Luke 8:37
What does Luke 8:37 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:37 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:37 means
Luke 8:37 says that all the people of the Gerasenes region asked Jesus to depart because they were seized with great fear; so he got into a boat and returned. Their request to Jesus to leave arises from fear and discomfort over his power and the financial loss the swine represented. Their response shows how fear and self-interest can repel people from God’s blessing. Jesus’ departure does not mean defeat; it displays human rejection and the cost of confronting sin and spiritual truth. The verse highlights the irony: a miracle intended for good produced rejection.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them; for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a boat, and returned.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them; for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a boat, and returned.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes made a request to him to go away from them; for they were in great fear: and he got into a boat and went back.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the whole multitude of the region of the Gadarenes round about asked him to go away from them, because with great fear they were pressed, and he having entered into the boat, did turn back.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And all the multitude of the country of the Gerasens besought him to depart from them: for they were taken with great fear. And he, going up into the ship, returned back again.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And all the multitude of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were possessed with great fear; and he, entering into the ship, returned.
Context
This verse follows the witnesses’ report and presents the community’s corporate reaction. It marks a turn from healing to repulsion, emphasizing the chapter’s theme of mixed responses to Jesus. The movement toward departure prepares the next scene, where the healed man seeks to stay with Jesus but is sent back to testify at home.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 16:39
and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.
- Luke 5:8
But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
- Luke 10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.
- Job 21:14
And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
- Deuteronomy 5:25
Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Jehovah our God any more, then we shall die.
- Mark 5:17
And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders.
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