Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 9:18

ῥήσσει αὐτόν. Convulses him; Lk. σπαράσσει. But ῥήσσει may mean dashes him down (R.V.); cf. Wis 4:19, ῥήξει αὐτοὺς�.

ἀφρίζει καὶ τρίζει. Neither verb is found elsewhere in N.T. Each Evangelist describes the symptoms differently, and Hobart (pp. 17–20) regards three expressions used by Lk. as medical. The father is anxious that Christ should know how grievous his son’s case is. Cf. Soph. Electr. 709.

ξηραίνεται. Withereth away; or perhaps “becomes like a dry stick, bloodless and motionless.” Trench, Miracles, p. 372.

οὐκ ἴσχυσαν. They were powerless. We must distinguish the οὐκ ἴσχυσαν of Mk and Mt. from Lk.’s οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν, and εἰ δύνῃ (Mark 9:22-23), and οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν (Mark 9:28); but here “had not strength” (Luke 16:3) would not be suitable.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 9:18

Old Testament

New Testament