independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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The Gerasene demoniac — Legion and the swine 5:1–13
vv. 1–5 — the man no one could bind
1
Καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γερασηνῶν.independent — the crossing of 4:35–41 lands in Gentile territory; Γερασηνῶν printed — Γαδαρηνῶν (harmonized to Matthew) and Γεργεσηνῶν compete
2
καὶ ἐξελθόντος αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ πλοίουparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; leans on ὑπήντησεν
εὐθὺς ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἐκ τῶν μνημείων ἄνθρωπος ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ,independent — the Markan εὐθύς — confrontation as he steps ashore; ἐν πνεύματι, in the spirit's grip
3
ὃς τὴν κατοίκησιν εἶχεν ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν,relative — κατοίκησις a NT hapax — his settled home among the dead
καὶ οὐδὲ ἁλύσει οὐκέτι οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο αὐτὸν δῆσαι,independent — customary imperfect — the piled negatives (οὐδέ … οὐκέτι οὐδείς) of utter unrestrainability
4
διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν πολλάκις πέδαις καὶ ἁλύσεσιν δεδέσθαι καὶ διεσπάσθαι ὑπ' αὐτοῦ τὰς ἁλύσεις καὶ τὰς πέδας συντετρῖφθαι,cause — διὰ τό + perfect infinitives — the settled record of smashed fetters
καὶ οὐδεὶς ἴσχυεν αὐτὸν δαμάσαι·independent — δαμάζω — the taming-verb for wild beasts; the strong-man contest of 3:27 in the background
5
καὶ διὰ παντὸς νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν ἦν κράζων καὶ κατακόπτων ἑαυτὸν λίθοις.independent — periphrastic imperfects — ceaseless shrieking and self-laceration close the portrait
vv. 6–10 — the encounter: adjuration and command
6
καὶ ἰδὼν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀπὸ μακρόθενparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the sighting across the distance; leans on ἔδραμεν
ἔδραμενindependent — the rush toward Jesus, not away
καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ,independent — προσκυνέω — homage wrung from the spirit by superior authority, not worship
7
καὶ κράξας φωνῇ μεγάλῃparticipial — preposed aorist participle — leans on λέγει
λέγει·independent — historic present — the demon's speech vivified
Τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, Ἰησοῦ υἱὲ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου;content — verbless Semitic idiom (cf. 1:24) — the demon names him precisely; ὕψιστος, the God-title of Gentile lips
ὁρκίζω σε τὸν θεόν,content — the exorcist's own weapon turned on Jesus — the grotesque counter-adjuration
μή με βασανίσῃς.content — prohibitive subjunctive — the dread of premature judgment (cf. Matt 8:29)
8
ἔλεγεν γὰρ αὐτῷ·cause — narrator's γάρ — the flashback imperfect that grounds the whole outcry
Ἔξελθε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἀκάθαρτον ἐκ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.content — the command already in force — bare authority, no formula
9
καὶ ἐπηρώτα αὐτόν·independent — imperfect of pressing interrogation — the name demanded
Τί ὄνομά σοι;content — verbless question
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ·independent — historic present — the chilling self-naming
Λεγιὼν ὄνομά μοι,content — the Latin loanword legio — c. 6,000 soldiers; occupation overtones in occupied land; some witnesses spell Λεγεών
ὅτι πολλοί ἐσμεν.cause — the plural betrays the host — one man, many spirits
10
καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν πολλὰindependent — iterative imperfect — παρακαλέω, the verb that will run through the chapter
ἵνα μὴ αὐτὰ ἀποστείλῃ ἔξω τῆς χώρας.content — ἵνα of the entreaty's content — the neuter αὐτά: the spirits cling to their territory
vv. 11–13 — the pigs: permission and plunge
11
ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ πρὸς τῷ ὄρει ἀγέλη χοίρων μεγάλη βοσκομένη·independent — background δέ — the unclean herd of the Gentile shore, the destination in waiting
12
καὶ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸνindependent — aorist and plural now — the many make their specific request
