New King James Version
Matthew 17:15
15“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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)“Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
Context of Matthew 17:15
13Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist. 14And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “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. 16So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear 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 15:22And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
- Mark 5:22And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet
- Mark 9:22And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
- Luke 9:38Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.
- John 4:46So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
- Matthew 4:24Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
- Mark 9:17Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
- Matthew 8:31So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
- Job 1:10Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
- Job 2:7So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
- Mark 5:4because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries