Luke 8:29
What does Luke 8:29 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:29 means
Luke 8:29 explains that the man’s cry was actually the unclean spirit speaking; the demon had often seized him, resulting in his being chained and breaking free. The description shows the repeated, violent nature of the possession: the man was restrained and yet would break bonds and be driven into deserts. The verse underscores both the demon’s persistence and the futility of human attempts at control. It calls attention to Jesus’ unique authority to confront forces that neither people nor restraints could ultimately contain.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For he was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For oftentimes it had seized him: and he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters; and breaking the bands asunder, he was driven of the demon into the deserts.
KJV
King James Version · 1611(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For he was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For oftentimes it had seized him: and he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters; and breaking the bands asunder, he was driven of the demon into the deserts.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For he gave an order to the evil spirit to come out of the man. For frequently it would take a grip of him: and he was kept under control, and prisoned with chains; but parting the chains in two, he would be sent by the driving of the evil spirit into waste places.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For he commanded the unclean spirit to come forth from the man, for many times it had caught him, and he was being bound with chains and fetters--guarded, and breaking asunder the bonds he was driven by the demons to the deserts.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For he commanded the unclean spirit to go out of the man. For many times it seized him: and he was bound with chains and kept in fetters: and breaking the bonds, he was driven by the devil into the deserts.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For he had commanded the unclean spirit to go out from the man. For very often it had seized him; and he had been bound, kept with chains and fetters; and breaking the bonds he was driven by the demon into the deserts.
Context
After the man’s confession, Luke clarifies that the voice belongs to the unclean spirit and recounts the torment’s frequency and intensity. This context amplifies the need for a supernatural solution and primes readers for Jesus’ interrogation and the deliverance that follows.
v.28And when he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not.
v.29This passage
v.30And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; for many demons were entered into him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 9:42
And as he was yet a coming, the demon dashed him down, and tare him grievously. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
- 2 Timothy 2:25
in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,
- Mark 5:8
For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man.
- Acts 19:12
insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
- Luke 9:39
and behold, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth, and it hardly departeth from him, bruising him sorely.
- Mark 9:20
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
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