If you read the first twenty verses of this story in Mark 5 of the New American Standard Bible you would get the impression that the demoniac (v. 7), the demons (v. 12), the townspeople (v. 17) and the healed demoniac (v. 18) were all imploring Jesus for something. However, the Greek word used in verses 12, 17 and 18 is not the word used in verse 7.

He surely saw him from the boat. The Lord watched the erratic and unstable demoniac who was as unruly as the storm he had recently silenced.  The man’s appearance alone made him an imposing figure against the otherwise peaceful shores of the Garasenes. One can’t help but wonder if the disciples feared this man more than they had feared the wind and waves!  But they paddled on to become spectators of one of the most significant battles of Jesus’ ministry.

If you read the first twenty verses of this story in Mark 5 of the New American Standard Bible you would get the impression that the demoniac (v. 7), the demons (v. 12), the townspeople (v. 17) and the healed demoniac (v. 18) were all imploring Jesus for something. However, the Greek word used in verses 12, 17 and 18 is not the word used in verse 7. Let me put it differently.  The demons, the townspeople and the healed demoniac are all imploring or pleading Jesus for their particular desires.  The word utilized is parakaleo which does mean to implore or ask with a particular earnest.  The demons were asking to go to the pigs, the townspeople were asking Jesus to leave and the healed demoniac was asking to go with Jesus when he departed the region.

However, verse 7 is not parakaleo and should not be translated in the same way as those other occurrences.  It is the word horkizo and it means to make someone swear or to administer an oath. The difference between the two words is palpable.  One has to do with asking earnestly or pleading and the other seeks to bind someone by an oath.  In other words, the demoniac was seeking an oath from the Lord.  The demoniac wanted the Lord’s word that He would not torment him.

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