Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. The demon's ea, ti hēmin kai soi (ἔα, τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, let us alone, what to us and to you) is a Semitic idiom meaning "What do we have in common?" or "Why interfere with us?" The plural "us" may indicate multiple demons or the demon speaking for all demonic forces.
The demon identifies Jesus as Iēsou Nazarēne (Ἰησοῦ Ναζαρηνέ, Jesus of Nazareth) and asks, ēlthes apolesai hēmas (ἦλθες ἀπολέσαι ἡμᾶς, have you come to destroy us?). The verb apollymi (ἀπόλλυμι, to destroy utterly) reveals demons' awareness that Jesus is their destroyer. The confession ho hagios tou Theou (ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ, the Holy One of God) is theologically accurate—demons recognize Jesus' divine identity even when humans don't. Yet this knowledge brings no salvation, only terror (James 2:19).
Historical Context
The title "Holy One of God" appears rarely in Scripture. In the Old Testament, Aaron is called holy (Psalm 106:16), and Israel corporately is God's holy people. Applied to Jesus, it identifies Him as uniquely set apart by God for divine purpose—the Messiah. Demons possess supernatural knowledge of spiritual realities invisible to humans. Their recognition of Jesus' identity demonstrates the spiritual battle underlying Jesus' ministry. His coming signals demons' ultimate doom, explaining their desperate resistance. The exorcism is not mere healing but cosmic warfare—God's kingdom invading Satan's territory.
Questions for Reflection
What does the demon's accurate theological knowledge about Jesus teach about the difference between intellectual knowledge and saving faith?
Why do demons recognize Jesus' identity and mission when most humans fail to do so?
How does the demon's question 'art thou come to destroy us?' reveal the ultimate purpose of Christ's incarnation?
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Analysis & Commentary
Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. The demon's ea, ti hēmin kai soi (ἔα, τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, let us alone, what to us and to you) is a Semitic idiom meaning "What do we have in common?" or "Why interfere with us?" The plural "us" may indicate multiple demons or the demon speaking for all demonic forces.
The demon identifies Jesus as Iēsou Nazarēne (Ἰησοῦ Ναζαρηνέ, Jesus of Nazareth) and asks, ēlthes apolesai hēmas (ἦλθες ἀπολέσαι ἡμᾶς, have you come to destroy us?). The verb apollymi (ἀπόλλυμι, to destroy utterly) reveals demons' awareness that Jesus is their destroyer. The confession ho hagios tou Theou (ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ, the Holy One of God) is theologically accurate—demons recognize Jesus' divine identity even when humans don't. Yet this knowledge brings no salvation, only terror (James 2:19).