King James Version

What Does Mark 9:23 Mean?

Mark 9:23 in the King James Version says “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” — study this verse from Mark chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Mark 9:23 · KJV

Faith

Context

21

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Read Mark 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Jesus responds to the desperate father's plea "if thou canst do any thing" by redirecting focus from divine ability to human faith. The Greek construction ei dynē pisteusai (εἰ δύνῃ πιστεῦσαι, "if you can believe") echoes the father's doubt but inverts it—the question isn't whether Jesus can heal, but whether the man can believe. The phrase panta dynata (πάντα δυνατά, "all things possible") employs the same word for "possible" used of God's omnipotence in Mark 10:27. Jesus declares that faith connects believers to divine omnipotence, making the impossible possible. This isn't faith in faith itself (a subjective psychological state) but faith in Christ—trust in His person, power, and promises. Reformed theology carefully distinguishes this from the prosperity gospel's notion that faith manipulates God; rather, genuine faith submits to God's sovereign will while confidently approaching Him with requests, knowing He can do all things though He may choose not to grant every petition.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This exchange occurred after Jesus' transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13), when He descended to find His disciples unable to cast out a demon from this man's son. The boy suffered severe symptoms—convulsions, muteness, self-harm. The disciples' failure despite previous successful exorcisms (Mark 6:13) revealed that spiritual power depends not on technique but on prayerful dependence on God (Mark 9:29). The father's wavering faith ("if thou canst") reflected natural doubt when facing demonic opposition and the disciples' failure. Yet Jesus didn't reject him for weak faith but strengthened it through this rebuke and subsequent healing. The early church faced similar challenges—situations where prayers seemed unanswered and spiritual warfare seemed unwinnable—yet this promise sustained them: faith in Christ accesses divine omnipotence.

Reflection Questions

  1. When facing impossible circumstances, do you first question God's ability or your own faith, and why does Jesus redirect the focus to faith?
  2. How does understanding that faith connects us to divine omnipotence change your prayer life and expectations?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 13 words
ὁ1 of 13
G3588

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

δὲ2 of 13
G1161

but, and, etc

Ἰησοῦς3 of 13

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

εἶπεν4 of 13

“said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

αὐτῷ5 of 13

“to 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

Τὸ6 of 13
G3588

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

Εἰ7 of 13

“If”

G1487

if, whether, that, etc

δύνασαι8 of 13

“thou canst”

G1410

to be able or possible

πιστεύοντι9 of 13

“believe”

G4100

to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch

πάντα10 of 13

“all things”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

δυνατὰ11 of 13

“are possible”

G1415

powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible

τῷ12 of 13
G3588

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

πιστεύοντι13 of 13

“believe”

G4100

to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch

Study Guide

Historical Context

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

Theological Significance

Mark 9:23 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 Mark 9:23 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 11:40Hebrews 11:6Mark 11:23Matthew 17:20Matthew 21:21-222 Chronicles 20:20

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