An Exegetical Analysis of Mark 5:9: The Singular and Plural in the Demoniac’s Response
This exegetical study of Mark 5:9: The Singular and Plural in the Demoniac’s Response is based on a b-greek discussion from Thursday, December 22, 2005. The initial inquiry focused on the apparent grammatical inconsistency in Mark 5:9, specifically questioning how the singular verb λέγει and the dative pronoun μοι could precede the plural forms πολλοί ἐσμεν within the same speech act by the demoniac. The original post sought clarification on the parsing and coherence of the statement: “Legion is the name [given] to me, because we are many.”
The main exegetical issue at hand is the seemingly contradictory shift in grammatical number (from singular to plural) within the demoniac’s self-identification. This raises questions concerning the identity of the speaker (the possessed individual versus the indwelling demonic entities) and the rhetorical strategy employed by the Evangelist Mark to convey the complex reality of the possession. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for accurate interpretation and translation of the passage.
καὶ ἐπηρώτα αὐτόν, Τί ὄνομά σοι; καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Λεγιὼν ὄνομά μοι, ὅτι πολλοί ἐσμεν.
(Greek text: Nestle 1904/NA28)
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- No substantive textual differences exist between the Nestle 1904/NA28 text and the SBLGNT (2010) for Mark 5:9. The verse remains consistent across these critical editions.
Textual Criticism (NA28): The textual tradition for Mark 5:9 is remarkably stable, with no significant variants that would alter the grammatical or semantic issues concerning the singular/plural shift. The reading presented above is universally attested in major manuscripts.
Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
- ἐπηρώτα (epērōta): Imperfect active indicative of ἐπερωτάω, meaning “to ask, question, interrogate.” The imperfect tense suggests an ongoing or repeated action, emphasizing the persistence of Jesus’ inquiry (BDAG, p. 364).
- ὄνομα (onoma): “name” (BDAG, p. 709).
- σοι (soi) / μοι (moi): Dative singular of the second-person and first-person pronouns, respectively. Translated as “to you” / “to me.” These forms emphasize personal attribution.
- λέγει (legei): Present active indicative, 3rd singular, “he says.” Often used as a historical present in narrative, conveying immediacy (BDAG, p. 590).
- Λεγιὼν (Legiōn): A transliterated Latin loanword (legio), “legion.” In the Roman army, a legion consisted of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. Lexically, it can refer to a military unit or, more broadly, to a “very large number” or “multitude” (BDAG, p. 591). KITTEL (TWNT) would highlight its use in Jewish apocalyptic literature to denote vast numbers of demonic forces, indicating its potent metaphorical significance beyond mere military designation.
- ὅτι (hoti): Causal conjunction, “because,” providing the reason for the preceding statement (BDAG, p. 731).
- πολλοί (polloi): Nominative masculine plural adjective, “many” (BDAG, p. 847).
- ἐσμεν (esmen): Present active indicative, 1st plural, “we are” (BDAG, p. 286).
Translation Variants
The grammatical analysis of Mark 5:9 reveals a deliberate and significant shift in number. The initial part of the exchange, “What is the name σοι (to you)? And λέγει (he says) to him, Λεγιὼν ὄνομα μοι (Legion is the name to me),” utilizes singular forms. Here, λέγει refers to the possessed man as the speaking subject, and μοι identifies him as the immediate recipient of the name. However, the explanation that follows, “ὅτι πολλοί ἐσμεν (because we are many),” abruptly switches to first-person plural forms (πολλοί and ἐσμεν).
Rhetorically, this shift is crucial for portraying the complex nature of the demoniac’s state. The singular forms establish the immediate speaker as the *individual* Jesus is addressing, consistent with the narrative’s focus on the man. Yet, the plural declaration in the causal clause unveils the true identity of the entities *within* the man: a multitude of demons. The name Λεγιὼν acts as a powerful semantic bridge, being grammatically singular yet inherently connoting a vast plural number. The demon, speaking through the man, uses a singular name to identify itself, but immediately clarifies that this name signifies a collective, hence “we are many.” This literary device effectively communicates the horror and magnitude of the possession, depicting a single human vessel housing a formidable demonic host.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The grammatical transition from singular to plural in Mark 5:9 is not a contradiction but a sophisticated narrative technique. It precisely articulates the paradoxical reality of the demoniac: a single person serving as a conduit for multiple demonic entities. The name “Legion” itself is pivotal, functioning as a singular identifier that inherently implies a plural existence. The singular pronouns and verb refer to the possessed individual as the immediate speaker, while the plural forms reveal the collective identity of the demons comprising the “Legion.” This passage powerfully illustrates the profound dehumanization and subjugation inherent in such extreme spiritual affliction.
- “And He asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he says to Him, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many.'”
This translation prioritizes a literal rendering of the grammatical shift, allowing the reader to directly perceive the tension between the singular and plural forms as they appear in the Greek. - “Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion, because there are many of us.'”
This version slightly smooths the English idiom by clarifying the subject of the plural “us” while still preserving the dramatic shift from the singular “my name” to the plural “many of us.” - “He asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He answered, ‘I am Legion, for we are a multitude.'”
This translation emphasizes the identity claim inherent in the response (“I am Legion”) and uses “multitude” to directly convey the numerical implication of “Legion,” thus highlighting the semantic connection between the singular name and the plural reality.
And He was asking him: “What is the name for thee?” And he says to Him: “Legion is the name for me, because we are many.” – THE WILL (A Plain Translation of The New Testament from Greek to English) Legion means the major unit of the Roman army consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalry troops.
