Mark 9:22

Simplified Cowboy Version

"Since he was just knee-high, this devil has been throwing my poor son in the water and even in the branding fire a time or two trying to kill him. I can't let him out of my sight and I'm wore plumb out, sir. Will you help us if you can?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

King James Version (1611)
And oft times it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters to destroy him: but if thou canst doe any thing, haue compassion on vs, and helpe vs.

King James Version
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

English Standard Version
And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

New American Standard Bible
"It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!"

New Century Version
The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us."

Amplified Bible
"The demon has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!"

Legacy Standard Bible
And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!"

Berean Standard Bible
"It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

Contemporary English Version
The demon has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. Please have pity and help us if you can!"

Complete Jewish Bible
"and it often tries to kill him by throwing him into the fire or into the water. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us!"

Darby Translation
and often it has cast him both into fire and into waters that it might destroy him: but if thou couldst [do] anything, be moved with pity on us, and help us.

Easy-to-Read Version
The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us."

Geneva Bible (1587)
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.

George Lamsa Translation
And many times it has thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him; but whatever you can do, help me, and have mercy on me.

Good News Translation
"Many times the evil spirit has tried to kill him by throwing him in the fire and into water. Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!"

Lexham English Bible
And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us!"

Literal Translation
And often it threw him both into fire and into water, that it might destroy him. But if You are able to do anything, help us, having pity on us.

American Standard Version
And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.

Bible in Basic English
And frequently it has sent him into the fire and into the water, for his destruction; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us, and give us help.

Hebrew Names Version
Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."

International Standard Version
The spiritIt">[fn] has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us!"

Etheridge Translation
And many times he casteth him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but whatever thou canst, help me, and have mercy upon me.

Murdock Translation
And many times it hath thrown him into the fire, and into the water, to destroy him. But, if thou canst do any thing, aid me and have compassion on me.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And oft tymes it hath cast hym into the fire, and into the water, to destroye hym: But yf thou canst do any thyng, haue mercy on vs, and helpe vs.

English Revised Version
And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.

World English Bible
Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And it hath often cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him; but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us and help us.

Weymouth's New Testament
"and often it has thrown him into the fire or into pools of water to destroy him. But, if you possibly can, have pity on us and help us."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and ofte he hath put hym in to fier, and in to watir, to leese hym; but if thou maiste ony thing, helpe vs, and haue merci on vs.

Update Bible Version
And often-times it has cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.

Webster's Bible Translation
And often it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

New English Translation
It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

New King James Version
And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

New Living Translation
The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can."

New Life Bible
Many times it throws him into the fire and into the water to kill him. If You can do anything to help us, take pity on us!"

New Revised Standard
It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, many times, hath it cast him, both into fire, and into waters, that it might destroy him; but, if anything be possible to thee, help us, have compassion upon us.

Douay-Rheims Bible
(9-21) And oftentimes hath he cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him. But if thou canst do any thing, help us, having compassion on us.

Revised Standard Version
And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and ofte tymes casteth him into the fyre and also into the water to destroye him. But yf thou canste do eny thinge have mercy on vs and helpe vs.

Young's Literal Translation
and many times also it cast him into fire, and into water, that it might destroy him; but if thou art able to do anything, help us, having compassion on us.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and oft tymes hath he cast him in to the fyre and water, to destroye him: but yf thou canst do enythinge, haue mercy vpon vs, and helpe vs.

Mace New Testament (1729)
it has frequently thrown him into the fire, and into the water, to the hazard of his life; if therefore you can do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Contextual Overview

¹⁴When they rounded a small hill and trotted up to where the rest of cowboys were, they heard a bunch of people squabblin'. ¹⁵As soon as they spotted Jesus, they ran to say hello to him. ¹⁶"What's all the bickerin' about?" Jesus asked while he swung off his horse. ¹⁷One 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, ¹⁸it throws my boy to the ground. It scares the tar out of me because he starts a foamin' at the mouth while gnashing his teeth like a wild hog. He then becomes as rigid as a felled lodgepole pine. I asked your cowboys for help, but they was useless." ¹⁹Jesus told all of them, "Do I have to do everything myself? What're y'all gonna do when I'm gone? Bring the boy over here." ²⁰They brought the boy over and when the devil inside him saw Jesus, it threw the boy on the ground in a violent seizure. The boy was foaming and frothing at the mouth like a rabid coyote. ²¹"How long has this been going on?" Jesus asked. The father replied, ²²"Since he was just knee-high, this devil has been throwing my poor son in the water and even in the branding fire a time or two trying to kill him. I can't let him out of my sight and I'm wore plumb out, sir. Will you help us if you can?" ²³"What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus raised an eyebrow and asked. "Ain't nothin' impossible for a man who believes."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: Mark 1:40-42, Matthew 8:2, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9, Matthew 9:28, Matthew 14:31

have: Mark 5:19, Matthew 15:22-28, Matthew 20:34, Luke 7:13

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:28 - cut themselves Matthew 9:27 - have Matthew 14:14 - and was Matthew 15:25 - Lord Matthew 15:32 - Jesus Matthew 17:15 - have Mark 5:23 - besought Mark 8:2 - compassion Luke 5:12 - if Luke 8:43 - had Luke 17:13 - have

Cross-References

Matthew 18:15
"If a cowboy who works for me does something to you that is against one of my rules (not yours), be a man and go talk to him about it. Let it be just between the two of you. Don't go round up all your buddies or even tell them what you're doin'. If he listens to you, y'all will be able to ride together.

1 Corinthians 13:6
Love don't condone injustice, but celebrates truth.

Galatians 6:1
Cowboys, if you catch someone doing something they shouldn't, you should love 'em enough to set 'em back on the right path; but do it gently. And another thing, watch what you're doing, too. Don't be a hypocrite and point out people's faults while you're neck deep in the same mud.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire,.... When he has been near it; so that one part or other of his body has been scorched, or burnt, and his life in danger:

and into the waters to destroy him: when he has been near any brook, or river, it has thrown him into it, in order to drown him, as into the fire to burn him. The Ethiopic version before fire and water reads, "into the deep"; meaning either the sea or some deep pit, or off a precipice. All this is said to aggravate the case, and show the miserable condition the child was in, from the frequency of the fits, and the danger he was exposed to:

but if thou canst do any thing. This man's faith was very weak, and perhaps weaker than when he first came from home with his child. He had brought him to the disciples of Christ, and they could not cure him; the evil spirit was as strong, or stronger in him than ever; he now lay in a violent fit, and in a most miserable condition; so that he was almost ready to despair of healing: some small hopes he had that Christ might be able to relieve in this case; but he puts an if upon his power, and earnestly entreats him, if he had any, he would put it forth:

have compassion on us, and help us; his child that lay in such a deplorable condition, rolling on the ground at his feet; and himself, who was greatly afflicted for him: he tries, in very moving language, both the power and pity of Christ; and begs that if he had either, he would exert them on this occasion.

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 22. If THOU canst DO any thing — I have already tried thy disciples, and find they can do nothing in this case; but if thou hast any power, in mercy use it in our behalf.