Matthew 17:15

Lexham English Bible

and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire and often into the water.

King James Version (1611)
Lord, haue mercie on my sonne, for he is lunatike, and sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
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 American Standard Bible
"Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

New Century Version
The man said, "Lord, have mercy on my son. He has epilepsy and is suffering very much, because he often falls into the fire or into the water.

Amplified Bible
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic (moonstruck) and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And saide, Master, haue pitie on my sonne: for he is lunatike, and is sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, & oft times into the water.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

Berean Standard Bible
"Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

Contemporary English Version
and said, "Lord, have pity on my son! He has a bad case of epilepsy and often falls into a fire or into water.

Complete Jewish Bible
and said, "Sir, have mercy on my son, because he is an epileptic and has such terrible fits that he often falls into the fire or into the water.

Darby Translation
Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic, and suffers sorely; for often he falls into the fire and often into the water.

Easy-to-Read Version
The man said, "Lord, be kind to my son. He suffers so much from the seizures he has. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

George Lamsa Translation
My Lord, have mercy on me; my son is an epileptic and has become worse; he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

Good News Translation
and said, "Sir, have mercy on my son! He is an epileptic and has such terrible attacks that he often falls in the fire or into water.

Literal Translation
Lord, pity my son. For he is moonstruck and suffers miserably. For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

American Standard Version
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water.

Bible in Basic English
Lord have mercy on my son: for he is off his head, and is in great pain; and frequently he goes falling into the fire, and frequently into the water.

Hebrew Names Version
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

International Standard Version
and said, "Sir,Lord">[fn] have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers terribly. Often he falls into fire and often into water.

Etheridge Translation
My Lord, have mercy on me ! my son is lunatic and grievously afflicted; for often he falleth into the fire and often into the water.

Murdock Translation
and said to him: My Lord, compassionate me. I have a son who is a lunatic, and grievously afflicted; for often he falleth into the fire, and often into the water.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Lorde, haue mercy on my sonne, for he is lunaticke, and sore vexed: for oft tymes he falleth into the fyre, and oft into the water.

English Revised Version
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously: for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water.

World English Bible
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic, and suffereth grievously; for often he falleth into the fire and often into the water.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Sir," he said, "have pity on my son, for he is an epileptic and is very ill. Often he falls into the fire and often into the water.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and seide, Lord, haue merci on my sone; for he is lunatike, and suffrith yuele, for ofte tymes he fallith in to the fier, and ofte tymes in to water.

Update Bible Version
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for often-times he falls into the fire, and oft-times into the water.

Webster's Bible Translation
Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and grievously distressed; for often he falleth into the fire, and often into the water.

New English Translation
and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water.

New King James Version
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic [fn] and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

New Living Translation
"Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

New Life Bible
"Lord, have pity on my son. He is very sick and at times loses the use of his mind. Many times he falls into the fire or into the water.

New Revised Standard
and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and saying - Lord! have mercy upon my son, - because he is lunatic, and in a grievous condition; For, many times, falleth he into the fire, and, many times, into the water.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffereth much: for he falleth often into the fire, and often into the water.

Revised Standard Version
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Master have mercy on my sonne for he is franticke: and is sore vexed. And oft tymes he falleth into the fyre and oft into ye water

Young's Literal Translation
and saying, `Sir, deal kindly with my son, for he is lunatic, and doth suffer miserably, for often he doth fall into the fire, and often into the water,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
LORDE, haue mercy vpon my sonne, for he is lunatike, & sore vexed. He falleth oft tymes in to ye fyre, and oft in to ye water:

Mace New Testament (1729)
Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is grievously afflicted with the epilepsy; he often falls into the fire, and frequently into the water.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Lord, please help my boy!" he said. "He has fits and suffers terribly. He falls into the fire and into the water trough.

