ὅρη) - a great herd of swine feeding. St. Matthew says (Matthew 8:30), "There was a good way off from them:" our Lord's interview with the demoniac was on the seashore. "The herd of swine," two thousand in number (as St. Mark tells us, with his usual attention to details), were at a distance, feeding on the slopes of the mountain; The Jews were not allowed to eat swine's flesh. But Jews were not the only inhabitants of that district. It had been colonized, at least in part, by the Romans immediately after the conquest of Syria, some sixty years before Christ. It was in this district that ten cities are said to have been rebuilt by the Romans, whence the territory acquired the name of "the Decapolis." And though the Jews were forbidden their Law to eat this kind of food, yet they were not forbidden to breed swine for other uses, such as provisioning the Roman army. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

There
ἐκεῖ (ekei)
Adverb
Strong's 1563: (a) there, yonder, in that place, (b) thither, there. Of uncertain affinity; there; by extension, thither.

on the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

nearby
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

hillside
ὄρει (orei)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

a large
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

herd
ἀγέλη (agelē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 34: A flock, herd. From ago; a drove.

of pigs
χοίρων (choirōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5519: A swine, hog, sow. Of uncertain derivation; a hog.

was
Ἦν (Ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

feeding.
βοσκομένη (boskomenē)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1006: To feed, pasture. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to pasture; by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze.

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Mark 5:11 Catholic BibleNT Gospels: Mark 5:11 Now on the mountainside there was (Mar Mk Mr)