Bible Strands
Matthew 17:18
Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus acts immediately after addressing the unbelieving generation and ordering the boy to be brought to Him, directly confronting the demon afflicting the child. This occurs in the moment following His public reprimand and preceding the disciples' private inquiry about their own failure.
The words — The Greek ἐπετὴμησεν (epetimēsen) literally means "rebuked" or "commanded with authority," denoting a decisive verbal exercise of power. The verb ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen) translates as "went out," describing the demon's immediate departure from the boy.
The thread — The text records Jesus' spoken command producing instantaneous deliverance, a pattern that runs alongside His healing of the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9:22), His general ministry of casting out demons (Mark 1:34), and the restoration of the mute demon-possessed man (Matthew 12:22). These accounts consistently link divine command to immediate physical and spiritual restoration.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that deliverance and healing depend solely on Jesus' authoritative word rather than human technique or merit. It demands acceptance that immediate restoration follows divine intervention, not human effort.
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 Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Cross-references
- Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that very hour.
- Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
- Matthew 12:22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see.
- Matthew 15:28 “O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
- Mark 5:8 For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”
- Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”
- Luke 4:35 But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.
- Luke 8:29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.
- 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.
- John 4:52 So he inquired as to the hour when his son had recovered, and they told him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”