32-00

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man & a Sick Woman

This title can also be translated as: “About how Jesus healed a sick woman and a man who was possessed by a demon” or “What happened when Jesus healed a sick woman and a man who was possessed by a demon?”

32-01

the Gerasene people

The Gerasenes lived in an area along the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. They were descendants of the Jews, but we know few details about them.

32-02

was demon possessed

This could mean had demons in him or was controlled by evil spirits.

32-03

This man was so strong that nobody could control him. Sometimes people even fastened his arms and legs with chains, but he kept breaking them.

This is background information about the man who was possessed by a demon. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

fastened his arms and legs

This could mean restrained or bound.

kept breaking them

Some languages may need to say: “kept breaking the chains.”

32-04

among the tombs

This could mean near the tombs or around the tombs.

32-05

knelt down in front of him

This was a symbolic action to show that he was submitting to Jesus and asking for his help. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])

said, “Come out of this man!”

This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “told him to come out of the man!” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

32-06

cried out

This could mean shouted or exclaimed.

What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

This is not a real question asking for information. The demon was terrified that Jesus would judge him. Some languages will have to express this as a statement such as: “Please do not judge me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God!” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-rquestion/01.md]])

What do you want with me

This expression means What are you going to do to me? (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-idiom/01.md]])

Son of the Most High God

This is an important title for Jesus. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples/01.md]])

the Most High God

This could mean the Supreme God or the Most Sovereign God or the Most Powerful God. The meaning of high here refers to God’s greatness. It does not refer to altitude or being tall.

“My name is Legion, because we are many.”

A legion was a group of several thousand soldiers in the Roman army. The name Legion is a metaphor that speaks of the demons as if they were a large group of soldiers. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-metaphor/01.md]])

Legion

This was the name of the group of demons, but it also indicates that the evil spirits were very numerous. Use the name if the note that follows will make the meaning clear in your language. If not, you may need to translate the word as something like Army or Crowd or Thousands.

we are many

This could mean there are many of us or we are many demons.

32-07

do not send us

This could mean do not make us go.

There was a herd of pigs feeding on a nearby hill.

This is background information about the pigs. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

Please send us

This could mean Please let us go. Here us is exclusive. It refers to the demons only, and does not include Jesus. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclusive/01.md]])

instead

This could mean instead of making us go away.

32-08

2,000 pigs

This can be written in words: “two thousand pigs” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])

herd

This could mean herd of pigs or group of pigs. Many languages have specific names for groups of animals, such as “flock of sheep,” “herd of cattle,” “pack of dogs,” and “school of fish.” Use a word that can appropriately be used for a large group of pigs.

32-09

what happened

This could mean how Jesus sent the demons out of the man and into the pigs.

who used to have the demons

This could mean in whom the demons had lived or who had been controlled by the evil spirits.

32-10

The people

Some languages may prefer to say: “The people from that region” or “The Gerasene people.”

were very afraid and asked Jesus to leave

This is an ellipse. The missing information can be stated: “were very afraid of Jesus and asked him to leave.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-ellipsis/01.md]])

begged to go along with Jesus

This could mean begged Jesus to let him go with him or earnestly asked Jesus if he could go with him.

32-11

Jesus said to him, “No. I want you to go home and tell everyone what God has done for you. Tell them how he has had mercy on you.”

This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus told him to go home and tell everyone what God has done for him, and to tell them how God had mercy on him.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

how he has had mercy on you

This can be translated as: “how he has shown mercy to you” or “that he has been merciful to you.”

32-12

heard his story

This could mean heard the man tell what had happened to him.

32-13

Jesus returned to the other side of the lake

It is implied that the disciples were with Jesus. This can be clearly stated: “Jesus and his disciples returned to the other side of the lake” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])

pressed in on him

This could mean pushed tightly against him or crowded in tightly around him.

In the crowd was a woman

This introduces the woman as a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

a bleeding problem

The woman did not have an open wound; rather, her monthly flow of blood would not stop. Your language may have a polite way to refer to this condition. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-euphemism/01.md]])

she only got worse

This could mean her condition only got worse or her health got worse instead of better or instead she became more sick.

32-14

I’m sure that if I can just touch Jesus’ clothes, then I will be healed too!

She said this to herself before she touched Jesus’ garment. This tells why she touched Jesus’ garment. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-events/01.md]])

if I can just touch Jesus’ clothes

According to Jewish law, she was not supposed to touch anyone. She touches his clothes so that Jesus’ power would heal her and yet (she thought) he would not know that she touched him. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])

I will be healed

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “it will heal me” or “his power will heal me” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-activepassive/01.md]])

32-15

power had gone out from him

This may be translated as: “healing power had flowed from him into someone else” or “his power had healed someone.” Jesus did not lose any power because of this.

he turned around and asked, “Who touched me?”

This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “he turned around and asked who touched him.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

Why did you ask, ‘Who touched me?’

This is a quotation within a quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “Why did you ask who touched you?” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])

32-16

fell on her knees

This could mean quickly knelt down. She knelt down before Jesus as an act of honor and submission. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])

before Jesus

This could mean in front of Jesus.

shaking and very afraid

This could mean shaking with fear or trembling because she was afraid.

Your faith has healed you

Here faith is an abstract noun. This could also be translated as: “God has healed you because you trusted in him.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-abstractnouns/01.md]])

Go in peace

People spoke this traditional blessing when they left each other. Other languages may say something similar such as: “Go well” or “Go with God” or “Peace.” Other ways of translating it could be: “May you have peace as you go” or “Go and know that all is well between us.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-idiom/01.md]])

A Bible story from

These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.