λέγοντες·participial — pleonastic speech-participle — the frame for the petition
Πέμψον ἡμᾶς εἰς τοὺς χοίρους,content — the demons' own proposal — unclean spirits to unclean beasts
ἵνα εἰς αὐτοὺς εἰσέλθωμεν.purpose — the stated purpose — a new host sought
13
καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς.independent — one verb of permission — Jesus' only act in the whole transaction
καὶ ἐξελθόντα τὰ πνεύματα τὰ ἀκάθαρταparticipial — preposed aorist participle with its subject — the exorcism accomplished before the verb lands
εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους,independent — the transfer — the request granted verbatim
καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ὡς δισχίλιοι,independent — the stampede; ὡς δισχίλιοι in loose apposition — the scale of the bondage broken
καὶ ἐπνίγοντο ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ.independent — dramatic imperfect — the destructive intent unmasked; the sea swallows the legion
The aftermath — fear, dismissal, and the Decapolis herald 5:14–20
vv. 14–17 — the town comes out, and begs him to go
14
καὶ οἱ βόσκοντες αὐτοὺς ἔφυγονindependent — the herdsmen bolt
καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς·independent — the news spreads through the district
καὶ ἦλθονindependent — the townsfolk come out
ἰδεῖν τί ἐστιν τὸ γεγονός.purpose — purpose infinitive with indirect question — τὸ γεγονός, the perfect of a standing fact
15
καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν,independent — historic present — the scene freezes
καὶ θεωροῦσιν τὸν δαιμονιζόμενον καθήμενον ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα, τὸν ἐσχηκότα τὸν λεγιῶνα,independent — historic present; the triad sitting / clothed / sane reverses vv. 3–5 point by point
καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν.independent — fear, not joy — the boat-crossing's response (4:41) repeated on land
16
καὶ διηγήσαντο αὐτοῖς οἱ ἰδόντεςindependent — the eyewitnesses' full retelling
πῶς ἐγένετο τῷ δαιμονιζομένῳcontent — indirect question — the deliverance
καὶ περὶ τῶν χοίρων.phrase modifier — the appended cost — the loss that decides v. 17
17
καὶ ἤρξαντο παρακαλεῖν αὐτὸνindependent — παρακαλέω a third time — the demons' verb now on the town's lips
ἀπελθεῖν ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων αὐτῶν.content — content of the plea — the demons begged to stay in the region (v. 10); the town begs the healer to leave it
vv. 18–20 — the refused disciple becomes the first herald
18
καὶ ἐμβαίνοντος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πλοῖονparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; the departure already underway
παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ὁ δαιμονισθεὶςindependent — the fourth παρακαλέω — the imperfect of earnest pleading
ἵνα μετ' αὐτοῦ ᾖ.content — μετ' αὐτοῦ — the very phrase of the Twelve's calling (3:14)
19
καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν αὐτόν,independent — the one plea in the chapter refused
ἀλλὰ λέγει αὐτῷ·independent — historic present — the counter-commission
Ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου πρὸς τοὺς σούς,content — sent back rather than taken along — the harder assignment
καὶ ἀπάγγειλον αὐτοῖςcontent — proclamation commanded — the secrecy motif reversed in Gentile land
ὅσα ὁ κύριός σοι πεποίηκενrelative — ὁ κύριος — God, yet effectively Jesus (v. 20 resolves it); perfect πεποίηκεν, a deed that stands
καὶ ἠλέησέν σε.relative — coordinate finite inside the ὅσα-clause — the deliverance read as mercy
20
καὶ ἀπῆλθενindependent — the obedience begins
καὶ ἤρξατο κηρύσσειν ἐν τῇ Δεκαπόλειindependent — κηρύσσειν — the gospel-verb; one household assigned, ten cities covered
ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς,relative — where Jesus said 'the Lord,' the man proclaims 'Jesus' — the implicit christology
καὶ πάντες ἐθαύμαζον.independent — durative imperfect — amazement, still short of faith
Jairus's plea — the outer frame opens 5:21–24
21
