Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 5].
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5:1 {The Gerasenes} (\t•n Geras•n•n\). Like Lu 8:26 while Mt
8:28 has "the Gadarenes." The ruins of the village Khersa
(Gerasa) probably point to this site which is in the district of
Gadara some six miles southeastward, not to the city of Gerasa
some thirty miles away.
5:2 {Out of the boat} (\ek tou ploiou\). Straightway (\euthus\)
Mark says, using the genitive absolute (\exelthontos autou\) and
then repeating \aut•i\ associative instrumental after
\ap•nt•sen\. The demoniac greeted Jesus at once. Mark and Lu
9:27 mention only one man while Matthew notes two demoniacs,
perhaps one more violent than the other. Each of the Gospels has
a different phrase. Mark has "a man with an unclean spirit" (\en
pneumati akathart•i\), Mt 8:28 "two possessed with demons"
(\duo daimonizomenoi\), Lu 8:27 "one having demons" (\tis ech•n
daimonia\). Mark has many touches about this miracle not retained
in Matthew and Luke. See on ¯Mt 8:28.
5:3 {No man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain} (\oude
halusei oudeis edunato auton d•sai\). Instrumental case
\halusei\, a handcuff (\a\ privative and \lu•\, to loosen). But
this demoniac snapped a handcuff as if a string.
5:4 {Often bound} (\pollakis dedesthai\). Perfect passive
infinitive, state of completion. With fetters (\pedais\, from
\peza\, foot, instep) and chains, bound hand and foot, but all to
no purpose. The English plural of foot is feet (Anglo-Saxon
_fot_, _fet_) and fetter is _feeter_. {Rent asunder}
(\diesp•sthai\). Drawn (\spa•\) in two (\dia-\ same root as
\duo\, two). Perfect passive infinitive. {Broken in pieces}
(\suntetriphthai\.) Perfect passive infinitive again, from
\suntrib•\, to rub together. Rubbed together, crushed together.
Perhaps the neighbours who told the story could point to broken
fragments of chains and fetters. The fetters may have been cords,
or even wooden stocks and not chains. {No man had strength to
tame him} (\oudeis ischuen auton damasai\). Imperfect tense. He
roamed at will like a lion in the jungle.
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MR5.RWP.html (1 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:03:42 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Mark: Chapter 5)