Matthew 9:33 kjv

And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Matthew 9:33 nkjv

And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!"

Matthew 9:33 niv

And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."

Matthew 9:33 esv

And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel."

Matthew 9:33 nlt

So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!" they exclaimed.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 33 Meaning

Matthew 9:33 describes the immediate, astounding public reaction to Jesus casting out a demon that had caused a man to be mute. Upon the demon's expulsion, the man immediately spoke. The crowds who witnessed this miraculous event were overwhelmed with wonder, expressing that such a display of power had never before been observed within the nation of Israel. This public acknowledgment highlighted the extraordinary nature of Jesus' authority and the unprecedented works He performed, setting the stage for differing reactions from religious leaders.

Matthew 9 33 Context

Matthew 9:33 is situated within a series of powerful demonstrations of Jesus' authority. It directly follows the account of two blind men being healed (Matt 9:27-31) and the explicit statement in Matt 9:32 that a mute man, possessed by a demon, was brought to Jesus. This verse is the climax of that specific miracle, focusing on the demon's expulsion and the man's immediate restoration of speech. The context highlights Jesus' power not just over physical ailments but directly over demonic forces. Crucially, the verse serves as a pivot point: the crowd's astonished admiration ("It was never so seen in Israel") immediately precedes the religious leaders' accusatory blasphemy ("He casts out demons by the prince of demons," Matt 9:34), establishing a sharp contrast between popular reception and cynical rejection of Jesus' divine authority. Historically, the belief that demons caused various physical and mental afflictions was common in first-century Judaism, making Jesus' exorcisms profound affirmations of His supernatural power.

Matthew 9 33 Word analysis

• And when the devil: The original Greek term is δαιμόνιον (daimonion), referring to a demon, an evil spirit, rather than exclusively Satan himself. It implies a subordinate, malignant entity. Jesus' authority extends over these spiritual adversaries. The event emphasizes that the man's muteness was directly caused by demonic oppression.
• was cast out: The Greek ἐκβληθέντος (ekblēthentos) is a passive aorist participle, highlighting the definitive and complete action of the demon's expulsion by Jesus' power. It indicates a forceful removal, characteristic of Jesus' confrontations with evil spirits.
• the dumb spake: The Greek ὁ κωφός (ho kōphos) refers to the mute man, directly correlating to the preceding verse where he was described as κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον (kōphon daimonizomenon), a "mute demoniac." His speech (ἐλάλησεν, elalēsen) is the immediate and undeniable proof of the demon's departure and Jesus' effective healing.
• and the multitudes marvelled: The Greek ἐθαύμασαν (ethaumasam) signifies profound astonishment and awe. This reaction shows the impact of Jesus' work on the common people. Their marveling underscores the unprecedented nature of the miracle in their experience.
• saying, It was never so seen in Israel: The emphatic Greek phrase Οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ (Oudepote ephanē houtōs en tō Israēl) conveys that no such manifestation of power, specifically in dealing with demonic oppression leading to such a clear physical restoration, had ever appeared or been witnessed throughout the history of Israel. This declaration, made by the witnessing crowds, marks Jesus' miracles as surpassing those of prior prophets and underscores His unique divine authority and the arrival of the promised kingdom, where the power of evil would be directly confronted. The phrase "in Israel" confines the statement to their historical and national memory, signifying that Jesus' works transcended even the most powerful miracles known within their heritage.
• "the devil was cast out, the dumb spake": This phrase directly links the demonic oppression to the physical ailment and the immediate reversal through Jesus' intervention. It showcases Jesus' complete dominion over both spiritual forces of evil and their physical manifestations in human suffering.

Matthew 9 33 Bonus section

The demon that caused muteness is a specific example of how demonic influence was understood to affect physical and mental capabilities. Jesus' expulsion of such a demon not only demonstrated His power over the spiritual realm but also highlighted the root cause of certain human sufferings, going beyond a mere physical ailment. The statement "never so seen in Israel" carries immense theological weight. It implicitly contrasts Jesus' work with that of great Old Testament prophets like Elijah and Elisha, whose miracles, though powerful, did not involve the consistent, authoritative expulsion of demons linked to specific physical conditions in the manner Jesus performed. This underscores a new epoch of divine intervention, signaling the dawning of the Kingdom and the direct confrontation with the kingdom of darkness. The marveling of the multitudes also points to their hope and expectation, longing for God's ultimate intervention in history, which they perceived to be occurring through Jesus.

Matthew 9 33 Commentary

Matthew 9:33 encapsulates a critical moment in Jesus' ministry, illustrating His unparalleled authority and the profound impact of His miracles on ordinary people. The demon-possessed mute man, now freed and able to speak, serves as a tangible testament to Christ's power to overcome the works of darkness. The multitudes' collective astonishment and declaration, "It was never so seen in Israel," is not mere casual observation but a powerful recognition of the divine, messianic quality of Jesus' work. They implicitly acknowledge that Jesus is acting with power that surpasses all prior divine interventions within their history. This positive public response, however, also serves to highlight the subsequent negative reaction from the Pharisees, creating a sharp contrast between genuine faith-inspired awe and cynical, hardened unbelief. The miracle is an undeniable sign of the Kingdom of God breaking into the world, demonstrating Jesus' authority to confront and defeat the spiritual enemies of humanity and restore what sin and evil have marred.