Matthew 8:30
New International Version
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.

New Living Translation
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance.

English Standard Version
Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.

Berean Standard Bible
In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.

Berean Literal Bible
Now there was far off from them a herd of many pigs feeding.

King James Bible
And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

New King James Version
Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.

New American Standard Bible
Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them.

NASB 1995
Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them.

NASB 1977
Now there was at a distance from them a herd of many swine feeding.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them.

Amplified Bible
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was grazing.

Christian Standard Bible
A long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now a long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. “

American Standard Version
Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.

Contemporary English Version
Not far from there a large herd of pigs was feeding.

English Revised Version
Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A large herd of pigs was feeding in the distance.

Good News Translation
Not far away there was a large herd of pigs feeding.

International Standard Version
Now a large herd of pigs was grazing some distance away from them.

Majority Standard Bible
In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.

NET Bible
A large herd of pigs was feeding some distance from them.

New Heart English Bible
Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine, feeding.

Weymouth New Testament
Now at some distance from them a vast herd of swine were feeding.

World English Bible
Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there was a herd of many pigs feeding far off from them,

Berean Literal Bible
Now there was far off from them a herd of many pigs feeding.

Young's Literal Translation
And there was far off from them a herd of many swine feeding,

Smith's Literal Translation
And far off from them was a herd of many swine grazing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was, not far from them, an herd of many swine feeding.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now there was, not far from them, a herd of many swine feeding.

New American Bible
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.

New Revised Standard Version
Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now there was near by them a large herd of swine feeding.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But there was distant from them a herd of many pigs grazing.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Now there was, at a distance from them, a herd of many swine, feeding.

Godbey New Testament
And a herd of many swine was feeding a great way from them.

Haweis New Testament
And at a considerable distance, there was a great herd of swine feeding.

Mace New Testament
and there was a considerable herd of swine feeding, at some distance from them.

Weymouth New Testament
Now at some distance from them a vast herd of swine were feeding.

Worrell New Testament
Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.

Worsley New Testament
Now there was at some distance from them a large herd of swine seeding: and the devils besought Him,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Demons and the Pigs
29“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”…

Cross References
Mark 5:11-13
There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. / So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” / He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

Luke 8:32-33
There 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. / Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

Matthew 4:24
News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.

Matthew 12:43-45
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. / Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. / Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”

Mark 1:23-27
Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: / “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” / But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” ...

Luke 4:33-36
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice, / “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” / But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him. ...

Acts 16:16-18
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

James 2:19
You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Leviticus 11:7
And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.

Deuteronomy 14:8
as 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.

Isaiah 65:4
sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs and polluted broth from their bowls.

Isaiah 66:3
Whoever 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.

Isaiah 66:17
“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

an.

Leviticus 11:7
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

Deuteronomy 14:8
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

Isaiah 65:3,4
A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; …

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Afar Distance Far Feeding Food Good Great Herd Large Pigs Swine Vast Way
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Afar Distance Far Feeding Food Good Great Herd Large Pigs Swine Vast Way
Matthew 8
1. Jesus cleanses the leper;
5. heals the centurion's servant,
14. Peter's mother in law,
16. and many others;
18. shows the cost of following him;
23. stills the storm on the sea;
28. drives the demons out of two men possessed;
31. and tells them to go into the pigs.














A large herd of pigs
In the context of first-century Judea, pigs were considered unclean animals according to Jewish law (Leviticus 11:7). The presence of a large herd of pigs indicates that this event took place in a Gentile region, likely the Decapolis, where Jewish dietary laws were not observed. The Greek word for "herd" (ἀγέλη, agelē) suggests a significant number of animals, emphasizing the scale of the event about to unfold. This detail sets the stage for the miraculous power of Jesus over the spiritual realm, as He is about to confront demonic forces.

was feeding
The Greek verb used here, "βόσκω" (boskō), implies a continuous action, indicating that the pigs were in the process of grazing. This detail not only paints a vivid picture of the scene but also underscores the normalcy and routine of life that is about to be dramatically interrupted by Jesus' intervention. The act of feeding suggests a sense of peace and normalcy, which contrasts sharply with the chaos that ensues when the demons enter the pigs.

in the distance
The phrase "in the distance" (μακρόθεν, makrothen) provides a spatial context, indicating that the herd was not immediately near Jesus and the possessed men but within sight. This detail highlights the omnipotence of Jesus, who, despite the physical distance, exercises authority over the spiritual realm. The distance also serves to emphasize the public nature of the miracle, as it would have been witnessed by those tending the pigs and possibly others in the area, thus amplifying the impact of Jesus' power and authority.

(30) An herd of many swine.--We are surprised at first to find swine kept in a country where their flesh could not be an article of food. But though the Jews did not eat pork, Roman soldiers did, and the swine may have been kept to supply the wants of the legion with which the man was familiar. The pun of Augustus as to Herod's swine and son (see Note on Matthew 2:16) seems to imply that the king kept them on his estates for some such purpose.

Verses 30, 31. - And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding. So (and, Revised Version) the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out (Matthew only), suffer us to go away (send us away, Revised Version). This is distinguished from ver. 29 as expressly the utterance of the evil spirits. In the true text there is no thought of permission, but only of command (ἀπόστειλον). They recognize his mastery. Into the herd of swine; and not into the place of torment - "the abyss" of the parallel passage, Luke 8:31. If he did not send them there, they might hope for a long respite, and one perhaps spent in various tenements. Further notice:

(1) The unclean chose the unclean

(2) Though we cannot attribute to the evil spirits absolute foreknowledge of what would happen in this case, their past experience may have enabled them to feel sure that they would have their love of destroying fully gratified.

(3) it is also not impossible that they may have considered that their entering the swine would be likely to prejudice the Gerasenes against Jesus.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
In the distance
μακρὰν (makran)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3112: At a distance, far away, remote, alien. Feminine accusative case singular of makros; at a distance.

a large
πολλῶν (pollōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

herd
ἀγέλη (agelē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 34: A flock, herd. From ago; a drove.

of pigs
χοίρων (choirōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5519: A swine, hog, sow. Of uncertain derivation; a hog.

was
Ἦν (Ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

feeding.
βοσκομένη (boskomenē)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1006: To feed, pasture. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to pasture; by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 8:30 Now there was a herd of many (Matt. Mat Mt)
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