Bible Strands
Luke 9:42
Even while the boy was approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to a desperate father and the surrounding crowd immediately after condemning the unbelieving generation for their lack of faith. The healing occurs at the exact moment the demon-possessed boy is brought near.
The words — The Greek ἔρρηξεν (errēxen) translates literally as "threw down," capturing the demon's violent action against the approaching boy. The term δαιμόνιον (daimonion) identifies the hostile spiritual entity responsible for the convulsion.
The thread — This event runs parallel to Mark 9:20 and Mark 9:26, where a spirit violently throws a boy into convulsions before Jesus commands it to leave. The narrative also echoes the prophetic pattern of delegated authority seen in 2 Kings 4:36.
Why it lands — The text records Jesus rebuking the unclean spirit, healing the boy, and returning him to his father without delay. It requires the reader to acknowledge his immediate authority over spiritual hostility and his power to restore what the enemy destroys.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 4:36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”
- Mark 9:20 So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
- Mark 9:26 After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.”
- Luke 7:15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
- Luke 9:39 A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him.
- Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
- 1 Kings 17:23 Then Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive,” Elijah declared.
- Mark 1:26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
- Acts 9:41 Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.