Mark 9 · Verse 29

Mark 9:29

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Mark 9:29, King James Version

Mark 9:29 in other translations

BSBJesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”
WEBHe said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.”
ASVAnd he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.
YLTAnd he said to them, ‘This kind is able to come forth with nothing except with prayer and fasting.'
DARBYAnd he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.
BBEAnd he said to them, Nothing will make this sort come out but prayer.
WebsterAnd he said to them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

What does Mark 9:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting--that is, as nearly all good interpreters are agreed, "this kind of evil spirits cannot be expelled," or "so desperate a case of demoniacal possession cannot be cured, but by prayer and fasting." But since the Lord Himself says that His disciples could not fast while He was with them, perhaps this was designed, as Alford hints, for their after-guidance--unless we take it as but a definite way of expressing the general truth, that great and difficult duties require special preparation and self-denial. But the answer to their question, as given in Mt 17:20, 21 is fuller: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief. For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Mt 17:20). See on Mr 11:23. "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" (Mt 17:21), that is, though nothing is impossible to faith, yet such a height of faith as is requisite for such triumphs is not to be reached either in a moment or without effort--either with God in prayer or with ourselves in self-denying exercises. Luke (Lu 9:43) adds, "And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God"--"at the majesty" or "mightiness of God," in this last miracle, in the Transfiguration, &c.; or, at the divine grandeur of Christ rising upon them daily. Second Explicit Announcement of His Approaching Death and Resurrection (Mr 9:30-32).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 29.

(l) "by prayer" Eph 6:18 (m) "and fasting" 1Cor 9:27

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 Prayer and fasting - See on Mat 17:21 (note). This demon may be considered as an emblem of deeply rooted vices, and inveterate habits, over which the conquest is not generally obtained, but through extraordinary humiliations. This case is related by both Matthew and Luke, but it is greatly amplified in Mark's account, and many new circumstances related. Another proof that Mark did not abridge Matthew.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 9:14-29

The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look…

Read the full comment on Mark 9:14-29 →

Mark 9:29 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εἶπενeipenHe saidG2036
αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846
τοῦτοtoutoThisG3778
τὸto<the>G3588
γένοςgenoskindG1085
ἐνenbyG1722
οὐδενὶoudenino [thing]G3762
δύναταιdunataiis ableG1410
ἐξελθεῖνexeltheinto go outG1831
εἰeionlyG1487
μὴmēexceptG3361
ἐνenbyG1722
προσευχῇproseuchēaprayerG4335
καὶkaiandG2532
νηστείᾳ.¶nēsteiawith fastings.G3521

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 9:29

  • James 5:15

    And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

  • Daniel 9:3

    And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

  • Matthew 17:20

    And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

  • Ephesians 6:18

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

  • 2 Corinthians 12:8

    For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:27

    In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

  • 1 Kings 17:20-22

    And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

  • Luke 11:26

    Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:27

    But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

  • Acts 14:23

    And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

  • Matthew 12:45

    Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

  • Acts 9:40-41

    But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
This.
Mt 12:45; Lu 11:26
by prayer.
1Ki 17:20-22; 2Ki 4:33,34; Mt 17:21; Ac 9:40,41; 2Co 12:8; Eph 6:18
Jas 5:15
fasting.
Da 9:3; Ac 14:23; 1Co 9:27; 2Co 6:5; 11:27

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 9:28

    And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

  • Mark 9:29

    And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

  • Mark 9:30

    And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

Read all of Mark 9

Mark 9:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y les dijo: Este género con nada puede salir, sino con oración y ayuno.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il leur dit: Cette sorte ne peut sortir en aucune façon, si ce n’est par la prière et par le jeûne.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach zu ihnen: Diese Art kann durch nichts ausfahren, als nur durch Gebet und Fasten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et inde profecti prætergrediebantur Galilæam: nec volebat quemquam scire.