King James Version

What Does Luke 9:40 Mean?

Luke 9:40 in the King James Version says “And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.” — study this verse from Luke chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.”

Luke 9:40 · KJV

Context

38

And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

39

And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

40

And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

41

And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

42

And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. The father had already sought help: edeēthēn (ἐδεήθην, "I besought" or "begged")—the same urgent pleading now directed to Jesus was first directed to the disciples. The phrase to cast him out (hina ekbalōsin auto, ἵνα ἐκβάλωσιν αὐτό) uses ekballō (to expel or drive out)—the standard term for exorcism. The devastating conclusion: and they could not (kai ouk ēdynēthēsan, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν)—they were powerless.

This failure is striking—the disciples had previously cast out demons successfully (9:1, 6). What changed? Jesus later explains: this kind requires prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). Their earlier success may have bred complacency, relying on technique rather than God's power. The failure occurred while Jesus was on the mountain, suggesting their dependence on His presence rather than cultivating their own prayerful dependence on the Father. This public failure humiliated them but taught a crucial lesson: spiritual authority flows from intimacy with God, not mere authorization or past success.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jesus had given the Twelve authority over demons and diseases (Luke 9:1), and they had exercised this successfully during their preaching tour (9:6). Their failure here echoes Israel's defeat at Ai after Jericho's victory (Joshua 7)—presumption following triumph. Jewish exorcists used elaborate formulas and rituals (Acts 19:13-16), but Jesus' disciples had been given simple authority in His name. Their failure while Jesus was absent parallels the church's struggle throughout history—powerlessness when prayer life declines. The early church understood this lesson, devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42, 6:4). The incident warned against presumptuous ministry divorced from dependent communion with God.

Reflection Questions

  1. What causes spiritual authority previously exercised successfully to become ineffective, as the disciples experienced?
  2. How does the disciples' failure while Jesus was on the mountain warn against dependence on external authority rather than personal communion with God?
  3. In what ways can past ministry success breed complacency that leads to present powerlessness?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 11 words
καὶ1 of 11

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐδεήθην2 of 11

“I besought”

G1189

to beg (as binding oneself), i.e., petition

τῶν3 of 11
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

μαθητῶν4 of 11

“disciples”

G3101

a learner, i.e., pupil

σου5 of 11

“thy”

G4675

of thee, thy

ἵνα6 of 11

“to”

G2443

in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)

ἐκβάλλωσιν7 of 11

“cast”

G1544

to eject (literally or figuratively)

αὐτό8 of 11

“him”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

καὶ9 of 11

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

οὐκ10 of 11

“not”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἠδυνήθησαν11 of 11

“they could”

G1410

to be able or possible

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 9:40 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 9:40 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Luke 9:1Acts 19:13-16Matthew 17:20Luke 10:17-192 Kings 4:31

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