Matthew 17 · Verse 19

Matthew 17:19

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Matthew 17:19, King James Version

Matthew 17:19 in other translations

BSBAfterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
WEBThen the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
ASVThen came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out?
YLTThen the disciples having come to Jesus by himself, said, ‘Wherefore were we not able to cast him out?'
DARBYThen the disciples, coming to Jesus apart, said to him, Why were not we able to cast him out?
BBEThen the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, Why were we not able to send it out?
WebsterThen came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

What does Matthew 17:19 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Then came the disciples, etc. This inquiry was made in some house to which they retired near the place where the miracle was performed, (Mark) Jesus told them, in reply, that it was because of their unbelief that they had not been able to cast him out. They were appalled by the difficulty of the case, and the obstinacy of the disease. Their faith would not have made it more easy for God to work this miracle, but such was his will; such the way in which he worked miracles, that he required faith in those who were the instruments.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Why could not we cast him out? - They were confounded at their want of success - but not at their want of faith, which was the cause of their miscarriage! When the ministers of the Gospel find their endeavors, with respect to some places or persons, ineffectual, they should come, by private prayer, to Christ, humble themselves before him, and beg to be informed whether some evil in themselves have not been the cause of the unfruitfulness of their labors.

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 17:19 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.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
προσελθόντεςproselthonteshaving comeG4334
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
τῷtō<the>G3588
ἸησοῦIēsouto JesusG2424
κατ᾽kat᾽inG2596
ἰδίανidianprivateG2398
εἶπον·eiponthey said;G2036
διὰdiaBecause ofG1223
τίtiwhyG5101
ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165
οὐκouknotG3756
ἠδυνήθημενēdunēthēmenwere ableG1410
ἐκβαλεῖνekbaleinto cast outG1544
αὐτό;¶autoit?G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 17:19

  • Mark 9:28

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

  • Mark 4:10

    And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mr 4:10; 9:28

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

Context

  • Matthew 17:18

    And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

  • Matthew 17:19

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

  • 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.

Read all of Matthew 17

Matthew 17:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces, llegándose los discípulos á Jesús, aparte, dijeron: ¿Por qué nosotros no lo pudimos echar fuera?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors les disciples, venant à Jésus à l’écart, dirent: Pourquoi n’avons-nous pu le chasser?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da traten die Jünger zu Jesu besonders und sprachen: Warum haben wir ihn nicht austreiben können?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit illis Jesus: Propter incredulitatem vestram. Amen quippe dico vobis, si habueritis fidem sicut granum sinapis, dicetis monti huic: Transi hinc illuc, et transibit, et nihil impossibile erit vobis.