Matthew 17 · Verse 16

Matthew 17:16

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Matthew 17:16, King James Version

Matthew 17:16 in other translations

BSBI brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
WEBSo I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
ASVAnd I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
YLTand I brought him near to thy disciples, and they were not able to heal him.'
DARBYAnd I brought him to thy disciples, and they were not able to heal him.
BBEAnd I took him to your disciples, and they were not able to make him well.
WebsterAnd I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

What does Matthew 17:16 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. And I brought him to thy disciples, etc. That is, not to the apostles, for they had power over unclean spirits, Mt 10:8 but to others of his followers, who attempted to work miracles. It is probable that many of his disciples attempted this, who were not personal attendants on his ministry, Mk 9:38.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Thy disciples could not cure him - No wonder, when the cure must be effected by supernatural agency, and they had not faith enough to interest the power of God in their behalf, Mat 17:20. A spiritual disorder must have a spiritual remedy: natural means, in such cases, signify just - nothing.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 17:14-21

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…

Read the full comment on Matthew 17:14-21 →

Matthew 17:16 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
προσήνεγκαprosēnegkaI broughtG4374
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
μαθηταῖςmathētaisdisciplesG3101
σου,souof You,G4771
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐκouknotG3756
ἠδυνήθησανēdunēthēsanthey were ableG1410
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
θεραπεῦσαι.¶therapeusaito heal.G2323

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

Cross references for Matthew 17:16

  • Matthew 17:19-20

    Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 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.

  • Acts 19:15-16

    And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

  • Luke 9:40

    And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

  • 2 Kings 4:29-31

    Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

  • Acts 3:16

    And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and they.
19,20; 2Ki 4:29-31; Lu 9:40; Ac 3:16; 19:15,16

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

Context

  • Matthew 17:15

    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.

  • Matthew 17:16

    And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

  • Matthew 17:17

    Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

Read all of Matthew 17

Matthew 17:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y le he presentado á tus discípulos, y no le han podido sanar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et je l’ai apporté à tes disciples, et ils n’ont pu le guérir.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich brachte ihn zu deinen Jüngern, und sie konnten ihn nicht heilen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondens autem Jesus, ait: O generatio incredula, et perversa, quousque ero vobiscum? usquequo patiar vos? Afferte huc illum ad me.