Mark 9:27 · Bible study
Mark 9:27 Commentary: Jesus Takes the Boy's Hand, Raises Him Up
Greek · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Jesus physically take the boy's hand in Mark 9:27?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus personally takes the boy’s hand and raises him from a deathlike state, demonstrating compassion and authority over death.
- Key words: κρατήσας (having taken), ἤγειρεν (raised up), ἀνέστη (he arose).
- Main debate: Minor textual variants in some ancient versions (omission of “he arose”), but the action is consistently preserved.
- Theological theme: Christ’s power over death and his personal, tactile ministry of restoration.
- Best use: In teaching on prayer, faith amid struggle, and the resurrection power of Jesus.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him up; and he arose.
KJV King James Version 1769
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
but Jesus, having taken him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But Jesus, having taken hold of him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And when he was come into the house, his disciples secretly asked him: Why could not we cast him out?
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas Jesús tomándole|strong="G2902, G0846" de la mano, enderezóle; y se levantó.
Então Jesus o tomou pela mão, e o ergueu; e ele se levantou.
Mais Jésus, l’ ayant pris par la main, le fit lever. Et il se tint debout.
Jesus aber ergriff ihn bei der Hand und richtete ihn auf; und er stand auf.
En Jezus, hem bij de hand grijpende, richtte hem op; en hij stond op.
Ma Gesù lo sollevò, ed egli si rizzò in piè.
Ale Jezus ująwszy go za rękę, podniósł go; i wstał.
Но Иисус, взяв его за руку, поднял его; и он встал.
但 耶穌 拉著 他的 手，扶他 起來，他就 站起來了。
But Jesus took him by the hand, lifting him up; and he got up.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 9:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Across the supplied commentaries, there is agreement that this verse records a moment of direct, personal restoration. Jesus does not rely on words alone; he reaches out and grasps the boy's hand. The Greek aorist participle κρατήσας points to a specific, deliberate act of taking hold. Gill notes that the gesture 'shows he was perfectly well.' Lange emphasizes Mark's vivid detail, the hand-clasp is among those 'individual traits' that bring the scene to life. The verbs ἤγειρεν (Jesus raised him) and ἀνέστη (he arose) echo resurrection language throughout the New Testament. Matthew Henry reads this as a display of Christ's gentleness: the one who had just rebuked the spirit now touches the child. There is no disagreement among the cited sources on the meaning: Jesus acts with compassion and authority over the state of death.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus physically took the boy by the hand and raised him from a deathlike state, showing his authority over evil and death, and his compassion for the helpless.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The boy's condition | He was demon-possessed and left deathlike after the exorcism (v26). | Some interpreters hold that the boy was actually dead, while others say he was simply unconscious; the text says 'like one dead'. |
| The significance of the hand-clasp | All commentators see it as a gesture of compassion and personal restoration. | There is no substantive debate on the meaning of the hand-clasp; it is universally seen as expressing Jesus’ authority and care. |
| The disciples’ failure | The disciples could not cast out the spirit (v28). | Debate exists over the interpretation of v29: is 'prayer and fasting' a universal requirement for certain exorcisms, or specific to this occasion? That verse is distinct but closely related. |
| Textual variants | Most manuscripts include 'he arose'. | Some ancient versions (Syriac, Arabic) omit the last clause; the Persic version reads 'the child was healed'. The majority text supports inclusion. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The boy had just been freed from a spirit that left him 'like one dead' (v26). The crowd thought he was dead. Into this moment of apparent failure and despair, Jesus reaches down. His taking the hand (κρατήσας τῆς χειρός) is more than a helping gesture; it is a claim of authority over death itself. In Jewish law, touching a dead person brought ritual uncleanness (Numbers 19:11). But Jesus touches without hesitation, demonstrating that his holiness overrules uncleanness, life overcomes death.
