Mark 9 24

Mark 9:24 kjv

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mark 9:24 nkjv

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Mark 9:24 niv

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Mark 9:24 esv

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

Mark 9:24 nlt

The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 24 Meaning

Mark 9:24 records the poignant and honest plea of a desperate father to Jesus, saying, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" This utterance follows Jesus' challenge to the father about faith ("'If you can'?" implying "all things are possible for one who believes"). The father's words capture the essence of a struggling, imperfect faith that acknowledges Jesus' power while confessing its own inadequacy. It's a confession of both genuine belief and the very human presence of doubt, expressing a fervent desire for God's divine intervention to overcome that spiritual struggle.

Mark 9 24 Context

Mark 9:24 is embedded in the narrative of Jesus' healing of a demon-possessed boy, directly after the transfiguration (Mk 9:2-8). The father had brought his son to the disciples, who were unable to cast out the demon (Mk 9:18). Jesus' arrival is met with his lament: "O faithless generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?" (Mk 9:19). The boy's violent seizure at Jesus' presence (Mk 9:20) and the father's subsequent appeal, "if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" (Mk 9:22), leads to Jesus' challenging question: "'If you can'?" This points back to the father's expressed doubt. Jesus then clarifies, "All things are possible for one who believes" (Mk 9:23). It is this direct interaction, highlighting the power of faith in contrast to the helplessness the disciples demonstrated, that prompts the father's immediate, anguished, and remarkably honest cry in Mark 9:24. The historical context reflects a societal understanding of demon possession as a tangible evil, making the father's desperation very real and his hope firmly anchored in Jesus' perceived authority.

Mark 9 24 Word analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and" - Connects the father's action directly and immediately to Jesus' prior statement about faith. It indicates a swift consequence or reaction.

• εὐθὺς (euthys): "immediately" - A characteristic word in Mark's Gospel ("Markan immediacy"). It emphasizes the urgency, directness, and instantaneous nature of the father's desperate response to Jesus' challenging declaration about the power of belief. It shows a response born of crisis.

• κράξας (kraxas): "cried out", "shouted" - Signifies an emotional outburst, a loud and public declaration. It conveys distress, desperation, and an uninhibited appeal, underscoring the severity of his situation and the intensity of his prayer.

• Πιστεύω (Pisteuō): "I believe" - This is a present active indicative verb, expressing a direct, personal, and ongoing confession of faith. It's not a past belief, but a current reality within him. It affirms his understanding and acceptance of Jesus' divine power and authority.

• κύριε (kyrie): "Lord" - A respectful and deferential address to Jesus, indicating recognition of His authority, mastery, or divine nature. It shows the father acknowledges Jesus as more than just a man.

• βοήθει (boēthei): "help" - A present imperative verb, functioning as a direct command or earnest plea. It implies an active, ongoing need for assistance, rather than a single past action. It's a cry for intervention.

• μου (mou): "my" - A possessive pronoun, emphasizing that the "unbelief" is his own, a personal struggle he directly confesses.

• τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ (tē apistia): "unbelief", "lack of faith" - ἀπιστία is the opposite of πίστις (faith). It signifies a deficiency or weakness in faith, rather than a complete absence. It's an honest acknowledgment of inner doubt, struggle, or spiritual inadequacy even amidst a desire to believe. It speaks to the human condition.

• "the father of the child": This phrase emphasizes his role as a parent burdened by the suffering of his son, highlighting his desperate motive and adding pathos to his cry. His belief and unbelief are intertwined with his parental anguish.

• "I believe; help my unbelief!": This is a powerful paradox. It acknowledges both the presence of faith ("I believe") and the concurrent struggle with doubt or insufficient faith ("help my unbelief!"). It does not signify hypocrisy but rather spiritual honesty – a raw admission that his faith, though real, is not absolute or unwavering enough to fully grasp Jesus' words of power, and he needs divine assistance to overcome this inner weakness. This phrase illustrates that genuine faith is often a journey, not a static state, and can coexist with internal struggles.

Mark 9 24 Bonus section

The father's plea models a fundamental aspect of Christian spiritual life: the humility to confess one's internal struggles. It suggests that faith is not a fixed quantity but a dynamic process, one that requires continuous sustenance and growth from its divine source. This active petition for help with his unbelief signifies that true faith, though it might be small like a mustard seed, is characterized by its orientation toward Christ and its acknowledgment of His ultimate power. It reminds us that Christ is interested not only in the extent of our faith but also in the direction of our faith—that we turn to Him for everything, including the ability to believe more fully. The passage implies that Jesus desires sincere seeking, even if it comes mixed with wavering, more than a proud, self-sufficient "belief."

Mark 9 24 Commentary

The father's words in Mark 9:24 stand as one of the most profoundly honest and relatable expressions of faith in the Scriptures. His outcry, delivered "immediately" and with a "shout," reveals both deep anguish over his son's condition and a raw, humble submission to Jesus' authority. His confession, "Lord, I believe," is a genuine declaration of assent to Jesus' power and willingness to act. Yet, the follow-up, "help my unbelief!," elevates this statement from mere affirmation to an active plea for spiritual transformation. It recognizes that faith is not simply intellectual agreement, but a disposition of the heart often plagued by the realities of doubt and the magnitude of circumstances.

This passage teaches that true faith is often imperfect and struggles against the current of human weakness. It is not an absence of doubt, but rather trusting in Jesus despite the lingering presence of doubt. The father is not claiming to have no faith, but rather to have insufficient faith for the task at hand or in the face of Jesus' challenging words. His plea is an admission of dependence on Christ to supply what is lacking. Jesus does not condemn this "unbelief" but meets it with grace, highlighting that He is willing to work with and through imperfect faith. This encourages all believers to approach Christ with complete honesty about their spiritual state, confident that His power is perfected in their weakness (2 Cor 12:9). Practically, this means we are called to bring our whole selves to God in prayer—our certainties, our hopes, and even our most gnawing doubts—trusting that He hears and helps where our faith falls short. For instance, when facing an overwhelming illness, one might pray, "Lord, I believe you can heal; but help my doubt about if you will." Or, when grappling with difficult biblical passages, "I believe Your Word is true; but help my confusion and doubt in understanding this."