In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.
- KJV And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
- NKJV Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.
- NASB Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them.
- NLT There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Matthew notes a large herd of pigs feeding nearby. The detail, in Gentile territory, sets up the demons' request and their destruction.
Overview
The presence of pigs marks this as Gentile land, since swine were unclean to Jews. The herd becomes the object of the demons' plea and the visible evidence of their malice. The simple observation prepares for the dramatic demonstration of how thoroughly Jesus subdues the forces that destroy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Lev 11:7And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.
- Deut 14:8as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.
- Mark 5:11There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.
- Isa 65:3–4to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick,
- Luke 8:32There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.
- Isa 66:3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
- Luke 15:15–16So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 8:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.