9:39a

9:39 begins with a phrase that is literally “and behold” in Greek. The Berean Standard Bible and most English versions do not translate this phrase. In this context, this phrase introduces significant information in the story. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

what happens is: (Translator’s Reference Translation)

A spirit: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as spirit here refers to an unclean spirit or a demon. Later in the story this same spirit is referred to as a “demon” (9:42b) and an “unclean spirit” (9:42c). In some languages it may be natural to refer to the spirit in the same way in all these places. See the note on “demons” in 9:1b. See also demon in the Glossary.

keeps seizing him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as keeps seizing means “takes possession of” or “takes control of.” The form of the verb indicates that this action occurred from time to time or repeatedly. Another way to translate this is:

attacks him (Good News Translation)

and he screams abruptly: This clause tells the result of the spirit seizing the boy. There are two ways to interpret the Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he screams abruptly:

(1) It means that the boy screamed whenever the spirit seized him. For example:

he shrieks (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, God’s Word)

(2) It means that the spirit screamed when it seized the boy. For example:

all at once it gives a sudden cry (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible)

In Greek, the subject of “screamed” is ambiguous. It can mean either “he” or “it.” If it is natural in your language to translate ambiguously, as the Greek does, you should do so. If you need to specify the subject, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions.

9:39b

It throws him into convulsions: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as It throws him into convulsions indicates that the demon caused the boy to have seizures. These seizures made him roll around on the ground and jerk uncontrollably. Such seizures are sometimes a symptom of the disease called epilepsy. Here Luke identified the cause as an unclean spirit. Other ways to translate this are:

causes him to have seizures
-or-
convulses him
-or-
shakes him (Contemporary English Version)

so that he foams at the mouth: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that he foams at the mouth is literally “with foam.” In addition to causing the boy to have convulsions, the unclean spirit caused him to foam at the mouth. Use an expression in your language that describes what happens when a person has a seizure and white froth or bubbles come out of his mouth. For example:

and causes him to foam at the mouth (NET Bible)
-or-
until he foams at the mouth (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and froth/bubbles come from his mouth

9:39c

It keeps mauling him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mauling is translated in various ways in different contexts. In this context, it probably means to mistreat, wound, bruise badly, or torture. The demon was badly hurting the boy. Other ways to translate this include:

destroying him (New International Version)
-or-
torturing him severely (NET Bible)
-or-
keeps on tormenting him (Revised English Bible)

and rarely departs from him: The clause rarely departs from him means that the demon rarely left the boy alone. Most of the time it was possessing and controlling him. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this as:

It is almost always in control of him
-or-
It has him in its grip/power almost all of the time

General Comment on 9:39c

The Berean Standard Bible reverses the order of the two clauses in 9:39c. It may be more natural in your language to follow the Greek order. For example:

It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturing him severely. (NET Bible)

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