And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

MATTHEW 17:18KJV
Know the Bible

Matthew 17:18 (KJV)

What does Matthew 17:18 mean?

Matthew 17:18 describes Jesus directly confronting and commanding a demon to leave a child, resulting in the immediate healing of the child. The verse shows that Jesus had authority over evil spirits and that his word brought instant relief and restoration.

In this scene, Jesus is responding to a situation where his disciples could not heal a boy suffering from a severe condition caused by a demon. Speaking to the crowd and the boy’s father, Jesus rebukes the evil spirit, and the child is healed at that very moment. This event highlights Jesus’ unique power and the effectiveness of his command in situations where others had failed.

The Greek behind Matthew 17:18

  • "ἐπετίμησεν" (epetimēsen, "rebuked"): This Greek word often means to strongly command or warn. Here, it emphasizes that Jesus did not just ask but authoritatively ordered the demon to leave.
  • "διάβολος" (diabolos, "devil"): The word used here refers to a personal evil spirit or demon, showing that the problem was not just physical but spiritual.
  • "ἐθεραπεύθη" (etherapeuthē, "cured"): This word is often used for healing, but it can also mean being restored or made whole, underlining that the child was completely set free and healed, not just improved.

Why Matthew 17:18 matters

  • Matthew 17:18 clarifies that the child’s suffering had a spiritual cause, not just a medical one, and that Jesus’ authority extended over such forces.
  • The verse highlights the difference between Jesus’ power and the disciples’ earlier inability, setting up a lesson about faith and reliance on God.
  • This moment connects to the wider theme in Matthew of Jesus’ authority over sickness, nature, and spiritual forces, reinforcing his unique role and identity.

Where else these words appear

“child” Greek G3816 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
  • Luke 1:54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
  • Luke 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

“rebuked” Greek G2008 · used in 29 verses

  • Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
  • Mark 8:32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
  • Luke 9:21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

“cured” Greek G2323 · used in 43 verses

  • Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
  • Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
  • Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

“devil” Greek G1140 · used in 52 verses

  • Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
  • Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
  • Luke 11:15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.