Mark 5:8

For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses an unclean spirit possessing a man, issuing the command after the demon has already pleaded for mercy in Mark 5:7 and before asking its name in Mark 5:9.

The words — The text centers on ἔξελθε (exelthe), meaning "do come forth," paired with ἀκαθαρτον (akatharton), meaning "unclean," to form the direct expulsion command.

The thread — This expulsion command parallels Jesus’ earlier rebuke in Mark 1:25, His confrontation in Mark 9:25, and Paul’s later action in Acts 16:18.

Why it lands — The text reports Jesus’ authoritative command to leave the possessed man, requiring the reader to acknowledge that spiritual authority operates independently of human negotiation or demon resistance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἔλεγενelegenHe was saying γὰρgarfor αὐτῷ·autōto him;ἔξελθεexelthedo come forth τὸtoyou πνεῦμαpneumaspirit τὸto<the>ἀκάθαρτονakathartonunclean ἐκekout of τοῦtouthe ἀνθρώπου.¶anthrōpouman!

King James Version

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

Cross-references

Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”
Acts 16:18 She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.