Καὶ διαπεράσαντος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ πάλιν εἰς τὸ πέρανparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; back to the Jewish shore (ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ omitted by a few witnesses)
συνήχθη ὄχλος πολὺς ἐπ' αὐτόν,independent — the crowd that will supply the woman's cover
καὶ ἦν παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν.independent — the shoreline setting resumed
22
καὶ ἔρχεται εἷς τῶν ἀρχισυναγώγων, ὀνόματι Ἰάϊρος,independent — historic present — a named suppliant, rare in Mark; Heb. yāʾîr, 'he will awaken'
καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on πίπτει
πίπτει πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ,independent — historic present — a synagogue ruler prostrate before the teacher
23
καὶ παρακαλεῖ αὐτὸν πολλὰindependent — historic present + adverbial πολλά — the chapter's begging-verb again, now desperate
λέγων ὅτιparticipial — speech-participle with recitative ὅτι
Τὸ θυγάτριόν μου ἐσχάτως ἔχει,content — θυγάτριον, the diminutive of affection (she is twelve, v. 42); ἐσχάτως ἔχει, at the last extremity
ἵνα ἐλθὼν ἐπιθῇς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῇcontent — imperatival ἵνα — the plea itself; the laying-on of hands for healing
ἵνα σωθῇ καὶ ζήσῃ.purpose — σωθῇ — the chapter's keyword enters; ζήσῃ anticipates more than recovery
24
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν μετ' αὐτοῦ.independent — the wordless assent
καὶ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ ὄχλος πολύς,independent — durative imperfect — the throng in motion
καὶ συνέθλιβον αὐτόν.independent — συνθλίβω — the crush that will hide one deliberate touch
The woman with the flow of blood — the intercalated miracle 5:25–34
vv. 25–29 — seven participles, one touch
25
καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ῥύσει αἵματος δώδεκα ἔτηparticipial — the subject enters participle-borne — twelve years, the girl's lifetime (v. 42); unclean by Lev 15:25. The train leans on ἥψατο (v. 27)
26
καὶ πολλὰ παθοῦσα ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἰατρῶνparticipial — Mark's longest preposed-participle train continues — the treatments themselves a suffering
καὶ δαπανήσασα τὰ παρ' αὐτῆς πάνταparticipial — bankruptcy added to illness
καὶ μηδὲν ὠφεληθεῖσαparticipial — the physicians' net result — nothing
ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εἰς τὸ χεῖρον ἐλθοῦσα,participial — the ἀλλά inside the chain — deterioration; the case clinically hopeless
27
ἀκούσασα περὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ,participial — the turn — report of Jesus breaks the twelve-year descent
ἐλθοῦσα ἐν τῷ ὄχλῳ ὄπισθενparticipial — the seventh participle — from behind, hidden: uncleanness and shame choose secrecy
ἥψατο τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ·independent — the suspended main verb strikes at last — one aorist after seven participles
28
ἔλεγεν γὰρ ὅτιcause — the second ἔλεγεν γάρ — her inner speech, the imperfect of settled resolve; recitative ὅτι
Ἐὰν ἅψωμαι κἂν τῶν ἱματίων αὐτοῦconditional — protasis inside her inner speech — κἄν, minimal contact will suffice
σωθήσομαι.content — the apodosis — σῴζω again: her faith's whole creed in one word
29
καὶ εὐθὺς ἐξηράνθη ἡ πηγὴ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς,independent — εὐθύς — the instant cure; ἡ πηγή, the source itself stanched
καὶ ἔγνω τῷ σώματιindependent — knowledge in the flesh — the cure felt before it is spoken
ὅτι ἴαται ἀπὸ τῆς μάστιγος.content — resultative perfect ἴαται; μάστιξ — the disease as scourge (cf. 3:10)
vv. 30–34 — the search and the confession
30
καὶ εὐθὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐπιγνοὺς ἐν ἑαυτῷ τὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ δύναμιν ἐξελθοῦσανparticipial — preposed participle carrying the subject — his εὐθύς answers hers; the power personal, not magic in the cloth
ἐπιστραφεὶς ἐν τῷ ὄχλῳparticipial — second preposed participle — leans with the first on ἔλεγεν
ἔλεγεν·independent — inceptive imperfect — he began to ask
Τίς μου ἥψατο τῶν ἱματίων;content — the question that drags hidden faith into the open
