Mark 9:22

“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The father of the demon-possessed boy speaks to Jesus, answering His question about the duration of the condition by noting it began in childhood. The plea occurs during a direct confrontation where the father acknowledges Jesus' power while expressing desperate uncertainty.

The words — πολλάκις (pollakis) means “often,” and ἔβαλεν (ebalen) translates literally as “it casts,” describing the repeated violent actions of the spirit. The text states these physical assaults before noting the father’s conditional appeal for mercy.

The thread — The father’s conditional appeal mirrors the petition formulas in Matthew 8:2 and Matthew 15:22, where individuals approach Jesus with “if You are willing” or “have mercy” language. These passages track a consistent pattern of petitioners acknowledging divine authority while seeking direct intervention.

Why it lands — The verse demands a reader to confront the tension between human desperation and divine capability without assuming automatic outcomes. It requires acknowledging that faith operates within acknowledged limits rather than bypassing them.

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 ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Cross-references

Matthew 8:2 Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 15:22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”
Matthew 20:34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”
Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 9:28 After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.
Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”