Mark 9:20 (DBY)

Passage

And they brought him to him. And seeing him the spirit immediately tore him; and falling upon the earth he rolled foaming.

Nearby Context

Mark 9:18 and wheresoever it seizes him it tears him, and he foams and gnashes his teeth, and he is withering away. And I spoke to thy disciples, that they might cast him out, and they could not.

Mark 9:19 But he answering them says, O unbelieving generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him to me.

Mark 9:20 And they brought him to him. And seeing him the spirit immediately tore him; and falling upon the earth he rolled foaming.

Mark 9:21 And he asked his father, How long a time is it that it has been like this with him? And he said, From childhood;

Mark 9:22 and often it has cast him both into fire and into waters that it might destroy him: but if thou couldst [do] anything, be moved with pity on us, and help us.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "brought", "seeing", "immediately", "tore", "falling", "upon", and "earth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "brought", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "But he answering them says O unbelieving..." into verse 21's "And he asked his father How long...", so "Spirit" and "brought" belong inside that flow. In Mark context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "brought" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.