5:12a
So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as So is a simple connector. It is often translated as “and” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This word connects 5:11 to 5:12. It introduces what the demons asked because of the herd of pigs that was nearby.
The Berean Standard Bible shows this connection with the word So. Some English versions do not translate this word. You should connect these verses in a way that is natural in your language.
the demons begged: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the demons begged is literally “they begged.” You may need to provide a noun as the subject in your language, as the Berean Standard Bible does. If that is true, it is good to use a plural form of the same word that you used for “unclean spirit.” (There is a textual issue here: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have they begged. In these manuscripts “they” refers to the demons. It does not specify all of the demons. For example, the Contemporary English Version says: “the evil spirits begged” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version). (2) Other Greek manuscripts have “all the demons begged.” For example, the King James Version says: “all the devils besought” (King James Version). You should follow option (1). This issue is not mentioned in the UBS4 (page 136), which considers the reading “they begged” to be certain.)
Notice that for the first time in the story, the Greek text uses a plural form to refer to the unclean spirits.
begged: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as begged means to “plead for” something. It is used when a request is earnestly desired. The same word was also used in 5:10. It is probably good to translate it in the same way here.
5:12b
Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them: Here the unclean spirits begged Jesus to let them go to the pigs and control them. The two clauses Send us to the pigs and so that we may enter them express the same request. In Greek, these clauses are connected with a purpose connector. As the Berean Standard Bible translation indicates, the sentence is literally, “Send us into/among the pigs so that into them we may enter.” The demons are showing deference by explaining why they are making the request. It is a polite request that shows that the unclean spirits know that Jesus is superior to them. Use a natural way in your language to express the request in this context.
so that we may enter them: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that we may enter them is a request that Jesus allow the unclean spirits to control the pigs as they had controlled the man. The unclean spirits were not implying that they preferred the pigs to the man. They were implying that if they were forced to leave the man, they wanted to enter the pigs.
In some languages it may be necessary to make that explicit. For example:
allow us to go into them if we cannot stay in this man
enter them: In some languages it may be more natural to use a different expression to describe an unclean spirit possessing or controlling an animal. Use a natural expression in your language. For example:
be upon them
-or-
ride on them
-or-
fasten upon them
General Comment on 5:12a–b
In some languages it may be more natural to use indirect speech in this context. For example:
the unclean spirits begged Jesus to send them among the pigs so that they could enter the pigs
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