The hand-clasp also has deep roots in Israel's tradition. The prophet Isaiah declares that God himself will hold his people's hand:
"For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’"
— Isaiah 41:13 (WEB)
Jesus embodies this divine promise. Throughout Mark's gospel, the hand of Jesus is a recurring instrument of restoration. He takes the hand of Simon's mother-in-law (1:31), of Jairus's daughter (5:41), and of the blind man (8:23). Each time, the touch is personal and transformative. The scene here follows the disciples' failure. They could not drive out the spirit (v28-29). Jesus does what they could not, with a touch. This contrast highlights the unique authority of Christ. The moment also anticipates Jesus' own resurrection: in the very next passage (v31), he speaks of being killed and rising again. The same Greek verb for 'raised up' (ἤγειρεν) will describe the resurrection. This boy's raising is a preview of Easter.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note that in some Syriac and Arabic manuscripts, the phrase 'and he arose' is omitted, and the Persic version substitutes 'and the child was healed' (Gill). These variants do not alter the meaning. The majority of Greek manuscripts and all modern critical editions include the clause. No significant textual issue exists for this verse.
Reception History
This verse has been taken throughout Christian tradition as a touching picture of human helplessness met by divine help. The hand of Jesus became a symbol of rescue in hymns and devotional works. Patristic writers often linked this raising with the resurrection of Christ, seeing in the boy’s restoration a foreshadowing of the general resurrection. In art, scenes of Christ taking the hand of the fallen boy appear in countless illustrations of the Gospel of Mark, emphasizing tenderness alongside power. The verse is frequently used in pastoral care to encourage those who feel spiritually lifeless.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Failure of Human Effort: The disciples could not cast out the demon; all human strength falls short against the power of evil and death.
- The Touch of Divine Compassion: Jesus does not rebuke or lecture. He reaches out and takes the boy by the hand, a gesture of personal care and authority.
- The Power of Resurrection Life: The boy arises. Jesus raises him from a deathlike state, foreshadowing his own rising and the hope of all who believe.
Five-point outline
- Desperate Need: The boy is tormented, speechless, and left for dead.
- Disciples’ Defeat: The nine are powerless, humiliated by the scribes.
- The Father’s Plea: 'I believe. Help my unbelief!', the honest prayer of a struggling faith.
- The Master’s Touch: Jesus takes the boy's hand, connecting with his need and his person.
- Complete Restoration: He stands up, fully healed, a picture of the resurrection life Jesus gives.
Illustration hooks
- A parent who finds their child scared at the doctor's office and reaches out to hold their hand, the touch communicates safety more than words.
- A coach who helps a fallen athlete to their feet after a defeat, showing that the team has not abandoned them.
- A neighbor who, instead of offering advice, simply puts a hand on your shoulder during grief.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why doesn't God always answer my prayers as quickly as Jesus healed this boy?
- How can I pray honestly like the father when my faith feels weak?
- Does Jesus still 'reach out' to us today, and if so, how?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the climax of a story about faith, failure, and the compassion of Christ. The father's cry 'help my unbelief' is the key that unlocks the disciples' impotence and the boy's healing. Jesus' final action, taking the boy's hand, is a picture of grace: he does not lecture the father or the disciples; he simply restores.
Discussion questions
- What happened to the boy just before verse 27? Describe the scene from verses 17-26.
- What specific words describe Jesus' action in verse 27? Why do you think Mark includes this detail?
- How does the father’s prayer in verse 24 connect to the miracle? What does it teach about faith?
- What does the word 'raised up' (ἤγειρεν) remind you of in other parts of the New Testament?
- Why do you think the disciples failed? How does verse 29 explain this?
- When have you felt like the father, believing yet struggling with unbelief? How did you respond?
- How does this passage encourage your prayer life or your trust in Jesus’ power today?
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)
| Isaiah 41:13 | For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’ |
| Mark 1:31 | He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them. |
| Mark 1:41 | Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.” |
| Mark 5:41 | Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” |
| Mark 8:23 | He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. |
| Acts 3:7 | He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. |
| Acts 9:41 | He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. |
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
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
But Iesus tooke his hande, and lift him vp, and he arose.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes the physical, personal nature of Jesus' healing: he took the child's hand and lifted him up. The commentator notes that regardless of how different manuscripts render the final outcome, every phrase confirms the boy was completely and perfectly restored to health.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Mark alone preserves the father's honest plea, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief," presenting it as the central lesson in faith. He notes that Mark stresses the complete expulsion of the demon with the command to never return, and that Jesus treats the father's ability to believe as the only condition for help.