Matthew 8:31

So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The demons address Jesus, making a conditional request at the precise moment He prepares to expel them from the man.

The words — The verb παρεκάλουν (parekaloun) literally means "were begging," and ἐκβάλλεις (ekballeis) translates directly to "You cast out" or "You drive out."

The thread — The identical plea appears in Mark 5:12, while the theme of restricted demonic movement aligns with the angel binding Satan in Revelation 20:1.

Why it lands — The text establishes that spiritual forces cannot act beyond the explicit permission granted by Christ.

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

οἱhoi<the>δὲdeAnd δαίμονεςdaimonesthe demons παρεκάλουνparekalounwere begging αὐτὸνautonHim λέγοντες·legontessaying;εἰeiIf ἐκβάλλειςekballeisYou cast out ἡμᾶς,hēmasus,ἐπίτρεψονepitrepsondo allow ἀπόστειλονaposteilondo send away ἡμᾶςhēmasus εἰςeisinto τὴνtēnthe ἀγέληνagelēnherd τῶνtōn<the>χοίρων.choirōnof pigs.

King James Version

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

Cross-references

Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.
Mark 5:12 So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”
Luke 8:30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
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!”