Mark 5:5
New International Version
Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

New Living Translation
Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.

English Standard Version
Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Berean Standard Bible
Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Berean Literal Bible
And constantly all night and day in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out and cutting himself with stones.

King James Bible
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

New King James Version
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

New American Standard Bible
Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones.

NASB 1995
Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.

NASB 1977
And constantly night and day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out and gashing himself with stones.

Legacy Standard Bible
And constantly, night and day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he was screaming and gashing himself with stones.

Amplified Bible
Night and day he was constantly screaming and shrieking among the tombs and on the mountains, and cutting himself with [sharp] stones.

Christian Standard Bible
Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And always, night and day, he was crying out among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones.

American Standard Version
And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.

Contemporary English Version
Night and day he was in the graveyard or on the hills, yelling and cutting himself with stones.

English Revised Version
And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Night and day he was among the tombs and on the mountainsides screaming and cutting himself with stones.

Good News Translation
Day and night he wandered among the tombs and through the hills, screaming and cutting himself with stones.

International Standard Version
He kept screaming night and day among the tombs and on the mountainsides, and kept cutting himself with stones.

Majority Standard Bible
Night and day in the mountains and in the tombs he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.

NET Bible
Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

New Heart English Bible
And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.

Webster's Bible Translation
And always, night and day, he was on the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Weymouth New Testament
And constantly, day and night, he remained among the tombs or on the hills, shrieking, and mangling himself with sharp stones.

World English Bible
Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones.

Berean Literal Bible
And constantly all night and day in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Young's Literal Translation
and always, night and day, in the mountains, and in the tombs he was, crying and cutting himself with stones.

Smith's Literal Translation
And always, night and day, was he in the mountains, and among the monuments, crying, and mangling himself with stones.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he was always day and night in the monuments and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he was always, day and night, among the tombs, or in the mountains, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

New American Bible
Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.

New Revised Standard Version
Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And always, night and day, he was in the cemetery and in the mountains, crying aloud and cutting himself with stones.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And always at night and in the daytime he was among the tombs and in the mountains and was crying out and cutting himself with stones.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and always, night and day, he was in the tombs, and in the mountains, crying out, and cutting himself with stones.

Godbey New Testament
No one was able to tame him: and all the time, night and day, he was among the tombs in the mountains, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Haweis New Testament
and continually night and day he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, screaming, and cutting himself with stones.

Mace New Testament
night and day he was in the mountains, howling among the tombs, and hacking his flesh with flints.

Weymouth New Testament
And constantly, day and night, he remained among the tombs or on the hills, shrieking, and mangling himself with sharp stones.

Worrell New Testament
And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Worsley New Testament
and he was always night and day upon the hills and among the sepulchres bawling, and gashing himself with stones.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Demons and the Pigs
4Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.…

Cross References
Matthew 8:28-34
When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, He was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. / “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?” / In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding. ...

Luke 8:27-39
When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs. / When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!” / For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places. ...

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

1 Kings 18:28
So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.

Job 2:7-8
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. / And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

Psalm 88:6
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.

Psalm 102:6-7
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. / I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.

Lamentations 3:48-49
Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people. / My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief,

Zechariah 13:6
If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest?’ he will answer, ‘These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

Matthew 17:15
“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

Luke 9:39
A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him.

Acts 19:16
Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.

2 Corinthians 12:7
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.


Treasury of Scripture

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

crying.

1 Kings 18:28
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

Job 2:7,8
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown…

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode 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 of it.

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Always Bruising Constantly Cry Crying Cut Cutting Dead Hills Mountains Night Screaming Sharp Stones Time Tombs
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.














Night and day
This phrase emphasizes the continuous and relentless nature of the man's torment. It suggests a state of perpetual suffering, without relief or respite. In biblical terms, the concept of "night and day" often signifies completeness or totality, as seen in other scriptures like Psalm 1:2, where the righteous meditate on the law "day and night."

in the tombs and in the mountains
The tombs were often located outside of towns and were considered unclean places according to Jewish law (Numbers 19:16). The mountains, or hills, in this context, represent isolation and desolation. The man's dwelling in these places highlights his separation from society and the spiritual desolation he experienced. This setting also foreshadows the resurrection, as Jesus Himself would later be laid in a tomb and rise again, conquering death and uncleanness.

he kept crying out
The continuous crying out indicates deep anguish and torment. This behavior is consistent with the presence of demonic influence, as seen in other biblical accounts where demons cause physical and emotional distress (Luke 9:39). The man's cries can be seen as a distorted echo of the cries for deliverance found throughout the Psalms, reflecting a deep, albeit misdirected, longing for salvation.

and cutting himself with stones
Self-harm in this context is a manifestation of the demonic oppression the man was under. It reflects the destructive nature of sin and evil, which seeks to mar the image of God in humanity. The act of cutting with stones may also symbolize the futility of trying to find relief through self-destructive means. In contrast, Jesus, the "stone the builders rejected" (Psalm 118:22), offers true healing and restoration. This behavior also parallels the practices of the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:28, who cut themselves in a frenzy, highlighting the contrast between the false gods and the true God who brings peace and healing.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Demoniac
A man possessed by an unclean spirit, living among the tombs, isolated from society due to his condition.

2. The Tombs
Burial places outside the city, often seen as unclean and associated with death, where the demoniac resided.

3. The Mountains
The surrounding region where the demoniac wandered, symbolizing isolation and desolation.

4. Jesus
Though not directly mentioned in this verse, He is the central figure in the account, who later heals the demoniac.

5. The Unclean Spirit
The evil force tormenting the man, causing him to harm himself and live in despair.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
The demoniac's condition reminds us of the reality of spiritual forces and the need for vigilance and prayer.

Isolation and Despair
The man's isolation in the tombs reflects how sin and spiritual oppression can lead to loneliness and hopelessness.

The Power of Jesus to Heal
Though not detailed in this verse, the broader account shows Jesus' authority over evil, offering hope for deliverance.

Self-Destructive Behavior
The demoniac's self-harm is a physical manifestation of spiritual torment, reminding us to seek help and healing for those in similar distress.

Compassion for the Marginalized
Jesus' interaction with the demoniac teaches us to reach out with compassion to those society often neglects or fears.(5) Cutting himself with stones.--This feature, again, is given only by St. Mark.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Night
νυκτὸς (nyktos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3571: The night, night-time. A primary word; 'night'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

day
ἡμέρας (hēmeras)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

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

tombs
μνήμασιν (mnēmasin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3418: A tomb, monument, memorial. From mnaomai; a memorial, i.e. Sepulchral monument.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

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

mountains,
ὄρεσιν (oresin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

he
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.

kept
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

crying out
κράζων (krazōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2896: To cry aloud, shriek. A primary verb; properly, to 'croak' or scream, i.e. to call aloud.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

cutting
κατακόπτων (katakoptōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2629: To cut up, cut in pieces, mangle, wound. From kata and kopto; to chop down, i.e. Mangle.

himself
ἑαυτὸν (heauton)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

with stones.
λίθοις (lithois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3037: A stone; met: of Jesus as the chief stone in a building. Apparently a primary word; a stone.


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NT Gospels: Mark 5:5 Always night and day in the tombs (Mar Mk Mr)
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