Luke 8:30-32

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 8:30 tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to pick up the sequence of the narrative prior to the parenthetical note by the author.
2. Luke 8:30 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
3. Luke 8:30 sn The name Legion means “thousands,” a word taken from a Latin term for a large group of soldiers. The term not only suggests a multiple possession, but also adds a military feel to the account. This is a true battle.
4. Luke 8:31 tn One could also translate the imperfect tense here with a repetitive force like “begged him repeatedly.”
5. Luke 8:31 tn Or “command.”
6. Luke 8:31 tn This word, ἄβυσσος (abussos), is a term for the place where the dead await the judgment. It also could hold hostile spirits according to Jewish belief (Jub. 5:6-7; 1 En. 10:4-6; 18:11-16).
7. Luke 8:32 tn Grk “mountain,” but this might give the English reader the impression of a far higher summit.
8. Luke 8:32 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the demonic spirits) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9. Luke 8:32 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10. Luke 8:32 sn Many have discussed why Jesus gave them permission, since the animals were destroyed. However, this is another example of a miracle that is a visual lesson. The demons are destructive: They were destroying the man. They destroyed the pigs. They destroy whatever they touch. The point was to take demonic influence seriously, as well as Jesus’ power over it as a picture of the larger battle for human souls. There would be no doubt how the man’s transformation had taken place.