Devine Scripture

Matthew 8:29

What does Matthew 8:29 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 8:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 8:29 means

The demons within the men immediately recognize Jesus, crying out with a question that acknowledges His divine identity: "Thou Son of God." Their desperate plea, "art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" reveals their awareness of God's ultimate judgment and their fear of Jesus' power to execute it. They know Jesus possesses the authority to torment them, and they are concerned about the timing of His intervention.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they gave a loud cry, saying, What have we to do with you, you Son of God? Have you come here to give us punishment before the time?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and lo, they cried out, saying, `What--to us and to thee, Jesus, Son of God? didst thou come hither, before the time, to afflict us?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And behold they cried out, saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Son ofGod? hast thou come here before the time to torment us?

Context

This verse records the demons’ immediate recognition of Jesus’ divine identity and their fearful address to Him, directly following their appearance. It substantiates Jesus’ unique authority as the Son of God and sets up the subsequent negotiations between Jesus and the demons, providing crucial insight into the spiritual conflict at play before their expulsion.

v.28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two possessed with demons, coming forth out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass by that way.

v.29This passage

v.30Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.

Cross references

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

  • 2 Samuel 19:22

    And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

  • Matthew 4:3

    And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.

  • Jude 1:6

    And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

  • 1 Kings 17:18

    And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? thou art come unto me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son!

  • Mark 1:24

    saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

  • Luke 8:28

    And 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.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 8

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 8.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Matthew 8:29.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary