Mark 5:4

διὰ τὸ … δεδέσθαι. The διά is not quite logical. His having been often bound ineffectually was not the cause of its being impossible to bind him effectually; it was the cause of their ceasing to try, and of his being free, in spite of his being a peril to the inhabitants. Syr-Sin. has “because he had broken many fetters and chains and had escaped.” Cf. Acts 19:16.

πέδαις καὶ ἁλύσεσι. It is more certain that πέδαι “fetters” than that ἁλύσεις means “manacles” or “hand-cuffs.” Vulg. has compedibus et catenis, not pedicis et manicis. The ἁλύσεις might fasten him to a wall, as St Paul was fastened to a soldier (Ephesians 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:16). But διεσπάσθαι would express the tearing asunder of manacles, and συντετρίφθαι the crushing of the fetters or smashing them with a stone; cf. Mark 14:3; Matthew 12:20; John 19:36.

οὐδεὶς ἴσχυεν. Coordinate with οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο in Mark 5:3. The difference between the verbs should be marked; no man could any more bind him … and no man had strength to tame him (R.V.). St James does not use ἰσχύω of taming the tongue (Mark 3:7-8); but it may be used of the physical effort to keep awake (Mark 14:37). Cf. John 21:6, where even R.V. has “not able.”