Matthew 17 16

Matthew 17:16 kjv

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Matthew 17:16 nkjv

So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him."

Matthew 17:16 niv

I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."

Matthew 17:16 esv

And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him."

Matthew 17:16 nlt

So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 16 Meaning

This verse recounts the distressed father's report to Jesus about the failure of His disciples to heal his son, who was afflicted by a severe demonic condition, described by the father as epileptic and suffering greatly. It exposes a significant moment of powerlessness among the disciples, setting the stage for Jesus' direct and decisive intervention.

Matthew 17 16 Context

This verse directly follows the majestic Transfiguration event where Jesus' divine glory was momentarily revealed to Peter, James, and John (Mt 17:1-13). As Jesus descends the mountain, returning to the remaining disciples and the crowd, He is immediately confronted with a scene of suffering and spiritual helplessness. The father's desperate plea to Jesus (Mt 17:15) highlights the disciples' inability to minister effectively in this case. The boy's condition is grave, indicating the powerful oppression he faced. This sequence underscores a sharp contrast between Jesus' profound spiritual authority witnessed on the mount and the evident limitations of His followers "in the valley," preparing the ground for Jesus' teaching on faith and spiritual power.

Matthew 17 16 Word analysis

• "And" (Καὶ - kai): This conjunction smoothly links the previous glorious event of the Transfiguration with the present scene of earthly suffering and spiritual impotence, establishing a direct continuity in the narrative.
• "I brought" (προσήνεγκα - prosēnenka): This is the aorist active indicative of prosphero, meaning "to bring near," "to present," or "to offer." The father's action reflects his desperate hope and the expectation that associating his son with Jesus' disciples would bring healing. It signifies his proactive search for relief.
• "him": Refers to the father's son. In Mt 17:15, the father details the boy's severe condition: he is described as epileptic (selēniazetai) and suffering severely, frequently falling into fire or water due to seizures. Parallel accounts (Mk 9:17, Lk 9:39) clarify this is due to a spirit making him mute and convulsive. This detail emphasizes the dire need and the persistent, powerful nature of the affliction.
• "to Your disciples" (τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου - tois mathētais sou):
  • τοῖς (tois): The definite article, specifying "the" disciples.
  • μαθηταῖς (mathētais): Dative plural of mathētēs, meaning "learners," "students," "apprentices," or "followers." This term highlights their identity as those who follow and learn from Jesus.
  • σου (sou): Genitive singular of su, meaning "your." The father specifically refers to Jesus' disciples, indicating his understanding of their delegated authority from Jesus. This sets the stage for the paradox: why could Your disciples not help?
• "and they" (καὶ οὐκ - kai ouk): The conjunction "and" simply connects the two clauses. The ouk is a strong negative particle, expressing absolute negation.
• "could not" (ἠδυνήθησαν - ēdynēthēsan): Imperfect passive/deponent indicative of dynamai, meaning "to be able," "to have power" or "to be strong enough." The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing or continued state of inability. Coupled with ouk, it means "they were entirely unable" or "they did not have the power to." This signifies a lack of intrinsic power or inability to access available power for this specific situation, despite having successfully performed exorcisms before.
• "cure him" (θεραπεῦσαι αὐτόν - therapeusai auton):
  • θεραπεῦσαι (therapeusai): Aorist active infinitive of therapeuō, which means "to heal," "to cure," "to minister to," or "to serve." This term encompasses more than just exorcism; it implies full restoration and holistic wellness. The inability to "cure him" signifies a failure to bring complete relief to the boy's multifaceted suffering caused by the demonic spirit.
  • αὐτόν (auton): The masculine accusative pronoun, referring to the boy.

Words-group analysis

• "I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him": This complete phrase powerfully conveys the core problem. The father, having sought help from those immediately associated with Jesus, experiences disappointment. The disciples' failure to "cure him" reveals a critical gap between their commission (Mt 10:1) and their current spiritual efficacy, setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent explanation of the role of faith and prayer (and fasting, in parallel accounts). It serves as a moment of humbling revelation for the disciples and a display of their need for further spiritual growth and dependence on Christ.

Matthew 17 16 Bonus section

• The timing of this incident, immediately following the mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration, is often noted by scholars. It juxtaposes the glory of God in Christ with the grim reality of demonic oppression and human spiritual struggle in the "valley below." This contrast emphasizes that the power of God's Kingdom is not merely for spectacular displays but must engage with and overcome the pervasive evil in the world.
• The condition of the boy (epileptic, suffering severely, and also identified as demon-possessed) underscores the devastating effects of evil on humanity, affecting both the physical and mental/spiritual dimensions. This highlights the comprehensive healing that Christ offers, touching all aspects of human suffering.
• This specific case was a severe one, hinting that not all demonic activity presents the same level of resistance. It may signify a "higher order" of demonic power that demanded an extraordinary measure of faith and spiritual commitment from the one seeking to cast it out, beyond what the disciples currently possessed.

Matthew 17 16 Commentary

Matthew 17:16 is a poignant moment in the Gospel narrative, revealing the limitations of Jesus' disciples despite their earlier commissioning and success in performing miracles. The father's straightforward report of their inability to heal his demon-possessed son, after he brought the boy specifically "to Your disciples," highlights a profound spiritual incapacity at that specific time. This was not a withdrawal of power by Jesus but an expose of the disciples' own spiritual state. Their previous successful ministry may have led to a complacency or a reliance on a general delegated authority, rather than an active, persistent faith and spiritual discipline. The situation serves as a stark contrast to Jesus' glorious Transfiguration and prepares the ground for His subsequent teaching, which attributes the disciples' failure to their lack of faith (Mt 17:20) and implies (as stated more directly in Mark's parallel) the need for prayer and fasting for certain intractable spiritual strongholds. This event served as a crucial lesson for the disciples, teaching them that true spiritual authority in ministry demands an ongoing, deep reliance on God and not simply a past endowment of power. It calls believers to perpetual spiritual growth, humility, and dependence on Christ for effective service, especially in challenging spiritual battles.

• Practical usage: This verse teaches us that possessing a "calling" or being part of God's work does not automatically guarantee success. There are spiritual battles that require deeper faith, fervent prayer, and genuine dependence on God's power, not merely human effort or past commission. If we encounter spiritual resistance in our ministries or personal lives, this may be a call to deepen our spiritual disciplines and reliance on Christ.