Where Did the Evil Spirits Go After the Pigs Jumped into the Sea?

Biblewithlife June 19, 2025

86 2 minutes read

A large herd of pigs rushes down a steep cliff into a stormy lake, while Jesus and a restored man watch calmly from above. — To demonstrate the destructive nature of evil and His absolute authority over it, Jesus permitted a legion of demons to enter a herd of pigs, resulting in their immediate self-destruction.

“He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.”
— Mark 5:13

It is one of the most dramatic scenes in the Gospels: a man possessed by a legion of demons is set free by Jesus. The demons then enter a herd of pigs—and immediately, the pigs plunge into the sea and drown.

But what happened to the evil spirits after that?
Did they perish with the pigs?
Were they banished, destroyed, or simply released?

Let’s explore the biblical clues and spiritual implications behind this mysterious moment.

1. Demons Are Spirits—They Don’t Die in Water

While the pigs died in the lake, the demons did not. As disembodied spirits, they aren’t bound by physical death.

Jesus didn’t destroy them—He permitted them to enter the pigs. But once the pigs drowned, the demons were dislodged once again.

“What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Have you come to torture us before the appointed time?”
— Matthew 8:29

This plea reveals something critical:
Demons know their judgment is coming—but it hasn’t happened yet.

2. Some Theologians Believe They Roam Again

Demons are territorial (see Luke 11:24–26). Jesus even spoke of unclean spirits wandering and looking for a “house” to inhabit.

It’s likely that after the pigs perished, the demons continued seeking new hosts—unless Jesus bound or redirected them spiritually.

Their behavior reveals two things:

Their restlessness
Their desperation to inhabit flesh and influence the physical world

3. The Sea in Scripture Often Represents Chaos and Judgment

Throughout the Bible, the sea is a symbol of spiritual chaos:

In Genesis, it was the deep before creation
In Exodus, the sea swallowed Pharaoh’s army
In Revelation, the beast rises from the sea

So when the pigs drown in the sea, it’s not random—it’s a visual act of judgment.

“You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.”
— Habakkuk 3:15

The pigs, impure by Jewish law, become instruments to visibly demonstrate the cost of demonic presence—and the cleansing power of Christ.

4. Why Did Jesus Allow It? To Make Evil Visible

Jesus didn’t have to permit the demons to enter the pigs—but He did.

Why?

Because what was once hidden—a legion of spirits tormenting one man—became undeniably public. The sudden, violent death of 2,000 pigs shocked the region.

The invisible war became visible.
The spiritual realm broke into physical space.
And everyone knew: Jesus had absolute authority.

5. Did the Demons Return Later? Possibly—But Their End Is Certain

The Bible doesn’t say where that specific legion went after the pigs died. But we know this:

“The lake of fire is prepared for the devil and his angels.”
— Matthew 25:41

Until that final judgment, demons remain active—but defeated in the presence of Christ.

The man once possessed was restored—sitting, clothed, and in his right mind (Mark 5:15). That was the true miracle—not just deliverance, but transformation.