Mark 9:17

Geneva Bible

And one of the companie answered, and said, Master, I haue brought my sonne vnto thee, which hath a dumme spirit:

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
A man answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is controlled by an evil spirit that keeps him from talking.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And one of the copanye answered and sayde: Master I have brought my sonne vnto the which hath a dome spirite.

International Standard Version
A man in the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that won't let him talk.Matthew 17:14; Luke 9:38;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
And one person from the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;

New Century Version
A man answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has an evil spirit in him that stops him from talking.

Update Bible Version
And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;

Webster's Bible Translation
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought to thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;

Amplified Bible
One of the crowd replied to Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him unable to speak;

English Standard Version
And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.

World English Bible
One of the multitude answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Master, I have brought to thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Rabbi," answered one of the crowd, "I have brought you my son. He has a dumb spirit in him;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And oon of the cumpany answerde, and seide, Mayster, Y haue brouyt to thee my sone, that hath a doumbe spirit; and where euer he takith hym,

English Revised Version
And one of the multitude answered him, Master, I brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

Berean Standard Bible
Someone in the crowd replied, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute.

Contemporary English Version
Someone from the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. A demon keeps him from talking.

American Standard Version
And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;

Bible in Basic English
And one of the number said to him in answer, Master, I came to you with my son, who has in him a spirit which takes away his power of talking;

Complete Jewish Bible
One of the crowd gave him the answer: "Rabbi, I brought my son to you because he has an evil spirit in him that makes him unable to talk.

Darby Translation
And one out of the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought to thee my son, who has a dumb spirit;

Etheridge Translation
And one from the company answered and said, Malphona, [fn] I had brought my son to thee, because he hath a spirit which speaketh not;

Murdock Translation
And one of the multitude replied, and said: Teacher, I have brought to thee my son, who hath a spirit that will not speak.

King James Version (1611)
And one of the multitude answered, and said, Master, I haue broughe vnto thee my son, which hath a dumbe spirit:

New Living Translation
One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, "Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk.

New Life Bible
One of the people said, "Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a demon in him and cannot talk.

New Revised Standard
Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;

George Lamsa Translation
One of the multitude answered and said, Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit of dumbness.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And one out of the multitude answered him - Teacher! I brought my son unto thee, having a dumb spirit;

Douay-Rheims Bible
(9-16) And one of the multitude, answering, said: Master, I have brought my son to thee, having a dumb spirit.

Revised Standard Version
And one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And one of the companie aunswered, & sayde: Maister, I haue brought vnto thee my sonne, whiche hath a dumbe spirite:

Good News Translation
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, because he has an evil spirit in him and cannot talk.

Christian Standard Bible®
Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.

Hebrew Names Version
One of the multitude answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;

King James Version
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

Lexham English Bible
And one individual from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought to you my son who has a spirit that makes him mute.

Literal Translation
And one answered out of the crowd, saying, Teacher, I brought my son to You, having a dumb spirit.

Young's Literal Translation
and one out of the multitude answering said, `Teacher, I brought my son unto thee, having a dumb spirit;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And one of the people answered, and sayde: Master, I haue brought vnto the my sonne, which hath a domme sprete:

Mace New Testament (1729)
and one of the crowd answer'd, master, I have brought to you my son, who is possess'd with a dumb spirit,

THE MESSAGE
A man out of the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn't."

New English Translation
A member of the crowd said to him, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute.

New King James Version
Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

Simplified Cowboy Version
One of the men from the crowd spoke up quickly. "Jesus, I brought my son to be healed by you. He is possessed by an evil spirit that keeps him from talking and every once in a while,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;

Legacy Standard Bible
And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the Scribes disputing with them. ¹⁵ And straightway all the people, when they behelde him, were amased, and ranne to him, and saluted him. ¹⁶ Then hee asked the Scribes, What dispute you among your selues? ¹⁷ And one of the companie answered, and said, Master, I haue brought my sonne vnto thee, which hath a dumme spirit: ¹⁸ And wheresoeuer he taketh him, he teareth him, and he fometh, and gnasheth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples, that they should cast him out, and they could not. ¹⁹ Then he answered him, & said, O faithlesse generation, how long now shall I be wt you! how long now shall I suffer you! Bring him vnto me. ²⁰ So they brought him vnto him: & assoone as the spirit sawe him, hee tare him, and hee fell downe on the ground walowing and foming. ²¹ Then he asked his father, How long time is it since he hath bin thus? And he said, Of a childe. ²² And oft times he casteth him into the fire, & into the water to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, helpe vs, and haue compassion vpo vs. ²³ And Iesus said vnto him, If thou canst beleeue it, al things are possible to him yt beleeueth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I: Mark 5:23, Mark 7:26, Mark 10:13, Matthew 17:15, Luke 9:38, John 4:47

a dumb: Mark 9:25, Matthew 12:22, Luke 11:14

Reciprocal: Isaiah 35:6 - the tongue Matthew 9:32 - a dumb Matthew 15:22 - my Mark 7:25 - whose Philemon 1:10 - my son

