And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

MARK 5:15KJV
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Mark 5:15 (KJV)

What does Mark 5:15 mean?

Mark 5:15 shows the people finding a man dramatically changed after his encounter with Jesus. They see that the man who had been possessed and had “the legion” is now calm, dressed, and thinking clearly. Their response to what they see is fear.

Mark is telling the story; no one speaks in this verse. The people have come to Jesus after hearing what happened. The description of the man sitting, clothed, and in his right mind gives them a visible picture of the change.

The Greek behind Mark 5:15

  • “legion” — λεγιών (legiōn): A legion was a large unit of Roman soldiers. The word gives the name associated with the many spirits described earlier in the passage.
  • “in his right mind” — σωφρονέω (sōphroneō): This word carries the sense of thinking clearly or being of sound mind. It describes the man’s mental state alongside his calm posture and clothing.

Why Mark 5:15 matters

  • The crowd’s fear follows the man’s restoration, not a threat from him in this verse. Mark places “they were afraid” immediately after the description of his changed condition.
  • The verse identifies the man as the same person who had suffered before. The words “had the legion” connect him to the troubled man in the earlier part of the account.
  • The crowd sees the result for themselves. In the next verse, those who witnessed what happened tell them about the man and the pigs.

Where else these words appear

“clothed” Greek G2439 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 8:35 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.

“legion” Greek G3003 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
  • Mark 5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
  • Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

“mind” Greek G4993 · used in 6 verses

  • Luke 8:35 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.
  • Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
  • Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

“devil” Greek G1139 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
  • Matthew 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
  • Mark 5:16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.