Mark 9:23

Contemporary English Version

Jesus replied, "Why do you say ‘if you can'? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’?

King James Version (1611)
Iesus said vnto him, If thou canst beleeue, all things are possible to him that beleeueth.

King James Version
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

English Standard Version
And Jesus said to him, "‘If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."

New American Standard Bible
But Jesus said to him, "'If You can'? All things are possible for the one who believes."

New Century Version
Jesus said to the father, "You said, ‘If you can!' All things are possible for the one who believes."

Amplified Bible
Jesus said to him, "[You say to Me,] 'If You can?' All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesus said to him, "‘If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."

Berean Standard Bible
"If You can?" echoed Jesus. "All things are possible to him who believes!"

Complete Jewish Bible
Yeshua said to him, "What do you mean, ‘if you can'? Everything is possible to someone who has trust!"

Darby Translation
And Jesus said to him, The 'if thou couldst' is [if thou couldst] believe: all things are possible to him that believes.

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus said to the father, "Why did you say ‘if you can'? All things are possible for the one who believes."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Iesus said vnto him, If thou canst beleeue it, al things are possible to him yt beleeueth.

George Lamsa Translation
Jesus said to him, If you can believe, everything is possible to him who believes.

Good News Translation
"Yes," said Jesus, "if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith."

Lexham English Bible
But Jesus said to him, "If you are able! All things are possible for the one who believes!"

Literal Translation
And Jesus said to him, If you are able to believe, all things are possible to the ones believing.

American Standard Version
And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.

Bible in Basic English
And Jesus said to him, If you are able! All things are possible to him who has faith.

Hebrew Names Version
Yeshua said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

International Standard Version
Jesus said to him, "'If you are able?' Everything is possible for the person who believes!"Matthew 17:20; Mark 11:23; Luke 17:6; John 11:40;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Jeshu saith to him, If thou canst believe, every thing can be to him who believeth.

Murdock Translation
Jesus said to him: If thou canst believe; every thing can be, to him that believeth.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Iesus sayde vnto hym: this thyng yf thou cans beleue, all thynges are possible to hym that beleueth.

English Revised Version
And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.

World English Bible
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe? All things are possible to him who believes."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Jesus saith to him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Weymouth's New Testament
"`If I possibly can!'" replied Jesus; "why, everything is possible to him who believes."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Jhesus seide to hym, If thou maiste bileue, alle thingis ben possible to man that bileueth.

Update Bible Version
And Jesus said to him, If you can! All things are possible to him that believes.

Webster's Bible Translation
Jesus said to him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.

New English Translation
Then Jesus said to him, "‘If you are able?' All things are possible for the one who believes."

New King James Version
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, [fn] all things are possible to him who believes."

New Living Translation
"What do you mean, ‘If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes."

New Life Bible
Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask Me that? The one who has faith can do all things."

New Revised Standard
Jesus said to him, "If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, Jesus, said unto him - As for this, If it be possible to thee, all things, are possible, to him who hath faith.

Douay-Rheims Bible
(9-22) And Jesus saith to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Revised Standard Version
And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And Iesus sayde vnto him: ye yf thou couldest beleve all thinges are possible to him yt belevith.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus said to him, `If thou art able to believe! all things are possible to the one that is believing;'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Iesus sayde vnto him: Yf thou couldest beleue: All thinges are possible vnto him that beleueth.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Jesus said to him, provided you can believe, there is nothing but what may be effected for those that believe.

THE MESSAGE
Jesus said, "If? There are no ‘ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."

Simplified Cowboy Version
"What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus raised an eyebrow and asked. "Ain't nothin' impossible for a man who believes."

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ When Jesus and his three disciples came back down, they saw a large crowd around the other disciples. The teachers of the Law of Moses were arguing with them. ¹⁵ The crowd was really surprised to see Jesus, and everyone hurried over to greet him. ¹⁶ Jesus asked, "What are you arguing about?" ¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. A demon keeps him from talking. ¹⁸ Whenever the demon attacks my son, it throws him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grit his teeth in pain. Then he becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to force out the demon, but they couldn't do it." ¹⁹ Jesus said, "You people don't have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me." ²⁰ They brought the boy, and as soon as the demon saw Jesus, it made the boy shake all over. He fell down and began rolling on the ground and foaming at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" The man answered, "Ever since he was a child. ²² The demon has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. Please have pity and help us if you can!" ²³ Jesus replied, "Why do you say ‘if you can'? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

If: Mark 11:23, 2 Chronicles 20:20, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, Matthew 21:22, Luke 17:6, John 4:48-50, John 11:40, Acts 14:9, Hebrews 11:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 11:13 - General Daniel 6:23 - because Matthew 8:13 - and as Matthew 9:28 - Believe Matthew 14:29 - he walked Matthew 15:28 - be it Mark 1:40 - if thou Mark 5:36 - only Mark 6:5 - General Mark 11:22 - Have Luke 7:10 - General Luke 8:50 - believe John 4:50 - Go John 11:22 - that John 11:26 - Believest Romans 4:19 - being

Cross-References

Exodus 20:12
Respect your father and your mother, and you will live a long time in the land I am giving you.

Leviticus 19:32
I command you to show respect for older people and to obey me with fear and trembling.

