37On the following day, when they came down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. [9:38] And a man from the crowd called out, saying: "Teacher, I implore you to look at my son, for he is my only child. [9:39] A spirit seizes him and he suddenly cries out, and it throws him into convulsions with foaming, and only with difficulty does it depart from him, leaving him shattered. [9:40] I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they were unable." [9:41] Jesus answered and said: "Faithless and twisted generation — how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." [9:42] While he was still approaching, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
LUK 9:37-42
The Boy with an Evil Spirit
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Mediterranean world, physical and mental afflictions were often attributed to spiritual forces, particularly in Jewish contexts where demons were seen as agents of chaos and suffering. The father’s plea for his (only, unique) son reflects the high cultural value placed on offspring, especially an only child, who carried the family’s lineage and honor. The violent convulsions described would have been interpreted as a clear sign of demonic oppression, a condition that disrupted not only the boy’s life but also the social and religious order of the household. The failure of the disciples to cast out the spirit underscores the perceived power of such evil forces and the limitations of human authority. Jesus’ rebuke of the generation as (unbelieving, faithless) and (perverted, twisted) critiques a broader spiritual and moral failure, aligning with Jewish prophetic traditions that condemned Israel’s lack of trust in God and moral corruption.
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How other translations render this
LUK 9:37
- KJV
- And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
- BSB
- The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd.
- Koinōnos
- On the following day, when they came down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.
LUK 9:38
- KJV
- And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
- BSB
- Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only child.
- Koinōnos
- And a man from the crowd called out, saying: "Teacher, I implore you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
LUK 9:39
- KJV
- And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
- BSB
- A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him.
- Koinōnos
- A spirit seizes him and he suddenly cries out, and it throws him into convulsions with foaming, and only with difficulty does it depart from him, leaving him shattered.
LUK 9:40
- KJV
- And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
- BSB
- I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”
- Koinōnos
- I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they were unable.
LUK 9:41
- KJV
- And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
- BSB
- “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
- Koinōnos
- Jesus answered and said: "Faithless and twisted generation — how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.
LUK 9:42
- KJV
- And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- While he was still approaching, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 9:38
- an only child:The word translated 'an only child' emphasizes the unique and singular nature of the child, highlighting that this was the parents' sole offspring, making their distress particularly acute.
LUK 9:39
- it throws into convulsions:The term translated 'it throws into convulsions' describes a violent, tearing, and spasmodic action, suggesting a severe and forceful physical manifestation of the affliction.
LUK 9:41
- unbelieving:The word translated 'unbelieving' implies a lack of trust or faithfulness, not just a failure to believe a fact, but a deeper spiritual unreliability or disloyalty.
- perverted,:The word translated 'perverted' literally means to twist or distort, suggesting a moral or spiritual deviation from what is right or straight, like something that has been bent out of its proper shape.