Mark 9:21

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And {G2532} he asked {G1905} his {G846} father {G3962}, How long {G4214} is it {G2076} ago {G5550} since {G5613} this {G5124} came {G1096} unto him {G846}? And {G1161} he said {G2036}, Of a child {G3812}.

Yeshua asked the boy's father, "How long has this been happening to him?" "Ever since childhood," he said;

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been with him?” “From childhood,” he said.

And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child.

Mark 9:21 captures a pivotal moment in the dramatic account of Jesus healing a demon-possessed boy, revealing Jesus' compassionate and thorough approach to human suffering.

Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative in Mark's Gospel where a desperate father brings his son, afflicted by a demonic spirit, to Jesus. Earlier, Jesus' disciples had attempted to cast out the spirit but failed, leading to a scene of frustration and despair (see Mark 9:18). Upon Jesus' arrival, He immediately takes charge. Before performing the miracle, Jesus engages the father in a direct conversation, asking about the duration of the boy's affliction. This question underscores Jesus' personal interest and deep empathy, not merely in the act of healing, but in the lives of those suffering.

Key Themes

  • The Longevity of Suffering: The father's immediate and poignant answer, "Of a child," highlights that this torment had afflicted his son for most of his life. This detail emphasizes the profound and enduring burden carried by both the boy and his family, making Jesus' subsequent healing even more significant. It speaks to the long-term struggles and chronic conditions many individuals face.
  • Jesus' Compassionate Inquiry: Instead of immediately casting out the demon, Jesus pauses to inquire about the history of the affliction. This demonstrates His deep compassion and desire to fully grasp the extent of the suffering. It shows that Jesus cares about the personal stories and the depth of our pain, not just the outward symptoms of our problems.
  • The Father's Persistent Hope: Despite years of torment and the disciples' recent failure, the father still brought his son to Jesus, demonstrating a persistent, even if struggling, faith. His willingness to recount the painful history underscores his desperate hope in Christ's unique power.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Of a child" (KJV) translates from the Greek ek paidiou (ἐκ παιδίου), meaning "from childhood" or "from infancy." This simple phrase powerfully conveys the long-standing nature of the boy's affliction, indicating that the demonic possession began when he was very young. This detail further amplifies the severity of his condition and the persistent suffering endured by the family throughout the boy's life.

Practical Application

Mark 9:21 offers a powerful reminder that Jesus is not indifferent to our long-standing struggles, chronic pain, or deeply rooted issues, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. He takes the time to understand our history and the depth of our suffering. When we bring our burdens to Him, even those that have weighed us down for many years, Jesus listens with profound compassion. This verse encourages us to be honest about the duration and severity of our challenges, trusting in His ultimate power to bring healing and deliverance, as He did for this boy. It sets the stage for Jesus' powerful declaration on faith and possibility in the verses that follow (see Mark 9:23).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 9:33

    And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

  • Job 5:7

    Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

  • Mark 5:25

    And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

  • John 9:1

    ¶ And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.

  • Acts 3:2

    And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

  • Job 14:1

    ¶ Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.

  • John 9:20

    His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

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