31
καὶ ἔλεγον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ·independent — the disciples' incredulity — Markan realism
Βλέπεις τὸν ὄχλον συνθλίβοντά σε,content — the jostle of hundreds set against the touch of one
καὶ λέγεις·content — the incredulous echo-frame
Τίς μου ἥψατο;content — his own words quoted back at him
32
καὶ περιεβλέπετοindependent — durative imperfect — the characteristic Markan gaze, here sustained
ἰδεῖν τὴν τοῦτο ποιήσασαν.purpose — purpose infinitive — the feminine participle tips the reader off before the crowd knows
33
ἡ δὲ γυνὴ φοβηθεῖσα καὶ τρέμουσα,participial — preposed participles carrying the subject — leans on ἦλθεν
εἰδυῖα ὃ γέγονεν αὐτῇ,participial — stative perfect οἶδα — she alone knows; the internal relative kept in the line
ἦλθενindependent — the hidden one steps forward
καὶ προσέπεσεν αὐτῷindependent — προσπίπτω — Jairus's posture (v. 22) now hers
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν.independent — secret faith becomes open confession
34
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ·independent — the dismissal-blessing frame
Θυγάτηρ, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε·content — the tender address, only here on Jesus' lips; perfect σέσωκεν — faith, not the cloth, and the cure stands
ὕπαγε εἰς εἰρήνην,content — the Hebraic lᵉšālôm — restored to community
καὶ ἴσθι ὑγιὴς ἀπὸ τῆς μάστιγός σου.content — the μάστιξ of v. 29 formally lifted
Jairus's daughter raised — Talitha koum 5:35–43
vv. 35–36 — the fatal news and the counter-word
35
Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντοςparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; the delay overlaps the death
ἔρχονται ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγουindependent — historic present — the messengers arrive; ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου, metonymy for his household
λέγοντες ὅτιparticipial — speech-participle with recitative ὅτι
Ἡ θυγάτηρ σου ἀπέθανεν·content — the report — θυγάτηρ, hard on the heels of Jesus' 'Daughter' (v. 34)
τί ἔτι σκύλλεις τὸν διδάσκαλον;content — σκύλλω, 'bother' — death, they assume, ends a mere teacher's usefulness
36
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς παρακούσας τὸν λόγον λαλούμενονparticipial — παρακούσας — 'overhearing' or 'ignoring,' both live; the variant ἀκούσας simplifies. Leans on λέγει
λέγει τῷ ἀρχισυναγώγῳ·independent — historic present — the pivot of the frame
Μὴ φοβοῦ,content — present prohibition — stop the fear already rising
μόνον πίστευε.content — present imperative — keep believing; faith against the report of death
vv. 37–40 — the wailing house cleared
37
καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν οὐδένα μετ' αὐτοῦ συνακολουθῆσαι εἰ μὴ τὸν Πέτρον καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἰακώβου.independent — the inner three — the Transfiguration and Gethsemane company; the witnesses narrowed
38
καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου,independent — historic present — the arrival
καὶ θεωρεῖ θόρυβον καὶ κλαίοντας καὶ ἀλαλάζοντας πολλά,independent — historic present; ἀλαλάζω — the shrill ritual lament: the death is publicly certain
39
καὶ εἰσελθὼνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on λέγει
λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present
Τί θορυβεῖσθε καὶ κλαίετε;content — the mourning challenged
τὸ παιδίον οὐκ ἀπέθανενcontent — not a denial of the fact but of its finality in his presence
ἀλλὰ καθεύδει.content — sleep — the church's coming word for believers' death, from which there is an awakening
40
καὶ κατεγέλων αὐτοῦ.independent — imperfect of derision — the mourners' certainty attests the death
αὐτὸς δὲ ἐκβαλὼν πάνταςparticipial — preposed participle, emphatic αὐτός — ἐκβάλλω, the exorcism verb turned on the mockers
παραλαμβάνει τὸν πατέρα τοῦ παιδίου καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ τοὺς μετ' αὐτοῦ,independent — historic present — only faith's witnesses admitted
καὶ εἰσπορεύεταιindependent — historic present — the approach to the deathbed
