English Standard Version
Mark 5:4
4for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
Mark 5:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
- New International Version (NIV)For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
Context of Mark 5:4
2And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.
Read all of Mark 5Mark 5:4 word by word
διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν πολλάκις πέδαις καὶ ἁλύσεσιν δεδέσθαι καὶ διεσπάσθαι ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ τὰς ἁλύσεις καὶ τὰς πέδας συντετρῖφθαι, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἴσχυεν αὐτὸν δαμάσαι.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Because thatδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- had beenδέωdeō · to bindG1210
- oftenπολλάκιςpollakis · oftenG4178
- with fettersπέδηpedē · fetterG3976
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- chainsἅλυσιςhalusis · chainG254
- had been plucked asunderδιασπάωdeaspaō · to tear apartG1288
- byὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- broken in piecesσυντρίβωsuntribō · to breakG4937
- couldἰσχύωischuō · be strongG2480
- anyοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- tameδαμάζωdamazō · to tameG1150
Cross-references for Mark 5:4
Commentaries on Mark 5:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4With fetters and chains - His strength, it appears was supernatural, no kind of chains being strong enough to confine him. With several, this man would have passed for an outrageous madman, and diabolic influence be entirely left out of the question; but it is the prerogative of the inspired penman only, to enter into the nature and causes of things; and how strange is it, that because men cannot see as far as the Spirit of God does, therefore they deny…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-20Verses 1-20 See this account of the demoniacs fully explained in the notes at Matthew 8:28-34. Mark 5:4 He had been often bound with fetters and chains - Efforts had been made to confine him, but his great strength - his strength increased by his malady - had prevented it. There often appears to be a great increase of strength produced by insanity, and what is here stated in regard to this maniac often occurs in Palestine and elsewhere now. Dr. Thomson…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-5Mark focuses on Jesus. The evil spirit was strong, but Jesus had even greater authority (5:6–13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, &c.--Luke says (Lu 8:29) that "oftentimes it [the unclean spirit] had caught him"; and after mentioning how they had vainly tried to bind him with chains and fetters, because, "he brake the bands," he adds, "and was driven of the devil [demon] into the wilderness." The dark tyrant-power by which he was held clothed him with superhuman strength and made him scorn restraint. Matthew (Mt 8:28)…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 5:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries