Paragraph 5:6–10

In this paragraph, it is not always clear whether the text refers to the unclean spirit that controlled the man or to the man himself. Languages have different ways of referring to the actions and speech of people who are controlled by unclean spirits. Some languages use different pronouns or other forms to refer to people and spirits. Use natural ways in your language to refer to the unclean spirit and the man in each context.

5:6a

In this verse, Mark told the next event in the story. In 5:3–5, Mark gave background information about the man with the unclean spirit. In 5:2, Mark mentioned that the man came out of the tombs to meet Jesus. In 5:6, Mark told again about this meeting. He said that the man ran to meet Jesus.

Languages have different ways to begin the action of a story again after giving background information. Use a natural way in your language to do that here. In some languages, you may need to give the information in a different order. See the General Comment on 5:2–6 after 5:6b for a suggestion on how to reorder the verses.

When the man saw Jesus from a distance: When the man saw Jesus, the man was in or near the tombs that were in the hills. He could probably see the lake and the shore from where he was standing.

5:6b

fell on his knees before Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fell on his knees means to kneel, bow, or lie flat in front of someone in order to show respect. In this context, the man was under the control of an unclean spirit. He kneeled before Jesus because the unclean spirit knew that Jesus’ power was greater than his.

If people do not bow or kneel to show respect in your culture, you may need to make the meaning of this action clear. For example:

he bowed/kneeled in front of Jesus to show respect

See how you translated the same expression at 3:11b.

General Comment on 5:2–6

In many languages, it is more natural to follow chronological order or to give background information first. In these languages, it may be necessary to reorder the information in these verses. Here is one example:

On that side of the lake 2bthere lived a man who had an evil spirit. 3aHe lived among tombs 5ain the hills and there continually day and night 5bhe was screaming and cutting himself with stones. 4aPeople had often tried to restrain him by binding him with chains on his wrists and iron shackles on his ankles, 4bbut he had always managed to snap the chains and break the shackles to get loose. 3bSo no one was able any longer to keep him bound 4cfor no one had enough strength to control him. 2aAs Jesus was getting out of the boat, 6athis man saw Jesus from a long way off 6band ran 2cfrom the tombs up to him 6band knelt before him.

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