Mark 5:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many."

NIV: Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."

NASB: And He was asking him, 'What is your name?' And he *said to Him, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.'

CSB: "What is your name?" he asked him. "My name is Legion," he answered him, "because we are many."

NLT: Then Jesus demanded, 'What is your name?' And he replied, 'My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.'

KJV: And he asked him, What is thy name And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

NKJV: Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

In this verse, most of the attention is usually placed on the name of the demon: Legion. In the Roman army, a legion was a unit of soldiers. At the time of Augustus, this included 6100 foot soldiers and 726 horsemen. The exact quantity of demons is unknown; the name simply indicates a large number working in concert. Typically, less emphasis is placed on the fact that Jesus actually asks the demons for their name. According to ancient pagan beliefs, one's true name represents one's true nature and essence. If that name is used malignantly, it can cause harm. The demons tried to use this supposed power to trap Jesus in a vow in Mark 5:7 when they identified Jesus as "Jesus, Son of the Most High God."

This belief in the power of a name has even led to false teachings about God from those who follow Him. The Jews were so afraid of taking God's name in vain, they relegated it to the tetragrammaton, YHWH, and refused to say it out loud. Today, people in the "Sacred Name" movement believe that using only "Yahweh" for God and "Yahshua" for Jesus shows proper respect. This is problematic, considering that we don't know exactly how "YHWH" is supposed to be pronounced.

Giving someone a name or a new name brings a weight of authority in the Bible. God placed the animals under Adam's dominion (Genesis 1:28) and then told him to name them (Genesis 2:18–20). God changed the names of Abram, Sarai, and Jacob, to Abraham, Sarah, and Israel, respectively. Jesus changed Peter's name, from Simon. All of these reflected their new identities in God's plan. In addition, believers will be given "a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it" (Revelation 2:17). Whether that name will be literal or a metaphor for our complete sanctification is unknown.

Some think that Jesus cannot expel the legion of demons until He knows their name. This is incorrect for several reasons. First, there is no indication in other accounts, including Matthew 8:28–34 and Luke 8:26–33, of Jesus using their name, and the demons voluntarily left. In addition, God is omniscient enough to know their name and His omnipotence means He can control them without it. It was more likely a show of force by Jesus who made them reveal what they thought was a hidden vulnerability.

Mark 5:1–13 describes Jesus' encounter with a man possessed by a vast number of demonic spirits. Jesus has shown His authority over storms during the turbulent crossing of the Sea of Galilee. In a cemetery on the eastern shore of the lake, He and the twelve meet a wild, dangerous man controlled by a ''legion'' of demons. Jesus allows the fleeing evil spirits to enter a herd of pigs which promptly run into the sea and drown. The man is grateful. The locals, either startled by Jesus' power or afraid for their livestock, promptly ask Jesus to leave. This account is also found in Luke 8:26–33 and possibly Matthew 8:28–32 which mentions two possessed men.

Jesus arrives on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and heals a man afflicted by a ''legion'' of demons. In the aftermath of this event, Jesus once again crosses the waters within this region, known as the Decapolis. There, He is approached by a synagogue leader, begging Him to come and save a dying girl. In the midst of this trip, Jesus stops the crowd to identify a woman who attempted to covertly touch his robes; her faithful act results in healing. Jesus then continues on to the home of the synagogue leader and resurrects his recently-deceased child.

Mark 4:35—5:43 sees an increase in the scope of Jesus' miracles. He has just calmed a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Now, He expels a legion of demons, heals a woman without overtly acting, and brings a girl back to life. All three situations—related to tombs, blood, and death—show Jesus bringing healing to unclean circumstances. In chapter 6, the tone of His ministry will develop. He will be rejected by those who should know Him best, He will send out His followers to do His work, and His direct link to the Old Testament prophets will be explained.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.