Mark 9:14-25 · Bible study
Mark 9:14-25 Commentary: Faith, Failure, and the Father's Cry
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study of the healing of the boy with a mute spirit, Jesus' challenge to believe, and the cry 'help my unbelief'.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus challenges the father's weak faith, calls him to believe, and then casts out a violent spirit, showing that divine power meets honest, even struggling, trust.
- Key words: ἄπιστος (apistos, faithless/unbelieving), πιστεύω (pisteuō, believe), ἀπιστία (apistia, unbelief), ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeō, greatly amazed), ἐπιτάσσω (epitassō, I command).
- Main debate: Whether the disciples' failure is due to lack of faith or lack of prayer; also, whether 'all things are possible to him who believes' is a universal principle or conditional on God's will.
- Theological theme: The necessity and inadequacy of human faith; Jesus both demands faith and supplies it; spiritual warfare requires dependence on God through prayer.
- Best use: A model for honest prayer when faith is weak; a comfort for those who feel their belief is small; a challenge to depend on God, not past success.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
14When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him.
16“What are you disputing with them?” He asked.
17Someone in the crowd replied, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute.
18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”
19“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”
20So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been with him?” “From childhood,” he said.
22“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”
24Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
25When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
14Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.
15Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him.
16He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?”
17One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;
18and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.”
19He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”
20They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
21He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has been happening to him?” He said, “From childhood.
22Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
25When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”
KJV King James Version 1769
14And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
15And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
16And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25When 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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
14And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them.
15And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
16And he asked them, What question ye with them?
17And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;
18and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able.
19And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me.
20And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child.
22And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
23And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.
24Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
14And having come unto the disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them,
15and immediately, all the multitude having seen him, were amazed, and running near, were saluting him.
16And he questioned the scribes, `What dispute ye with them?'
17and one out of the multitude answering said, `Teacher, I brought my son unto thee, having a dumb spirit;
18and wherever it doth seize him, it doth tear him, and he foameth, and gnasheth his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples that they may cast it out, and they were not able.'
19And he answering him, said, `O generation unbelieving, till when shall I be with you? till when shall I suffer you? bring him unto me;'
20and they brought him unto him, and he having seen him, immediately the spirit tare him, and he, having fallen upon the earth, was wallowing--foaming.
21And he questioned his father, `How long time is it since this came to him?' and he said, `From childhood,
22and many times also it cast him into fire, and into water, that it might destroy him; but if thou art able to do anything, help us, having compassion on us.'
23And Jesus said to him, `If thou art able to believe! all things are possible to the one that is believing;'
24and immediately the father of the child, having cried out, with tears said, `I believe, sir; be helping mine unbelief.'
25Jesus having seen that a multitude doth run together, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, `Spirit--dumb and deaf--I charge thee, come forth out of him, and no more thou mayest enter into him;'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
14And when he came to the disciples he saw a great crowd around them, and scribes disputing against them.
15And immediately all the crowd seeing him were amazed, and running to [him], saluted him.
16And he asked them, What do ye question with them about?
17And one out of the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought to thee my son, who has a dumb spirit;
18and wheresoever it seizes him it tears him, and he foams and gnashes his teeth, and he is withering away. And I spoke to thy disciples, that they might cast him out, and they could not.
19But he answering them says, O unbelieving generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him to me.
20And they brought him to him. And seeing him the spirit immediately tore him; and falling upon the earth he rolled foaming.
21And he asked his father, How long a time is it that it has been like this with him? And he said, From childhood;
22and often it has cast him both into fire and into waters that it might destroy him: but if thou couldst [do] anything, be moved with pity on us, and help us.
23And Jesus said to him, The 'if thou couldst' is [if thou couldst] believe: all things are possible to him that believes.
24And immediately the father of the young child crying out said [with tears], I believe, help mine unbelief.
25But Jesus, seeing that [the] crowd was running up together, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
14And presently all the people, seeing Jesus, were astonished and struck with fear: and running to him, they saluted him.
15And he asked them: What do you question about among you?
16And one of the multitude, answering, said: Master, I have brought my son to thee, having a dumb spirit.
17Who, wheresoever he taketh him, dasheth him: and he foameth and gnasheth with the teeth and pineth away. And I spoke to thy disciples to cast him out: and they could not.
18Who answering them, said: O incredulous generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me.
19And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit troubled him and being thrown down upon the ground, he rolled about foaming.
20And he asked his father: How long time is it since this hath happened unto him? But he sad: From his infancy.
21And oftentimes hath he cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him. But if thou canst do any thing, help us, having compassion on us.
22And Jesus saith to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
23And immediately the father of the boy crying out, with tears said: I do believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.
24And when Jesus saw the multitude running together, he threatened the unclean spirit, saying to him: Deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him and enter not any more into him.