Romans 13:7
Pay all that you owe, whether it is taxes and fees or respect and honor.

Galatians 6:1
My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself.

1 Timothy 5:1
Don't correct an older man. Encourage him, as you would your own father. Treat younger men as you would your own brother,

1 Timothy 5:17
Church leaders who do their job well deserve to be paid twice as much, especially if they work hard at preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:19
Don't listen to any charge against a church leader, unless at least two or three people bring the same charges.

1 Peter 2:17
Respect everyone and show special love for God's people. Honor God and respect the Emperor.

1 Peter 4:8
Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe,.... As the man put an "if" on the power of Christ, Christ puts an "if" on the faith of the man; and tacitly suggests, that power was not wanting in himself, but faith in him; and should that cure not be performed, it would not be owing to any inability in him, but to his own incredulity. The Arabic version renders it, "what is this thy: saying, if thou canst do any thing?" What dost thou mean by it? Thou oughtest not to doubt of my power; there is no reason for it, after so many miracles wrought; upbraiding the man with his unbelief; and the Ethiopic version renders it thus, "because thou sayest, if thou canst": wherefore to show that power was not wanting in him, provided he had but faith, it follows,

all things are possible to him that believeth; that is, "to be done" to him, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions supply: for all things are not possible to be done by the believer himself, but all things are possible to be done for him, by God, or Christ, or the Spirit of God: thus our Lord, as he elsewhere does, ascribes that to faith, which is done by a divine power.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 17:14-21.

Mark 9:14

Questioning with them - Debating with the disciples, and attempting to confound them. This he saw as he came down from the mount. In his absence they had taken occasion to attempt to perplex and confound his followers.

Mark 9:15

Were greatly amazed - Were astonished and surprised at his sudden appearance among them.

Saluted him - Received him with the customary marks of affection and respect. It is probable that this was not by any “formal” manner of salutation, but by the “rush” of the multitude, and by hailing him as the Messiah.

Mark 9:16

What question ye? - What is the subject of your inquiry or debate with the disciples?

Mark 9:17

A dumb spirit - A spirit which deprived his son of the power of speaking.

Mark 9:18

And wheresoever - In whatever place - at home or abroad, alone or in public.

He teareth him - He rends, distracts, or throws him into convulsions.

He foameth - At the mouth, like a mad animal. Among us these would all be considered as marks of violent derangement or madness.

And pineth away - Becomes thin, haggard, and emaciated. This was the effect of the violence of his struggles, and perhaps of the want of food.

Mark 9:22

If thou canst do any thing - I have brought him to the disciples, and they could not help him. If thou canst do anything, have compassion.

Mark 9:23

If thou canst believe - This was an answer to the request, and there was a reference in the answer to the “doubt” in the man’s mind about the power of Jesus. “I” can help him. If thou” canst believe,” it shall be done. Jesus here demanded “faith” or confidence in his power of healing. His design here is to show the man that the difficulty in the case was not in the want of “power” on his part, but in the want of “faith” in the man; in other words, to rebuke him for having “doubted” at all whether he “could” heal him. So he demands faith of every sinner that comes to him, and none that come without “confidence” in him can obtain the blessing.

All things are possible to him that believeth - All things can be effected or accomplished - to wit, by God - in favor of him that believes, and if thou canst believe, this will be done. God will do nothing in our favor without faith. It is right that we should have confidence in him; and if we “have” confidence, it is easy for him to help us, and he willingly does it. In our weakness, then, we should go to God our Saviour; and though we have no strength, yet “he” can aid us, and he will make all things easy for us.

Mark 9:24

Said with tears - The man felt the implied rebuke in the Saviour’s language; and feeling grieved that he should be thought to be destitute of faith, and feeling deeply for the welfare of his afflicted son, he wept. Nothing can be more touching or natural than this. An anxious father, distressed at the condition of his son, having applied to the disciples in vain, now coming to the Saviour; and not having full confidence that he had the proper qualification to be aided, he wept. Any man would have wept in his condition, nor would the Saviour turn the weeping suppliant away.

I believe - I have faith. I do put confidence in thee, though I know that my faith is not as strong as it should be.

Lord - This word here signifies merely “master,” or “sir,” as it does often in the New Testament. We have no evidence that he had any knowledge of the divine nature of the Saviour, and he applied the word, probably, as he would have done to any other teacher or worker of miracles.

Help thou mine unbelief - Supply thou the defects of my faith. Give me strength and grace to put “entire” confidence in thee. Everyone who comes to the Saviour for help has need of offering this prayer. In our unbelief and our doubts we need his aid, nor shall we ever put sufficient reliance on him without his gracious help.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. If THOU canst BELIEVE] This was an answer to the inquiry above. I can furnish a sufficiency of power, if thou canst but bring faith to receive it. Why are not our souls completely healed? Why is not every demon cast out? Why are not pride, self-will, love of the world, lust, anger, peevishness, with all the other bad tempers and dispositions which constitute the mind of Satan, entirely destroyed? Alas! it is because we do not believe; Jesus is able; more, Jesus is willing; but we are not willing to give up our idols; we give not credence to his word; therefore hath sin a being in us, and dominion over us.