Mark 9:20

20 And they brought him to him. And [when he] saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth.

Mark 9:20 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 9:20

And they brought him unto him
The father of the child, and those that were with him, brought the child to Jesus, into his presence, before him:

and when he saw him,
that is, either when Jesus saw the child, or the child saw Jesus; or the evil spirit in him, and by him which were all at once:

straightway the spirit tare him;
threw him into a violent fit, shook him, and convulsed him in a dreadful manner; knowing his time was short, and being filled with indignation and rage, that he should be obliged, as he knew he must, to leave the child very speedily; and was therefore resolved to do all the mischief, and put him to all the pain he could:

and he fell on the ground;
at the feet of Jesus, not being able to stand, through the violent motions and convulsions he threw him into:

and wallowed, foaming;
rolled about from side to side, foaming at the mouth, and in the most exquisite rack and torture.

Mark 9:20 In-Context

18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes paralyzed. And I told your disciples that they should expel it, and they were not able [to do so].

19 And he answered them [and] said, "O unbelieving generation! {How long} will I be with you? {How long} must I put up with you? Bring him to me!"

20 And they brought him to him. And [when he] saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth.

21 And he asked his father how long it was since this had been happening to him. And he said, "From childhood.

22 And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able [to do] anything, have compassion on us [and] help us!"

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal