Mark 9:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus asks the father how long the boy has suffered; the father answers, since childhood.
What Does Mark 9:21 Mean?
Jesus, unhurried even here, turns to the father with a question: how long has this been happening? The answer carries years of sorrow in three words: of a child. The boy's whole remembered life, and the father's, has been shaped by this affliction.
Jesus does not need information; He makes room for a man to tell his story. The question dignifies the long ordeal, letting the father put words to years of fear and watching before the healing comes. Christ attends to the history, not only the symptom. Telling Him how long, as the psalmists did (Psalm 13:1), is itself a form of prayer that He welcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 9:21
What does Mark 9:21 mean?
Jesus asks the father how long the boy has suffered; the father answers, since childhood.