25And crying out and greatly tearing him, he went our of him. And he became as dead, so that many said: He is dead.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 9:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this passage shows Jesus descending from the Transfiguration into a scene of failure and opposition. The scribes are disputing with the disciples (v.14), and the father arrives with a desperate case. Calvin notes the father's tentative approach: he says 'if you can do anything' (v.22), revealing weak faith. Jesus seizes on that condition: the Greek at v.23, literally 'the if you can' (τὸ εἰ δύνῃ), picks up the father's doubting phrase and turns it back on him. As Vincent's Word Studies observes, the article treats the father's words as a quotation, thrusting the issue back onto his faith. Barnes and Clarke both highlight that Jesus' power is not limited; the question is whether the man will trust. The father's response, 'I believe; help my unbelief', is universally seen as the heart of the passage. Calvin calls it a model for every believer, since our faith is never perfect. The disciples' earlier failure (v.18, 28) is linked in v.29 to prayer and fasting, indicating that certain kinds of spiritual warfare require special dependence on God. Across Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions, this story is read as an invitation to bring even weak, wavering faith to Christ, who both accepts and strengthens it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Faith as the condition: Jesus says 'all things are possible to him who believes' (v.23); the father's faith is imperfect but accepted.
- Prayer and fasting as the method: V.29 says 'this kind can come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting,' linking the disciples' failure to their spiritual preparation.
- The father as Everyperson: The cry 'help my unbelief' is read as the universal Christian experience (Calvin): faith is never pure, but God responds to honest confession.
What is clear: Jesus has absolute authority over the unclean spirit, and genuine faith — even when mixed with doubt — can bring a person to Christ for help.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of the boy's affliction | The boy suffers from a demonic spirit that causes physical symptoms resembling epilepsy (convulsions, foaming, rigidity). | Some modern readers see this purely as a medical condition described in spiritual language; others insist it was literal demonization, as Jesus addresses the spirit directly and commands it to leave. |
| The audience of Jesus' rebuke 'O faithless generation' | Jesus addresses a general lack of faith in those around him. | Protestant commentators often include the disciples, the father, and the crowd; Catholic tradition (following some fathers) may focus more on the scribes and the people's unbelief. The Cambridge Bible applies it to the whole Jewish people. |
| The meaning of 'this kind' in v.29 | Certain demons require special spiritual discipline to expel. | Some argue the 'kind' refers to a class of stubborn demons; others see it as a lesson about the disciples' lack of prayer, implying the failure was due to their own spiritual state, not a fixed demonic hierarchy. |
| The textual variant in v.24 ('Lord, I believe') | The father cries out with tears, 'I believe; help my unbelief.' | The word 'Lord' (κύριε) is omitted in several early manuscripts (Clarke lists ABCDL and many versions). Some traditions retain it as fitting; others omit it because the man may not yet have recognized Jesus as Lord. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This event takes place 'the next day' after the Transfiguration (Luke 9:37). Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up a mountain, leaving the other nine disciples at the base with a crowd. In his absence, scribes, professional interpreters of the Law who often opposed Jesus (Mark 2:6; 11:28; 12:14), began arguing with the disciples. Mark alone mentions the scribes here, and Vincent notes this detail is unique to Mark. The public debate was likely an attempt to discredit Jesus' followers. The father's description of his son's symptoms, convulsions, foaming, grinding teeth, becoming rigid, being thrown into fire and water, closely resembles epilepsy, but the father himself identifies the cause as a 'mute spirit' (v.17) and later Jesus addresses an 'unclean spirit' (v.25). In the first-century Jewish world, such afflictions were often attributed to demonic forces, and exorcism was practiced by some Jewish exorcists. However, the disciples' inability was seen as a failure of their authority. The father's plea, 'if you can do anything, have compassion on us,' reflects both desperation and the limits of his faith. Jesus' question about how long the boy had suffered (v.21) draws out the chronic nature of the affliction, emphasizing the severity of the case and the power needed for healing. The crowd's amazement at Jesus' sudden appearance (v.15) may have been due to lingering glory from the Transfiguration (so Wesley and others). Jesus' exclamation 'O unbelieving generation!' (v.19) echoes Old Testament laments (Deuteronomy 32:20) and chastises not only the father but also the disciples and the surrounding crowd.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note two significant textual variants. Clarke records that the word 'Lord' (κύριε) in v.24 is omitted by manuscripts A, B, C, D, L, the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, Ethiopic, Gothic, and three copies of the Itala. Griesbach also omits it. Clarke thinks the omission is proper because the man likely did not yet know Jesus as Lord. In v.23, the best reading according to Vincent and many modern editions is not 'If you can believe' but 'The if you can' (τὸ εἰ δύνῃ), an article that takes up the father's doubting phrase. The word 'believe' (πιστεῦσαι) is well-attested but the article shifts the emphasis. No other meaningful variants are reported in the supplied excerpts.
Reception History
This passage has been a touchstone for Christian reflection on faith and doubt. Augustine used the father's cry to illustrate the coexistence of faith and unbelief in the same heart. Luther and Calvin both saw it as a honest model of prayer: Calvin wrote that 'as our faith is never perfect, it follows that we are partly unbelievers; but God forgives us.' The Wesleyan tradition has emphasized the disciples' failure as linked to a lack of prayer and fasting, urging believers to cultivate spiritual disciplines. In modern pastoral care, v.24 has become a common prayer for those struggling with doubt. The story has also been depicted in art (Raphael's Transfiguration includes the scene at the mountain's base) and is often read in churches on the Sunday after the Transfiguration.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- From Glory to Conflict: Jesus descends from the Transfiguration into a scene where the scribes are arguing and the nine disciples are powerless. The contrast shows that ministry often moves from mountaintop moments to messy realities.
