Mark 9:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The father describes the violent seizures that throw his son down, and reports that Jesus' disciples could not cast the spirit out.
What Does Mark 9:18 Mean?
The father describes the horror: wherever the spirit seizes the boy, it dashes him down; he foams, grinds his teeth, and wastes away. No place is safe and no hour predictable. Then comes the second wound: I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not.
These disciples had cast out many demons before (Mark 6:13), yet past victories guarantee nothing apart from present dependence on God, as Jesus will explain (v. 29). The verse is honest about failure among Christ's representatives; those who bear His name sometimes cannot deliver what He can. Let the failure of helpers drive us, like this father, not away from Jesus but closer to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 9:18
What does Mark 9:18 mean?
The father describes the violent seizures that throw his son down, and reports that Jesus' disciples could not cast the spirit out.