God’s Word Translation
Matthew 17:15
15and said, “Sir, have mercy on my son. He suffers from seizures. Often he falls into fire or water.
Matthew 17:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
- New International Version (NIV)“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
- English Standard Version (ESV)said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
Context of Matthew 17:15
13Then the disciples understood that he was talking about John the Baptizer. 14When they came to a crowd, a man came up to Jesus, knelt in front of him, and said, “Sir, have mercy on my son. He suffers from seizures. Often he falls into fire or water. 16I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.” 17Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!”
Read all of Matthew 17Matthew 17:15 word by word
καὶ λέγων· κύριε, ἐλέησόν μου τὸν υἱόν, ὅτι σεληνιάζεται καὶ κακῶς πάσχει· πολλάκις γὰρ πίπτει εἰς τὸ πῦρ καὶ πολλάκις εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- have mercyἐλεέωeleeō · to have mercyG1653
- onὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- onυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- he is lunatickσεληνιάζομαιselēniazomai · be epilepticG4583
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- soreκακῶςkakōs · badlyG2560
- vexedπάσχωpaschō pathō penthō · to sufferG3958
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- ofttimesπολλάκιςpollakis · oftenG4178
- he fallethπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
- the waterὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
Cross-references for Matthew 17:15
- Matthew 15:22A Canaanite woman from that territory came ⌞to him⌟ and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
- Mark 5:22A synagogue leader named Jairus also arrived. When he saw Jesus, he quickly bowed down in front of him.
- Mark 9:22The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it’s possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!”
- Luke 9:38A man in the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son. He’s my only child.
- John 4:46Jesus returned to the city of Cana in Galilee, where he had changed water into wine. A government official was in Cana. His son was sick in Capernaum.
- Matthew 4:24The news about Jesus spread throughout Syria. People brought him everyone who was sick, those who suffered from any kind of disease or pain. They also brought epileptics, those who were paralyzed, and people possessed by demons, and he cured them all.
- Mark 9:17A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won’t let him talk.
- Matthew 8:31The demons begged Jesus, “If you’re going to force us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
- Job 1:10Haven’t you put a protective fence around him, his home, and everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His cattle have spread out over the land.
- Job 2:7Satan left the Lord’s presence and struck Job with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
- Mark 5:4He had often been chained hand and foot. However, he snapped the chains off his hands and broke the chains from his feet. No one could control him.
Commentaries on Matthew 17:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15My son - is lunatic - . One who was most affected with this disorder at the change and full of the moon. See on Matthew 4:24; (note). But this lunacy was occasioned by a demon, see Matthew 17:18, and Mark 9:17; Luke 9:38. In this case, the devil intended to hide himself under the appearance of a natural disorder, that no supernatural means might be resorted to for his expulsion. See a remarkable account on Luke 9:39; (note). Falleth ofttimes into the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Lord, have mercy - The word “Lord” here means “Sir,” a title of civility, not implying divinity. My son - This was an only son (Luke). He was possessed with a devil. This calamity was attended with the following symptoms: he was lunatic (see the notes at Matthew 4:24); he was sore vexed; that is, he suffered greatly, or was greatly afflicted; he fell often suddenly, in the manner of persons having epileptic fits; he was dumb - that is, he was mute except…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 The case of afflicted children should be presented to God by faithful and fervent prayer. Christ cured the child. Though the people were perverse, and Christ was provoked, yet care was taken of the child. When all other helps and succours fail, we are welcome to Christ, may trust in him, and in his power and goodness. See here an emblem of Christ's undertaking as our Redeemer. It encourages parents to bring children to Christ, whose souls are…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 17:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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