Mark 9:18 (KJV)

What does Mark 9:18 mean?

Mark 9:18 describes a boy suffering from violent seizures, with symptoms like foaming at the mouth, grinding his teeth, and becoming physically weak. The boy’s father tells Jesus that he asked the disciples to drive out the spirit causing this, but they were unable to do so.

In this scene, the father is speaking directly to Jesus, explaining his son’s desperate condition and the failure of the disciples to help. The verse highlights the severity of the boy’s affliction and sets up the contrast between the disciples’ inability and Jesus’s authority, which becomes important in the following verses.

The Greek behind Mark 9:18

• The word “teareth” comes from ῥήσσει (rhēssei), which often means to break or shatter. Here, it paints a vivid picture of the spirit violently convulsing the boy, not just mild shaking.
• “Pineth away” is from ξηραίνω (xērainō), which means to wither or waste away. This suggests the boy’s strength and vitality are being drained over time, not just during the fits.
• “Could not” is from οὐκ ἴσχυσαν (ouk ischysan), meaning the disciples were not strong enough or did not have the power. This emphasizes a real limitation, not just a failed attempt.

Why Mark 9:18 matters

• Mark 9:18 clarifies that the boy’s suffering was both severe and ongoing, not just a single episode, which helps readers understand the father’s desperation.
• The verse highlights the disciples’ inability, setting up a lesson about faith and dependence on God that unfolds in the following conversation with Jesus.
• By describing the symptoms in detail, Mark shows the reality and seriousness of the situation, making Jesus’s later healing even more striking.