ὅπου ἦν τὸ παιδίον.relative — local ὅπου-clause
vv. 41–43 — Talitha koum: the girl raised
41
καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ παιδίουparticipial — preposed participle — the corpse-touch that conveys life rather than contracting impurity; leans on λέγει
λέγει αὐτῇ·independent — historic present — the word of power
Ταλιθα κουμ,content — retained Aramaic — ṭalyəṯā qûm; many witnesses spell the feminine κουμι: the transliteration crux
ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον·phrase modifier — Mark's translation formula for his Greek readers — the gloss given its own line
Τὸ κοράσιον, σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε.content — the gloss adds the authoritative σοὶ λέγω; ἔγειρε — the resurrection verb
42
καὶ εὐθὺς ἀνέστη τὸ κοράσιονindependent — ἀνέστη — the other resurrection verb; the first of the verse's twin εὐθύς
καὶ περιεπάτει,independent — inceptive imperfect — restoration proven in motion
ἦν γὰρ ἐτῶν δώδεκα.cause — narrator's γάρ — old enough to walk; twelve years, the woman's twelve (v. 25)
καὶ ἐξέστησαν εὐθὺς ἐκστάσει μεγάλῃ.independent — cognate dative — Semitic intensification; the second εὐθύς
43
καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς πολλὰindependent — διαστέλλω — the secrecy verb; adverbial πολλά once more
ἵνα μηδεὶς γνοῖ τοῦτο,content — content of the charge — the messianic secret laid over an unhideable raising
καὶ εἶπενindependent — the closing directive
δοθῆναι αὐτῇ φαγεῖν.content — indirect command — the homely proof: the risen girl is bodily alive, and hungry
Analysis. Mark 5 keeps the drumbeat learned in Mark 1 — coordinate purple καί-clauses flush left, one event per line, quickened by historic presents (λέγει, ἔρχονται, θεωροῦσιν, πίπτει, παρακαλεῖ, παραλαμβάνει, εἰσπορεύεται) flagged in the tags as they land — but this chapter's real lesson is what leans against that column. Genitive absolutes tilt forward, anchor-less, on the event below them four times (ἐξελθόντος αὐτοῦ, ἐμβαίνοντος αὐτοῦ, διαπεράσαντος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος — this last stitching the resumed Jairus story to the delay that cost the girl her life), and the hemorrhaging woman enters on Mark's longest preposed-participle train: seven forward-leaning participles (οὖσα, παθοῦσα, δαπανήσασα, ὠφεληθεῖσα, ἐλθοῦσα, ἀκούσασα, ἐλθοῦσα) stack in one strict column of hopelessness before the single aorist main verb ἥψατο, 'she touched,' strikes at depth 0. Speech hangs blue (cnt) beneath its verb of saying throughout: the demon's verbless τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί and its grotesque counter-adjuration (μή με βασανίσῃς under ὁρκίζω), grounded by the narrator's ἔλεγεν-γάρ flashback; the τί ὄνομά σοι; / Λεγιὼν ὄνομά μοι exchange with its causal ὅτι πολλοί ἐσμεν; the woman's inner speech (a second ἔλεγεν γάρ) holding the chapter's one conditional — Ἐὰν ἅψωμαι κἂν τῶν ἱματίων leaning forward on σωθήσομαι; and Jesus' paired pronouncements, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε and μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευε, facing each other across the seam of the intercalation. That sandwich is the architecture: Jairus's plea opens the frame (vv. 21–24), the woman interrupts it (vv. 25–34), the raising closes it (vv. 35–43), the two miracles tied by δώδεκα ἔτη (her affliction, the girl's age), by θυγάτριον/θυγάτηρ, and by σῴζειν running from Jairus's plea through the woman's creed to the verdict on her faith. Cruxes named rather than hidden: Γερασηνῶν is printed with the earliest Alexandrian text against Γαδαρηνῶν (harmonized to Matt 8:28) and Origen's geographical correction Γεργεσηνῶν; παρακούσας in v. 36 hovers between 'overhearing' and 'ignoring' (the variant ἀκούσας smooths it away); ὁ κύριος of v. 19 (God, or Jesus?) is answered by the healed man himself proclaiming Ἰησοῦς in v. 20; and Ταλιθα κουμ stands in its disputed transliteration (κουμι, the Aramaic feminine, in many witnesses), Mark's translation formula set on its own modifier line so the Aramaic word of power and its Greek gloss read as two distinct events.