Paragraph 17:19–21
17:19a
Afterward: The events in this paragraph occur after Jesus and his disciples were by themselves. They either waited for the crowd to leave, or they walked away from the crowd.
Here are some other ways to begin this paragraph:
Then (English Standard Version)
-or-
Later (Contemporary English Version)
the disciples came to Jesus: The words came to refer to the disciples “approaching.” Jesus. They approached him with a question.
The disciples did not come to Jesus from a distance. They were already with him.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
the disciples approached Jesus (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
the disciples went to Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
privately: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as privately is the same phrase that occurs in 17:1b. There the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “by themselves.” It means that when the disciples spoke with Jesus, there was no one else around.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
by themselves
-or-
When they were alone
17:19b
Why couldn’t we drive it out?: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drive it out means “expel the demon” or “force the demon to leave” the boy. It refers to forcing the demon to stop controlling the boy and leave.
Jewish people often spoke of demons as being in someone. Different cultures have different ways of speaking about people being controlled by demons and being released from the control of demons. Use a natural expression for this in your language.
Here are some other ways to translate this question:
Why couldn’t we force the demon out of the boy? (God’s Word)
-or-
Why were we not able to send the demon away?
-or-
Why were we not able to cause the demon to come/go out ⌊of the boy⌋?
The expression drive…out also occurs in 7:22c. You should translate it the same way in both places.
General Comment on 17:19b
In some languages, it will be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:
why they were not able to cast out the demon
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