Mark 5:11
New International Version
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.

New Living Translation
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.

English Standard Version
Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,

Berean Standard Bible
There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.

Berean Literal Bible
Now there was a great herd of pigs there near the mountain, feeding.

King James Bible
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

New King James Version
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.

New American Standard Bible
Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain.

NASB 1995
Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain.

NASB 1977
Now there was a big herd of swine feeding there on the mountain.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain.

Amplified Bible
Now there was a large herd of pigs grazing there on the mountain.

Christian Standard Bible
A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now a large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside.

American Standard Version
Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.

Contemporary English Version
Over on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.

English Revised Version
Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside nearby.

Good News Translation
There was a large herd of pigs near by, feeding on a hillside.

International Standard Version
Now a large herd of pigs was grazing on a hillside nearby.

Majority Standard Bible
There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.

NET Bible
There on the hillside, a great herd of pigs was feeding.

New Heart English Bible
Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now there was there nigh to the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

Weymouth New Testament
Feeding there, on the mountain slope, was a great herd of swine.

World English Bible
Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there was there, near the mountains, a great herd of pigs feeding,

Berean Literal Bible
Now there was a great herd of pigs there near the mountain, feeding.

Young's Literal Translation
And there was there, near the mountains, a great herd of swine feeding,

Smith's Literal Translation
And a great herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was there near the mountain a great herd of swine, feeding.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in that place, near the mountain, there was a great herd of swine, feeding.

New American Bible
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.

New Revised Standard Version
Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now there was there, near the mountain a large herd of swine feeding.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But there was near the mountain a great herd of swine that were feeding.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Now a great herd of swine was feeding there near the mountain.

Godbey New Testament
And there was a great herd of swine feeding in the mountain.

Haweis New Testament
And a great herd of swine was there feeding on the mountain:

Mace New Testament
now there was a great herd of swine feeding upon the mountain;

Weymouth New Testament
Feeding there, on the mountain slope, was a great herd of swine.

Worrell New Testament
Now there was there by the mountain a great herd of swine feeding

Worsley New Testament
Now there was a great herd of swine feeding upon the mountains:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Demons and the Pigs
10And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region. 11 There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. 12So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”…

Cross References
Matthew 8:30
In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.

Luke 8:32
There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.

Leviticus 11:7
And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.

Deuteronomy 14:8
as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.

Isaiah 65:4
sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs and polluted broth from their bowls.

Isaiah 66:3
Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.

Isaiah 66:17
“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.

Acts 10:14
“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

Acts 10:28
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

Acts 11:8
‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

2 Peter 2:22
Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

1 Samuel 24:14
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?

Job 30:1
“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.


Treasury of Scripture

Now there was there near to the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

herd.

Leviticus 11:7,8
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you…

Deuteronomy 14:8
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

Isaiah 65:4
Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

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Feeding Food Getting Great Herd Hillside Large Mountain Mountains Mountainside Nearby Nigh Pigs Side Slope Swine
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Feeding Food Getting Great Herd Hillside Large Mountain Mountains Mountainside Nearby Nigh Pigs Side Slope Swine
Mark 5
1. Jesus delivering the possessed of the legion of demons,
13. they enter into the pigs.
22. He is entreated by Jairus to go and heal his daughter.
25. He heals the woman subject to bleeding,
35. and raises Jairus' daughter from death.














There on the nearby hillside
The setting of this passage is the region of the Gerasenes, located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This area was predominantly Gentile, which is significant given the presence of pigs, animals considered unclean by Jewish law (Leviticus 11:7). The mention of a hillside suggests a rural, pastoral landscape, common in this region. Hillsides in this area often provided grazing land for livestock, indicating a community engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.

a large herd of pigs
The presence of pigs highlights the Gentile nature of the region, as Jews would not typically raise pigs due to their dietary laws. The herd's size, described as "large," suggests a significant economic investment, indicating the importance of pig farming to the local economy. This detail underscores the cultural and religious divide between Jesus and the local population, as pigs were considered unclean and detestable in Jewish culture (Deuteronomy 14:8). The large herd also sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow, emphasizing the magnitude of the miracle Jesus is about to perform.

was feeding
The act of feeding implies a routine, everyday activity, which contrasts with the extraordinary events that follow. This detail grounds the narrative in a real-world setting, emphasizing the normalcy of life before Jesus' intervention. The feeding of the pigs also serves as a backdrop to the spiritual feeding and liberation that Jesus offers to the demon-possessed man. This phrase can be seen as a metaphor for sustenance and provision, themes that are prevalent throughout Jesus' ministry, as He provides spiritual nourishment and deliverance to those in need.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
Central figure in the Gospel of Mark, performing miracles and teaching with authority.

2. Gerasenes
The region where this event takes place, located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

3. Demon-Possessed Man
A man afflicted by a legion of demons, living among the tombs and unable to be restrained.

4. Herd of Pigs
A large group of pigs feeding on a hillside, significant in the account as they become the destination for the expelled demons.

5. Demons
Spiritual beings opposed to God, possessing the man and later entering the pigs.
Teaching Points
Authority of Jesus
Jesus demonstrates His divine authority over the spiritual realm, showcasing His power to deliver and restore.

Cultural Context
Understanding the Jewish view of pigs as unclean animals helps us appreciate the shock and significance of the event.

Spiritual Warfare
This passage reminds believers of the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for reliance on Christ's power for deliverance.

Compassion and Restoration
Jesus' willingness to cross cultural and religious boundaries to heal the demon-possessed man illustrates His compassion and mission to restore the broken.

Response to Jesus' Power
The reaction of the townspeople, who ask Jesus to leave, challenges us to consider our own response to His authority and work in our lives.Verse 11. - Now there was there nigh unto the mountains - literally, on the mountain side (πρὸς τὰ ὅρη) - a great herd of swine feeding. St. Matthew says (Matthew 8:30), "There was a good way off from them:" our Lord's interview with the demoniac was on the seashore. "The herd of swine," two thousand in number (as St. Mark tells us, with his usual attention to details), were at a distance, feeding on the slopes of the mountain; The Jews were not allowed to eat swine's flesh. But Jews were not the only inhabitants of that district. It had been colonized, at least in part, by the Romans immediately after the conquest of Syria, some sixty years before Christ. It was in this district that ten cities are said to have been rebuilt by the Romans, whence the territory acquired the name of "the Decapolis." And though the Jews were forbidden their Law to eat this kind of food, yet they were not forbidden to breed swine for other uses, such as provisioning the Roman army.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
There
ἐκεῖ (ekei)
Adverb
Strong's 1563: (a) there, yonder, in that place, (b) thither, there. Of uncertain affinity; there; by extension, thither.

on the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

nearby
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

hillside
ὄρει (orei)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

a large
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

herd
ἀγέλη (agelē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 34: A flock, herd. From ago; a drove.

of pigs
χοίρων (choirōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5519: A swine, hog, sow. Of uncertain derivation; a hog.

was
Ἦν (Ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

feeding.
βοσκομένη (boskomenē)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1006: To feed, pasture. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to pasture; by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze.


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NT Gospels: Mark 5:11 Now on the mountainside there was (Mar Mk Mr)
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