9:20a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So here is translated as “And” in the Revised Standard Version. It introduces the people’s response to Jesus’ command. Introduce this response in a way that is natural in your language. In some languages, no conjunction is necessary (as in the Good News Bible).

they brought him: The word they refers to some of the people in the crowd. It may also refer to some of the disciples. If possible, do not make they specific. Another way to say this is:

Some of the people came with the boy to him.

brought: In this context, the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brought implies that they helped the boy go to Jesus. They may have carried him, led him by the hand, or simply escorted him. If it is not natural in your language to use a word such as brought or “took,” use another expression with a general meaning. For example:

they came with the boy to him
-or-
they helped the boy to go to him

9:20b–c

the spirit: The word spirit refers to the evil spirit that possessed the boy. It is the same word as in 9:17b.

threw…into a convulsion: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as threw…into a convulsion means “convulse,” or “cause to shake violently.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

it made the boy shake all over (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
it made the boy lose control of himself (New Century Version)
-or-
it caused the child to shake violently

This same phrase is translated as “threw…into convulsions” in 1:26a.

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