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ And when they came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him ¹⁵ and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶ And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him." ¹⁷ And Jesus answered and said, "O unbelieving and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!" ¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him and the boy was healed from that hour. ¹⁹ Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, Why were we not able to expel it?" ²⁰ And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Now as they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised." And they were extremely distressed. Now when they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma tax came up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the double drachma tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes—from their own sons, or from foreigners?" And when he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast a line with a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you." ²¹The Transfiguration And after six days Jesus took along Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became bright as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. So Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here! If you want, I will make here three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!" And when the disciples heard this, they fell down on their faces and were extremely frightened. And Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they lifted up their eyes they saw no one except him—Jesus alone. And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, "Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." And the disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" And he answered and said, "Elijah indeed is coming, and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the same way also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist. And when they came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him." And Jesus answered and said, "O unbelieving and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!" And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him and the boy was healed from that hour. Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, Why were we not able to expel it?" And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

have: Matthew 15:22, Mark 5:22, Mark 5:23, Mark 9:22, Luke 9:38-42, John 4:46, John 4:47

for: Matthew 4:24, Mark 9:17, Mark 9:18, Mark 9:20-22

he is: וכחםיבזופבי [Strong's G4583], from ףוכחםח [Strong's G4582], the moon, one who was affected with his disorder at the change and full of the moon. This is the case in some kinds of madness and epilepsy. This youth was no doubt epileptic; but it was evidently either produced or taken advantage of by a demon or evil spirit.

for ofttimes: Matthew 8:31, Matthew 8:32, Job 1:10-19, Job 2:7, Mark 5:4, Mark 5:5

Reciprocal: Matthew 9:27 - have Luke 6:18 - vexed

Cross-References

Genesis 17:5
Your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.

Genesis 32:28
And he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."

2 Samuel 12:25
He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet, so he called him Jedidiah because of Yahweh.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Lord, have mercy on my son,.... He addressed him with great marks of honour and respect, not only by gesture, but by words; he craves mercy, pity, and compassion; for the case he had to present, was a miserable one; and his earnestness and importunity he hoped might be excused, since it was for a child of his own. Luke adds "for he is mine only child"; and therefore his affection for him must be thought to be very strong, and he greatly concerned for its grievous affliction, and earnestly desirous of its health and life.

For he is lunatic: not a mad man, but troubled with the epileptic disease; upon which, as on madness or lunacy, the changes and full of the moon have an influence: hence the next clause,

and sore vexed, is rendered in the Arabic version, "and sore vexed at the beginning of full moons"; at which times, he had very grievous and frequent fits of his disorder:

for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water: which shows it to be the "epilepsy", or "falling sickness", he was afflicted with; which, whenever it seized him, whether by the fireside, or by the side of a river or brook, or any place of water, or in any other dangerous situation, he fell into it, not being able to help himself, or avoid any danger to which he was exposed. A larger account of this child's disorder, and of the circumstances of his cure, are related by Mark 9:17 where this case will be more fully considered. Mark 9:17- :.

Mark 9:17- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lord, 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 when the seizure was coming upon him, for Luke says that when the spirit took him he cried suddenly out; he foamed and gnashed with his teeth, and wasted away, or became poor and emaciated. Luke Luke 9:39 adds of the evil spirit, “it teareth him that he foameth again, and, bruising him, hardly departeth from him;” that is, scarcely departed from him, or he had only short intervals of reason, for so the passage in Luke, “bruising him, hardly departeth from him,” should be translated.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 17:15. My son - is lunatic — σεληνιαζεται. One who was most affected with this disorder at the change and full of the moon. Matthew 4:24. 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.

Falleth ofttimes into the fire, and oft into the water. — The paroxysms of his disorder frequently recurred; and among his numerous falls, some were into the fire and some into the water: so that, on this account, his life was in continual danger. Those who are under the influence of the devil are often driven to extremes in every thing. Such are often driven into the fire of presumption, or the waters of despair. Satan takes advantage of our natural temper, state of health, and outward circumstances, to plague and ruin our souls.