Bible Strands
Matthew 8:29
“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The two demon-possessed men emerging from the Gadarenes tombs shout this question directly to Jesus upon His arrival. The confrontation occurs immediately after He crosses the sea and before the distant herd of pigs is noted.
The words — The Greek ἔκραξαν (ekraxan) translates to they cried out, and τί (ti) literally asks what. These terms establish the sudden, vocal nature of the demons' challenge.
The thread — The identical demon exclamation appears in Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:34, where unclean spirits declare Jesus as the Holy One of God. James 2:19 later records that demons believe and shudder at divine reality.
Why it lands — The text states that Jesus confronts hostile spiritual forces before any final judgment. It requires the reader to acknowledge His present authority over evil without delaying recognition until a future appointed time.
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
King James Version
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Cross-references
- Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
- Luke 4:34 “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
- James 2:19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
- Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”
- Luke 8:28 When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”
- Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
- 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
- 2 Samuel 16:10 But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
- Luke 4:41 Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.
- John 2:4 “Woman, what is that to you and to Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”