Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 9].
But Jesus patiently enlightens his dull pupils as they argue
about the exegesis of the scribes.
9:14 {And scribes questioning with them} (\kai grammateis
sunz•tountes pros autous\). Mark alone gives this item. He is
much fuller on this incident (9:14-29) than either Matthew (Mt
17:14-20) or Luke (Lu 9:37-43). It was just like the
professional scribes to take keen interest in the failure of the
nine disciples to cure this poor boy. They gleefully nagged and
quizzed them. Jesus and the three find them at it when they
arrive in the plain.
9:15 {Were greatly amazed} (\exethamb•th•san\). First aorist
passive ingressive aorist with perfective compound \ex-\. The
sudden and opportune appearance of Jesus in the midst of the
dispute when no one was looking for him turned all eyes to him.
He would not fail, however the disciples might do so. The people
were awed for the moment and then running began to welcome him
(\protrechontes •spazonto\). Present participle and imperfect
middle indicative.
9:16 {What question ye with them?} (\Ti sunz•teite pros
autous;\). Jesus had noticed the embarrassment of the nine and at
once takes hold of the situation.
9:17 {I brought unto thee my son} (\•negka ton huion mou pros
se\). The father stepped out and gave the explanation of the
excited dispute in direct and simple pathos.
9:18 {Wheresoever it taketh him} (\hopou ean auton katalab•i\).
Seizes him down. Our word catalepsy is this same word. The word
is used by Galen and Hippocrates for fits. The word is very
common in the papyri in various senses as in the older Greek.
Each of the verbs here in Mark is a graphic picture. {Dashes
down} (\r•ssei\). Also \r•gnumi, mi\ form. