9:25 Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked 4 the unclean spirit, 5 saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 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.
3 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate a conclusion and transition in the narrative.
4 tn Or “commanded” (often with the implication of a threat, L&N 33.331).
5 sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.