- The Condition of Faith: The father's 'if you can' is met by Jesus' 'the if you can.' The Greek article turns the phrase back on the father, the problem is not Jesus' power but the father's trust. Faith is the channel for God's work.
- Honest Prayer: The father cries out, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' This is the only prayer that fits every believer. It admits both faith and its lack, and it asks for help where faith is weak.
Five-point outline
- The Setting: Jesus, Peter, James, and John return from the mountain to find the other disciples surrounded by a crowd and arguing scribes (v.14-16).
- The Need: A father brings his son, tormented from childhood by a spirit that makes him mute, convulses him, and tries to kill him (v.17-18).
- The Frustration: Jesus laments the faithless generation and the disciples' inability; he calls for the boy to be brought (v.19).
- The Encounter: The spirit attacks the boy again; Jesus asks about the duration, the father hesitates, and Jesus throws the condition back, 'If you can believe, all things are possible' (v.20-23).
- The Breakthrough: The father's tearful confession, faith mixed with unbelief, and Jesus' authoritative command that the spirit never return (v.24-25).
Illustration hooks
- Parent's desperation: A parent of a chronically ill child, who has tried everything and is exhausted, arrives at a new doctor with resigned hope: 'If you can do anything...'
- Mixed motives in prayer: A person praying for a job or healing, half-believing it will work, half-afraid it won't. The prayer 'I believe; help my unbelief' names the tension.
- Team failure: A sports team that practiced but when the real test came, they crumbled. The disciples' failure despite earlier success (Mark 6:7, 13) shows that spiritual power is not automatic.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is my faith strong enough for God to help me?
- Why did Jesus' own disciples fail? Does that mean God sometimes withholds power?
- How can I pray honestly when I'm not sure I believe?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows a public failure of the disciples, a desperate father, and a Jesus who both challenges and delivers. It invites us to be honest about where our faith is mixed with doubt.
Discussion questions
- What do you learn from the contrast between Jesus' appearance on the mountain (Transfiguration) and the scene at the bottom?
- Why do you think the scribes were arguing with the disciples? How does that shape the tension of the story?
- Look at the father's words in v.22: 'if you can do anything.' What does that reveal about his faith? How does Jesus respond in v.23?
- Vincent notes that the Greek in v.23 literally says 'the if you can', Jesus quotes the father's doubt back to him. What does this teach about the role of faith in receiving God's help?
- The father cries out, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' (v.24). Calvin says this is the experience of every believer. Why is this prayer both honest and powerful?
- In v.25, Jesus commands the spirit to never return. Why is that detail important for understanding the completeness of Jesus' victory?
- In v.28-29, the disciples ask why they couldn't cast the spirit out. Jesus answers: 'This kind can come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.' What does this imply about the disciples' preparation, and about ours?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 17:14 | When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him and saying, |
| Matthew 17:20 | He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. |
| Mark 2:6 | But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, |
| Mark 11:28 | and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?” |
| Mark 12:14 | When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? |
| Luke 9:37 | On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. |
| Luke 9:42 | While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. |
| Luke 11:53 | As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke insists the boy's affliction was a literal demonic presence, not a natural disease, because Jesus directly addressed and commanded the spirit. He also points out that Jesus redirected the father's doubting question about power back onto the father's own faith, showing that unbelief, not divine inability, blocks healing.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that Jesus's reply "If thou canst believe" rebukes the father, showing the real obstacle is the man's doubt, not any lack of power in Jesus. The father's tearful response reveals he felt the rebuke and admits his imperfect faith. Barnes notes that the father's address "Lord" means only "master," with no evidence he recognized Jesus's divine nature.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin clarifies that Christ's unusual harshness was directed at the scribes' malice, not at the desperate father. He argues that the father's hesitant request reveals a limited view of Christ's power. The real obstacle was not Christ's ability but the narrowness of human faith, which restricts the flow of divine blessing.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB contends that Jesus' sharp rebuke "O faithless generation" was directed specifically at the nine apostles who failed to heal the demoniac boy, not at the scribes or the crowd. He sees this as evidence of the high standard Jesus set for His disciples, exposing their weak faith and the perversity they had not yet shed. The rebuke reflects the severity of their training.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights the stark contrast between the heavenly glory on the mountain and the demonic misery at its foot. He prizes the dialogue between Jesus and the father as a priceless school of faith, noting Mark's unique details: the command to never re-enter, the boy lying as dead, and Jesus raising him.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights Mark's distinctive details in this account, particularly the father's desperate cry and the Greek wordplay between "you can" and "all things can." He notes that Jesus takes the father's doubtful "if you can" and makes it the hinge of the miracle, linking the cure directly to the man's faith.