Mark 9 25

Mark 9:25 kjv

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Mark 9:25 nkjv

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"

Mark 9:25 niv

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

Mark 9:25 esv

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

Mark 9:25 nlt

When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. "Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak," he said. "I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!"

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 25 Meaning

Mark 9:25 describes Jesus' authoritative action to expel a powerful unclean spirit from a boy who had been afflicted since childhood, rendering him mute and deaf. Faced with a gathering crowd, Jesus decisively confronts the spirit, not only commanding it to exit but also prohibiting its return, thereby ensuring a complete and permanent deliverance for the boy. This verse highlights Jesus' supreme authority over evil forces, a stark contrast to the disciples' previous inability.

Mark 9 25 Context

Mark 9:25 occurs immediately after a profound and significant episode involving a demon-possessed boy whom the disciples failed to heal. Preceding this, Jesus had experienced the Transfiguration (Mk 9:2-13), a moment of divine revelation affirming His identity, which served as a powerful contrast to the earthly scene He immediately returned to: His disciples' powerlessness and public humiliation. The father, desperate, brought his son to Jesus, lamenting the boy's severe affliction—epileptic-like fits caused by a demon—and the disciples' inability to help. The crowd, observing this scene and Jesus' arrival, pressed in, creating a public spectacle. Historically, possession was often intertwined with various ailments, and Jewish exorcism practices often involved specific rituals and invocations. Jesus, however, acts with inherent, immediate authority, implicitly critiquing the limitations of other contemporary approaches and demonstrating His unique power, divinely superior to any evil spirit.

Mark 9 25 Word analysis

• When Jesus saw: (καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, kai idōn ho Iēsous) Jesus is omniscient in many cases, but here it highlights His observation of the growing tension and attention. His seeing often precedes a compassionate or authoritative action (e.g., Mk 6:34). It also indicates His immediate perception of the dramatic circumstances unfolding.
• that a crowd was running to them: (ὅτι ἐπισυντρέχει ὄχλος, hoti episyntrechei ochlos) The verb episyntrechei (running together, assembling quickly) conveys urgency and a growing surge of people, indicating public interest and perhaps a chaotic atmosphere. This amplifies the need for decisive action and showcases Jesus' power before a large audience.
• he rebuked: (ἐπετίμησεν, epetimēsen) This powerful verb signifies a stern admonition, a strong, authoritative prohibition, or censure. Jesus consistently uses it against demonic forces (Mk 1:25), even natural elements (Mk 4:39), or disciples when necessary (Mk 8:33). It underlines His dominion and control.
• the unclean spirit: (τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ, tō pneumati tō akathartō) "Unclean" (akathartos) refers to ritual impurity but, in the New Testament, especially denotes moral impurity associated with evil spirits. This highlights the malevolent and corrupting nature of the entity. The spirits were associated with moral and physical defilement, requiring a holy force to cleanse.
• saying to it: Direct address, confirming a personal encounter with a sentient evil entity.
• 'You mute and deaf spirit,: (Ἄλαλον καὶ κωφὸν πνεῦμα, Alalon kai kōphon pneuma) Jesus identifies the spirit by the symptoms it causes in the boy, effectively naming and thus asserting command over its specific manifestations.
  • Alalon (ἄλαλον): Literally "speechless" or "dumb."
  • Kōphon (κωφὸν): Literally "deaf" or "dull of hearing." The demon was the cause of these physical disabilities, demonstrating a direct spiritual influence on the body. Jesus' specific identification validates the father's account (Mk 9:17) and demonstrates His divine knowledge. This polemics against the idea that physical ailments are solely natural occurrences, pointing to a spiritual dimension.
• I command you,: (ἐγὼ ἐπιτάσσω σοι, egō epitassō soi) The emphatic egō (I) underscores Jesus' personal and inherent authority, distinct from any delegated power. Epitassō means to command or order with full authority. This stands in contrast to the disciples who operated without sufficient inherent power.
• come out of him: (ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ, exelthe ex autou) The imperative command for expulsion. The power is in His word alone, without ritual or lengthy incantations.
• and never enter him again.': (καὶ μηκέτι εἰσέλθῃς εἰς αὐτόν, kai meketi eiselthēs eis auton) This phrase adds a powerful dimension of finality and permanence to the deliverance. Unlike some human expulsions, Jesus ensures a lasting liberation, demonstrating total mastery and prevention of recurrence, thus assuaging any fear of relapse for the boy and his father (Mk 9:24 "I believe; help my unbelief!"). This also implies His protective power over those He liberates.

Mark 9 25 Bonus section

The nature of the demon being "mute and deaf" signifies that it deprived the boy of communication and interaction with the world, both hearing (understanding) and speaking (expressing). This highlights how demonic oppression can hinder core human capacities vital for relationship and growth, mirroring how spiritual strongholds can isolate and incapacitate individuals. Jesus' command to this specific manifestation reveals His restorative power to reclaim and restore these foundational aspects of human existence for His created ones. The intensity of the father's suffering and the public failure of the disciples further amplified the glory of Jesus' subsequent, swift victory, teaching onlookers and future readers about the unchallengeable power of the Son of God. The very command is a testament to the fact that Christ's word is efficacious and does not return void (Isa 55:11).

Mark 9 25 Commentary

Mark 9:25 is a powerful testament to Jesus' absolute sovereignty over the spiritual realm. The context of the disciples' failure to cast out this demon underscores the unique and singular nature of Jesus' authority. While others, even His own chosen followers, found themselves powerless before this specific "kind" of spirit, Jesus effortlessly exerts control with a mere command. His naming of the "mute and deaf spirit" is not merely descriptive but declarative, asserting His intimate knowledge of its nature and His direct mastery over its operations. The swift gathering of the crowd intensifies the scene, showcasing Jesus' miraculous power publicly. Crucially, the command "and never enter him again" transcends a simple expulsion, affirming Jesus' divine capacity not only to liberate but to eternally secure those under His care from re-infestation, guaranteeing a complete and unassailable deliverance that fulfills prophetic expectations (Isa 35:5-6). It reflects a perfect and comprehensive salvation available through Him, distinct from temporary relief or limited human intervention.

• Practical Example: A believer struggling with a long-standing sin or addiction, seeing how Jesus fully banished the "mute and deaf spirit" permanently, can find assurance in Christ's complete deliverance and protection when truly submitting to Him, believing in His full authority over all bondage.