King James Version

What Does Luke 8:35 Mean?

Luke 8:35 in the King James Version says “Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sit...” — study this verse from Luke chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”

Luke 8:35 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

33

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

34

When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

35

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

36

They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Read Luke 8 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. The crowd's investigation yields stunning discovery. "Then they went out to see what was done" (exēlthon de idein to gegonos, ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός) indicates curiosity mixed with skepticism—they needed to verify the swineherds' incredible report. "And came to Jesus" (ēlthon pros ton Iēsoun, ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν) shows they identified the source of this miracle.

"And found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus" (heuron kathēmenon ton anthrōpon aph' hou ta daimonia exēlthon para tous podas tou Iēsou, εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀφ' οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξῆλθον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ)—the posture of a disciple learning from his master. Previously driven to wilderness tombs, he now sits peacefully at Jesus' feet. "Clothed" (himatismenon, ἱματισμένον) contrasts his former nakedness (v. 27)—dignity restored. "And in his right mind" (sōphronounta, σωφρονοῦντα) means sound-minded, self-controlled, sane—complete mental restoration from total fragmentation.

"And they were afraid" (ephobēthēsan, ἐφοβήθησαν) reveals mixed response. The transformation was too dramatic, too complete, too supernatural—fear of divine power overwhelmed them. They saw absolute proof of Jesus' authority over demons, yet rather than worship, they feared. This illustrates how witnessing God's power doesn't automatically produce faith—many respond with terror and desire for distance (v. 37) rather than trust and discipleship.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The phrase "sitting at the feet" was technical terminology for a disciple's relationship to his rabbi. Paul used identical language describing his training under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to His teaching (Luke 10:39). The posture symbolized submission, teachability, and the student-teacher relationship. That the formerly demon-possessed man assumed this position immediately after deliverance shows instantaneous transformation—from total chaos to ordered discipleship.

The crowd's fear reflects common first-century responses to supernatural power. Luke frequently records people's fear after miracles (Luke 1:12, 1:65, 2:9, 5:26, 7:16, 8:25). Fear (φόβος) can be either reverent awe leading to faith or terror leading to rejection. Here, the context suggests negative fear—verse 37 records they "besought him to depart from them." They preferred familiar economic stability over disturbing divine presence.

Early Christian writers noted the irony—the demoniac welcomed Jesus gladly, desiring to accompany Him (v. 38), while the townspeople who witnessed this stunning deliverance rejected Him. Origen observed that those most aware of their need (like the demoniac) embrace Christ, while those comfortable in sin (like the Gadarenes valuing swine over salvation) reject Him. This pattern continues—the gospel attracts the desperate while offending the self-sufficient.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the demoniac's posture 'sitting at the feet of Jesus' teach about the proper response to deliverance and grace?
  2. How does the crowd's fear despite witnessing undeniable transformation warn against equating miraculous evidence with saving faith?
  3. What does the contrast between the demoniac's gratitude and the crowd's rejection reveal about human responses to Christ's power?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 30 words
ἐξεληλύθει,1 of 30

“they went out”

G1831

to issue (literally or figuratively)

δὲ2 of 30

“Then”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἰδεῖν3 of 30

“to see”

G1492

used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl

τὸ4 of 30
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γεγονὸς5 of 30

“what was done”

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

καὶ6 of 30

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἦλθον7 of 30

“came”

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

πρὸς8 of 30

“to”

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

τὸν9 of 30
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰησοῦ10 of 30

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

καὶ11 of 30

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

εὗρον12 of 30

“found”

G2147

to find (literally or figuratively)

καθήμενον13 of 30

“sitting”

G2521

and ???? (to sit; akin to the base of g1476); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside

τὸν14 of 30
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἄνθρωπον15 of 30

“the man”

G444

man-faced, i.e., a human being

ἀφ'16 of 30

“out of”

G575

"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)

οὗ17 of 30

“whom”

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

τὰ18 of 30
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δαιμόνια19 of 30

“the devils”

G1140

a daemonic being; by extension a deity

ἐξεληλύθει,20 of 30

“they went out”

G1831

to issue (literally or figuratively)

ἱματισμένον21 of 30

“clothed”

G2439

to dress

καὶ22 of 30

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

σωφρονοῦντα23 of 30

“in his right mind”

G4993

to be of sound mind, i.e., sane, (figuratively) moderate

παρὰ24 of 30

“at”

G3844

properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subj

τοὺς25 of 30
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πόδας26 of 30

“the feet”

G4228

a "foot" (figuratively or literally)

τοῦ27 of 30
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰησοῦ28 of 30

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

καὶ29 of 30

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐφοβήθησαν30 of 30

“they were afraid”

G5399

to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 8:35 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 8:35 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Luke 10:39Psalms 51:10Acts 22:31 John 3:8Luke 8:27Isaiah 53:12

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