9:25a
a crowd had come running: The clause a crowd had come running refers to many more people running to the place where Jesus was talking with the boy’s father (9:17–24). They were joining the crowd that was already there. This clause does not refer to the people who were already there (9:14–15).
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
even more of a crowd was gathering
-or-
many more people were running there and joining the crowd
9:25b
He rebuked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rebuked here means that Jesus spoke strongly and sternly against the spirit. For example:
spoke sternly to (Revised English Bible)
-or-
spoke strongly against
The words that Jesus said to rebuke the evil spirit are in the following sentence.
the unclean spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the unclean spirit refers to the same spirit that was mentioned in 9:17–24. This spirit was controlling the boy’s actions. Here the word unclean spirit refers to the same type of spirit as the Greek terms that are often translated as “evil spirit,” and “demon.” You should use the same expression or use an expression that clearly refers to the spirit that was mentioned in 9:17b. For example:
that spirit that was controlling the boy
-or-
the evil spirit
See evil spirit in the Glossary.
You deaf and mute spirit: The phrase deaf and mute describes what the spirit did to the boy. The spirit itself was not deaf and mute. It caused the boy to be deaf and unable to speak.
This phrase indicates that Jesus was speaking directly to the spirit, calling him deaf and mute spirit. The Berean Standard Bible supplies the pronoun You to indicate rebuke. This is good English style.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Spirit of deafness and muteness (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
You spirit that makes people unable to hear or speak (New Century Version)
If it is not natural in your language to call a spirit by a name like this, you may translate the phrase as a statement. For example:
You are a spirit of deafness and muteness.
-or-
You are a spirit that makes people unable to hear or speak.
He said: The Berean Standard Bible places the phrase He said in the middle of Jesus’ words. In Greek, this phrase occurs before Jesus’ words. Place the phrase He said where it is natural in your language.
9:25c
I command you: The clause I command you introduces the commands that follow. It also emphasizes those commands.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
I demand/require you to do this:
-or-
I order you to (Good News Bible)
to come out: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as come out is a normal way in Greek to speak of a demon releasing control of a person. It indicates here that Jesus commanded the demon to leave the boy and stop controlling him.
In some cultures, people do not think of demons as being in a person. If that is true in your language, it may not be natural to speak of them coming or going out of a person. Use a natural expression in your language for when a demon stops controlling a person.
Here are some other ways you could translate this:
Leave him!
-or-
Release him!
Translate this command in a way that fits the expression you used for the phrase “has a spirit” in 9:17b.
9:25d
and never enter him again: The phrase never enter him again is a command for the spirit to leave the boy alone. The spirit was never to control the boy again in the future.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
and never return to him
-or-
and never come back to him
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