When demonic warfare is engaged demons get organized
When the angels gather the weeds is for destruction
TD Jakes says when your enemies start getting together
GOD is gathering them for destruction Joseph D. Absher
Many a devil in the army that’s for sure. Can’t say about Navy but I think they got a few, in every port so to speak.
And He was asking him: “What is the name for thee?” And he says to Him: “Legion is the name for me, because we are many.” – THE WILL (A Plain Translation of The New Testament from Greek to English) Legion means the major unit of the Roman army consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalry troops.
When demonic warfare is engaged demons get organized
When the angels gather the weeds is for destruction
TD Jakes says when your enemies start getting together
GOD is gathering them for destruction Joseph D. Absher
I just offered for consideration the following question to Dan Irving We clearly see a legion of demons in the presence of Christ The Greek explains it clearly in Mk 5:9 IMO
The Legion was not very comfortable, was it? Neither was the demonized child who threw its host into convulsions at the sight of Christ. Neither were the deomized persons in the synagogue where Christ taught.
No they were not We just discussed this with Joseph D. Absher that both demons and demonized Christians get furious in the presence of deliverance ministry BUT my point again
1. There were present where Jesus was => it is possible
2. They did not leave until cast out => it is possible for them to be uncomfortable and still stay inside after words.
I even dare speculate that because of the little talk they had with Jesus IF Jesus did not cast them out they would have remained in the said man of covenant.
The church dont need to make demonized uncomfortable It needs to cast them demons out like Jesus did Just a little talk with Jesus just dont cut it out. Deliverance ministry and casting them out does Robert Borders
Brother Dan Irving I was considering a reasonable response to your statement last night but had some other business.
We believe God is omnipresent. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent but the devil still roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. I’m sure you must mean the emmursion of the holy Spirit in the life and soul of the believer. But I think you can understand my point. The Holy Spirit does not exclude unbelief or sin or the presence and influence of the enemy. If anything the holy Spirit exposes those things and necessarily must be present in God’s deliverance
Just for clarification The verse says:
the devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
It is NOT explicitly stated devil resides on earth
Our knowledge is he is ruller in the air
Man was placed on earth to rule the worlds
We are commanded to be “filled with the Spirit.” This suggests the believer, although professing faith, may be lacking in the Spirit of God. He may go to church, talk Christian-talk, preach/teach/minister, etc., and yet be depleted of the true agency of the Spirit of Christ; which is God’s presence. That void will be filled by something. God has a temple. But we know from scripture that corruptions may enter that temple; even THAT must be prepared and cleansed, and there is a day “when the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly appear in His temple (Mal 3:1), and His effect is not without upset according to Isaiah, “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Whom among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Is. 33:14). To the effect we dwell, at rest, in the fire of God’s presence, is the extent to which God has purged His temple. But apparently, God’s power may operate without respect to our own condition, as “many” shall cast out devils in His name without Christ having known them. And so, the depleted professor of Christ may continue to minister by divine gifts and the power of the Spirit, while in this state. And, it appears a state which leads to profound presumption and deception.
Many a devil in the army that’s for sure. Can’t say about Navy but I think they got a few, in every port so to speak.
I just offered for consideration the following question to Dan Irving We clearly see a legion of demons in the presence of Christ The Greek explains it clearly in Mk 5:9 IMO
The Legion was not very comfortable, was it? Neither was the demonized child who threw its host into convulsions at the sight of Christ. Neither were the deomized persons in the synagogue where Christ taught.
No they were not We just discussed this with Joseph D. Absher that both demons and demonized Christians get furious in the presence of deliverance ministry BUT my point again
1. There were present where Jesus was => it is possible
2. They did not leave until cast out => it is possible for them to be uncomfortable and still stay inside after words.
I even dare speculate that because of the little talk they had with Jesus IF Jesus did not cast them out they would have remained in the said man of covenant.
The church dont need to make demonized uncomfortable It needs to cast them demons out like Jesus did Just a little talk with Jesus just dont cut it out. Deliverance ministry and casting them out does Robert Borders
Brother Dan Irving I was considering a reasonable response to your statement last night but had some other business.
We believe God is omnipresent. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent but the devil still roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. I’m sure you must mean the emmursion of the holy Spirit in the life and soul of the believer. But I think you can understand my point. The Holy Spirit does not exclude unbelief or sin or the presence and influence of the enemy. If anything the holy Spirit exposes those things and necessarily must be present in God’s deliverance
Just for clarification The verse says:
the devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
It is NOT explicitly stated devil resides on earth
Our knowledge is he is ruller in the air
Man was placed on earth to rule the worlds
We are commanded to be “filled with the Spirit.” This suggests the believer, although professing faith, may be lacking in the Spirit of God. He may go to church, talk Christian-talk, preach/teach/minister, etc., and yet be depleted of the true agency of the Spirit of Christ; which is God’s presence. That void will be filled by something. God has a temple. But we know from scripture that corruptions may enter that temple; even THAT must be prepared and cleansed, and there is a day “when the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly appear in His temple (Mal 3:1), and His effect is not without upset according to Isaiah, “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Whom among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Is. 33:14). To the effect we dwell, at rest, in the fire of God’s presence, is the extent to which God has purged His temple. But apparently, God’s power may operate without respect to our own condition, as “many” shall cast out devils in His name without Christ having known them. And so, the depleted professor of Christ may continue to minister by divine gifts and the power of the Spirit, while in this state. And, it appears a state which leads to profound presumption and deception.