Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 5:9

"And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many." — Mark 5:9 (ASV)

When Jesus asked the demoniac’s name, he replied, “Legion.” The significance of this name is not clear. Perhaps he had had an unfortunate experience with a Roman legion and this had caused his madness. Or perhaps the many demons in him combined to form one aggregate force, thus the name “Legion.” The demons so fully possessed the man that he seemed to be unable to act apart from them.