Bible Strands
Mark 9:24
Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The boy's father speaks to Jesus, immediately after Jesus declared that all things are possible to the one who believes (Mark 9:23). He cries out in the urgency of watching his child, not in calm reflection.
The words — εὐθὺς (euthus), "immediately," and κράξας (kraxas), "having cried out," frame the confession with urgency and volume — this is not a quiet prayer but a public, desperate cry.
The thread — The apostles' request in Luke 17:5 ("Increase our faith!") and the Ephesians 2:8 confession that faith is God's gift both echo the father's plea: he is not merely confessing but asking Jesus to supply what he lacks.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop performing certainty and instead name the specific gap between what they believe and what they need to believe, then bring that gap to Jesus rather than hide it.
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 straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Cross-references
- Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11 To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
- Psalms 126:5 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
- Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
- 2 Corinthians 2:4 For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.
- Acts 10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
- Psalms 39:12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.