Mark 9:18

18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

Mark 9:18 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 9:18

And wheresoever he taketh him
The spirit, or devil, whether it be near fire, or water, whatsoever danger, or dangerous place:

he teareth him;
or throws him into it, or dashes him against it; or inwardly racks, tortures, and convulses him:

and he foameth;
at the mouth, like one that is mad:

and gnasheth with his teeth;
through the excessive pain he is in:

and pineth away;
his flesh is withered, dried up, and consumed away. This was the sad deplorable case this child was in, who was his father's only child, and therefore his health and life were very desirable: now he further observes to Christ, saying,

and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and
they could not.
Christ being absent, he entreated the disciples, who had power against unclean spirits, to cast them out; that they would make use of it, and dispossess this dumb and evil spirit; and who did make trial to cast him out, but were not able to effect it; (See Gill on Matthew 17:16).

Mark 9:18 In-Context

16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.

17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk.

18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or becomes weak.