Translation commentary on Mark 9:24

Text:

Before elegen ‘he said’ Textus Receptus adds meta dakruōn ‘with tears,’ which is omitted by all modern editions of the Greek text.

After pisteuō ‘I believe’ Textus Receptus adds kurie ‘Sir,’ which is omitted by all modern editions of the Greek text.

Exegesis:

The words in this verse have already been dealt with: for krazō ‘cry out’ cf. 3.11; paidion ‘child’ cf. 5.39; boētheō ‘help’ cf. 9.22; apistia ‘unbelief’ cf. 6.6.

boēthei mou te apistia ‘you help my unbelief!’: the meaning, of course, is ‘help (me because of) my lack of faith,’ or ‘help me (to overcome) my unbelief.’ It was not, properly, his lack of faith which needed help, but the man himself for being unbelieving.

Translation:

Help my unbelief has been incorrectly rendered in scores of translations. In fact, in many instances the words mean nothing more than ‘help me believe less,’ for if one is going to assist one’s lack of faith, it would logically follow that the result would be still less faith. But certainly the plea here is not ‘to strengthen my unbelief’ or ‘to increase my lack of faith,’ as is specifically stated in a number of translations. Rather, the meaning is ‘cast out my unbelief’ (Marathi), ‘help me that I believe’ (Yatzachi Zapotec), ‘help me where I lack in belief’ (Ilocano), ‘help me because I have a need of faith’ (Southern Subanen), ‘in my not believing, help me’ (Shipibo-Conibo), ‘help my unbelieving heart’ (Cashibo-Cacataibo), ‘help me when I don’t believe’ (Tzeltal), and ‘help me in that which is lacking in this faith’ (Batak Toba).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 9:24

9:24a

Immediately: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Immediately indicates that the father said this right after Jesus finished talking in 9:23b. It probably is also used to emphasize the words that follow.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Right away (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
at once (Good News Bible)
-or-
instantly (New Living Translation)

the boy’s father cried out:

There is a textual issue here. (1) Some Greek manuscripts have “cried out and said, I believe.” For example, the NET Bible says: “the father of the boy cried out and said, ‘I believe’” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have “cried out and said
in tears, Lord, I believe.” The King James Version follows these manuscripts. For example: “the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe” (King James Version). It is recommended that you follow option (1) and the majority of English versions. Do not include these words.) The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as cried out means “shouted loudly.” Another way to translate this is:

shouted (Contemporary English Version)

I do believe: Translate the word believe in the same way that you translated it in 9:23b. The man was saying that he trusted Jesus to help/heal his son. Your language may have a verb, expression, or idiom with that meaning.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

I have faith/confidence in you
-or-
I trust that you are able to help/heal my son

9:24b

help my unbelief: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as help my unbelief means that man claimed that he believed (9:24a), but he had doubts. So he wanted to believe more fully.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

help me not to doubt! (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
Help me to believe more! (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

my unbelief: The word unbelief means “lack of faith.” The man did not completely believe that Jesus could help the boy. He had some doubts.

General Comment on 9:24a–b

The man said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” He claimed to believe, but he also knew that he doubted Jesus. The Good News Bible shows another way to translate this:

I do have faith, but not enough. Help me have more!

Paragraph 9:25–27

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