9:29

This kind cannot come out, except by prayer: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as cannot come out, except by prayer indicates that only praying to God can cause that type of demon to leave a person and stop controlling him. The English Standard Version translates this as:

This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.

This kind: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This kind refers to the type of unclean spirit that was controlling the boy. This kind or type of unclean spirit apparently had much power to control people. In many languages it may be natural to follow the model of the New Century Version and say:

That kind of spirit

come out: The verb come out here means “be forced to leave.”

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

can be forced out (God’s Word)
-or-
can be cast out (New Living Translation)

The same verb occurs in 9:25c.

by prayer: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by prayer refers to praying to God. In this context it refers specifically to requesting or asking God to cause the demon to leave.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

through prayer (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
by asking/begging God to cause the demon to leave

prayer: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word prayer. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:

Only prayer can force out that kind of demon.

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have the words prayer and fasting. For example, the King James Version says:

This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

(King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1).

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