Mark 9:17 kjv
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Mark 9:17 nkjv
Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
Mark 9:17 niv
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
Mark 9:17 esv
And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.
Mark 9:17 nlt
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.
Mark 9 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 9:18 | ...I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cast it out. | Disciples' inability |
| Mark 9:23 | Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” | Power of faith |
| Mark 9:25 | ...He rebuked the deaf and dumb spirit... | Jesus' authority over specific demons |
| Matt 17:14 | And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying... | Synoptic parallel, father appealing |
| Matt 17:15 | “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely...” | Synoptic parallel, nature of affliction |
| Matt 17:16 | So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him. | Synoptic parallel, disciples' failure |
| Luke 9:38 | ...A man from the crowd cried out, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look on my son, for he is my only child.” | Synoptic parallel, father's plea, unique child |
| Luke 9:40 | “And I begged Your disciples to cast him out, but they could not.” | Synoptic parallel, disciples' failure |
| Mark 1:27 | And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine... | Jesus' authoritative teaching & demonic power |
| Mark 7:32 | Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His... | Healing of the deaf-mute |
| Matt 9:32-33 | ...behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed... when the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke | Another mute demoniac healing by Jesus |
| Luke 11:14 | And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute... | Casting out a mute demon |
| Isa 35:5-6 | Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame man... | Old Testament prophecy of Messianic healing |
| Exod 4:11 | And the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the... | God's sovereignty over speech and senses |
| Matt 11:28 | Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. | Invitation to bring burdens to Jesus |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of... | Approaching God with need |
| Jas 2:19 | You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! | Demonic awareness of divine power |
| Col 2:15 | Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. | Christ's victory over spiritual forces |
| Eph 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers... | Spiritual nature of evil |
| Matt 10:1 | And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out... | Disciples given power, sometimes they fail |
| 1 Pet 5:8-9 | Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. | The adversary's active presence |
| Mark 5:18-19 | ...the man who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him... | Person cured of demon asks to stay with Jesus |
Mark 9 verses
Mark 9 17 Meaning
The verse introduces a desperate father from the crowd who, immediately upon Jesus' descent from the Transfiguration mountain, directly addresses Jesus. He reveals the pressing need: he has brought his son, who is afflicted by a spirit that renders him speechless or mute. This interaction sets the stage for a powerful display of Jesus' unique authority over spiritual forces and highlights the severe spiritual battle at hand.
Mark 9 17 Context
Mark 9:17 is a stark transition point in Mark's Gospel. Immediately prior, Jesus, Peter, James, and John had descended from the Mount of Transfiguration (Mk 9:2-8), where Jesus' divine glory was revealed. This experience of celestial glory is abruptly contrasted with the gritty reality of human suffering and demonic oppression found in the valley below. Upon their return, Jesus finds the remaining disciples embroiled in an argument with scribes and surrounded by a large crowd, signaling disarray and a challenge to His authority in His absence. It is into this chaotic scene that the father interjects with his urgent appeal, bypassing the disputing parties and addressing Jesus directly. The context establishes Jesus as the ultimate authority, contrasting His divine power with the spiritual weakness and limitations even of His own disciples when faith and prayer are lacking.
Mark 9 17 Word analysis
- And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, yet powerful here. It connects the sublime event of the Transfiguration directly to the mundane, troubled reality awaiting Jesus and His inner circle, emphasizing the immediate shift from glory to human need and spiritual conflict.
- one of the multitude (εἷς ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου - heis ek tou ochlou):
ὄχλος(ochlos) signifies a crowd, often implying an unorganized or general gathering of people. "One of the multitude" emphasizes that this man comes from the general populace, not a specific disciple or official. His voice stands out amidst the prior commotion, representing desperate humanity. - answered (ἀποκριθεὶς - apokritheis): From
ἀποκρίνομαι(apokrinomai), meaning "to answer" or "to respond." While no explicit question is recorded immediately before this, it suggests a response to the entire volatile situation, the sight of Jesus, or perhaps the perceived inadequacy of the disciples. It implies he spoke in reply to the situation unfolding or to Jesus' appearance among them. - said (εἶπεν - eipen): A simple verb meaning "he said," directly introducing the father's distressed appeal.
- Master (Διδάσκαλε - Didaskale): A respectful address, literally "Teacher." This common address for Jesus acknowledges His wisdom and authority, signifying the man's recognition of Jesus as someone capable of instruction and perhaps supernatural help. It indicates reverence but not necessarily a full understanding of Jesus' divine Sonship at this moment.
- I have brought (ἤνεγκα - ēnenka): A past tense verb, emphasizing a completed action. The father made a deliberate, possibly arduous, effort to bring his son to Jesus. It implies a persistent and hopeful quest for healing.
- unto thee my son (τὸν υἱόν μου πρὸς σέ - ton hyion mou pros se): "My son" conveys profound parental love and desperation. The phrase "unto thee" highlights the specific, targeted nature of the appeal. The father seeks Jesus directly as the last resort, after his apparent failure with the disciples.
- which hath (ἔχοντα - echonta): A participle indicating possession or ongoing state. It describes the son's present condition as being under the influence or control of the spirit.
- a dumb spirit (πνεῦμα ἄλαλον - pneuma alalon): This is crucial.
πνεῦμα(pneuma) here refers to a spiritual entity, specifically an evil or unclean spirit (a demon).ἄλαλος(alalos) means "speechless" or "mute." It denotes a demon that specifically afflicts the vocal chords and communication abilities, causing silence or an inability to speak. Mark later identifies this spirit as also causing deafness (Mk 9:25), signifying its comprehensive attack on the boy's ability to perceive and communicate with the world.
Mark 9 17 Bonus section
The descent from the mountain to the chaotic scene in the valley symbolizes the broader narrative arc of Jesus' ministry: from moments of divine revelation and intimate fellowship with God to confronting the immediate, ugly realities of sin, suffering, and demonic oppression in the world. The father's direct approach to Jesus bypasses the prior intellectual dispute with the scribes, foregrounding the immediate and visceral human need that only Jesus can address. While Mark 9:17 identifies the demon as a "dumb spirit," later verses (Mk 9:18, 22, 25) reveal its much wider, terrifying effects, including violent seizures and an underlying deafness. This incremental revelation by Mark heightens the perceived severity of the case and the formidable nature of the spiritual battle.
Mark 9 17 Commentary
Mark 9:17 opens a significant pericope that sharply contrasts the glory of the Transfiguration with the harsh reality of the demonic world. The desperate father's cry introduces the specific, debilitating affliction of his son—muteness caused by an evil spirit. This verse emphasizes human suffering and the impotence of spiritual means, save for the power of Jesus. The father, likely having observed the failed attempts of the disciples (implied by Mark 9:18), directs his plea directly to the Master, underscoring Jesus' singular authority over all evil powers. It sets the stage for Jesus' direct confrontation with a particularly stubborn demon, teaching profound lessons on faith, prayer, and humility, particularly for His disciples. It showcases the raw impact of evil in the world and the profound hope found only in Christ.