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And one of the multitude answered and said,.... The Scribes made no reply, being afraid to engage with him, whom they had often found too hard for them; and the disciples, if they were spoken to, were silent, through shame, because they had not succeeded in the cure of the person brought to them, which gave their enemies an handle against them: wherefore the parent of the afflicted child made answer, saying; the occasion of this debate between the Scribes, and thy disciples, is as follows:

Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; signifying, that he had heard much of him, as a very great man, and he believed him to be a master in Israel, who was famous both for doctrine and miracles, and therefore he brought his son to him, to be cured by him; but Christ not being in the way, he proposed him to his disciples, who attempted it without success. The case of his son was, he had a "dumb spirit". The Evangelist Matthew says he was "lunatic", Matthew 17:15; and by his account of him it appears, that he had the "epilepsy", or falling sickness; and which, when upon him, took away the use of his speech. And so the Jews ascribe dumbness to the violence of a disease: thus they ask g;

"what is "Cordiacus" (kardiakov)? one that has a disorder which affects the heart, and causes a deliquium (a fainting and swooning away), but a man, שנעשה אלם, "who is become dumb", through the force of a disease;''

which was the case of this child: though this disease did not arise from natural causes, but from a diabolical possession; for he had a spirit, a foul spirit, a devil, as he is called: some further account is given of this unhappy case, in the next verse.

g Jarchi in Misn. Gittin, c. 7. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 17:14-21.

Mark 9:14

Questioning with them - Debating with the disciples, and attempting to confound them. This he saw as he came down from the mount. In his absence they had taken occasion to attempt to perplex and confound his followers.

Mark 9:15

Were greatly amazed - Were astonished and surprised at his sudden appearance among them.

Saluted him - Received him with the customary marks of affection and respect. It is probable that this was not by any “formal” manner of salutation, but by the “rush” of the multitude, and by hailing him as the Messiah.

Mark 9:16

What question ye? - What is the subject of your inquiry or debate with the disciples?

Mark 9:17

A dumb spirit - A spirit which deprived his son of the power of speaking.

Mark 9:18

And wheresoever - In whatever place - at home or abroad, alone or in public.

He teareth him - He rends, distracts, or throws him into convulsions.

He foameth - At the mouth, like a mad animal. Among us these would all be considered as marks of violent derangement or madness.

And pineth away - Becomes thin, haggard, and emaciated. This was the effect of the violence of his struggles, and perhaps of the want of food.

Mark 9:22

If thou canst do any thing - I have brought him to the disciples, and they could not help him. If thou canst do anything, have compassion.

Mark 9:23

If thou canst believe - This was an answer to the request, and there was a reference in the answer to the “doubt” in the man’s mind about the power of Jesus. “I” can help him. If thou” canst believe,” it shall be done. Jesus here demanded “faith” or confidence in his power of healing. His design here is to show the man that the difficulty in the case was not in the want of “power” on his part, but in the want of “faith” in the man; in other words, to rebuke him for having “doubted” at all whether he “could” heal him. So he demands faith of every sinner that comes to him, and none that come without “confidence” in him can obtain the blessing.

All things are possible to him that believeth - All things can be effected or accomplished - to wit, by God - in favor of him that believes, and if thou canst believe, this will be done. God will do nothing in our favor without faith. It is right that we should have confidence in him; and if we “have” confidence, it is easy for him to help us, and he willingly does it. In our weakness, then, we should go to God our Saviour; and though we have no strength, yet “he” can aid us, and he will make all things easy for us.

Mark 9:24

Said with tears - The man felt the implied rebuke in the Saviour’s language; and feeling grieved that he should be thought to be destitute of faith, and feeling deeply for the welfare of his afflicted son, he wept. Nothing can be more touching or natural than this. An anxious father, distressed at the condition of his son, having applied to the disciples in vain, now coming to the Saviour; and not having full confidence that he had the proper qualification to be aided, he wept. Any man would have wept in his condition, nor would the Saviour turn the weeping suppliant away.

I believe - I have faith. I do put confidence in thee, though I know that my faith is not as strong as it should be.

Lord - This word here signifies merely “master,” or “sir,” as it does often in the New Testament. We have no evidence that he had any knowledge of the divine nature of the Saviour, and he applied the word, probably, as he would have done to any other teacher or worker of miracles.

Help thou mine unbelief - Supply thou the defects of my faith. Give me strength and grace to put “entire” confidence in thee. Everyone who comes to the Saviour for help has need of offering this prayer. In our unbelief and our doubts we need his aid, nor shall we ever put sufficient reliance on him without his gracious help.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. A dumb spirit — That is, a demon who afflicted those in whom it dwelt with an incapacity of speaking. The spirit itself could not be either deaf or dumb. These are accidents that belong only to organized animate bodies.

See this case explained, Matthew 17:14, &c.