Devine Scripture

Luke 8:33

What does Luke 8:33 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 8:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 8:33 means

Luke 8:33 recounts the demons leaving the man and entering the swine, causing the herd to rush down a steep bank into the lake and drown. The dramatic image shows the destructive outcome of demonic possession, now redirected into animals. The drowning of the swine visibly demonstrates the power of evil and the danger of its presence. It also yields an economic loss that will provoke local reaction. Yet the man is freed, illustrating the gospel’s priority: human restoration outweighs material cost. The scene forces communities to reckon with spiritual reality.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the demons came out from the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake, and were drowned.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the demons came out from the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake, and were drowned.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs: and the herd went rushing down a sharp slope into the water and came to destruction.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the demons having gone forth from the man, did enter into the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep to the lake, and were choked.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The devils therefore went out of the man and entered into the swine. And the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were stifled.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the demons, going out from the man, entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the precipice into the lake, and were choked.

Context

This verse completes the demonic transfer narrative and produces a public spectacle. It follows Jesus’ permission and precipitates the herdsmen’s flight, the town’s investigation, and the freed man’s testimony. The sequence will highlight the mixed human responses: amazement, fear, and rejection.

v.32Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they entreated him that he would give them leave to enter into them. And he gave them leave.

v.33This passage

v.34And when they that fed them saw what had come to pass, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 9:11

    They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek tongue he hath the name Apollyon.

  • Luke 8:22

    Now it came to pass on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples; and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake: and they launched forth.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

  • 1 Peter 5:8

    Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

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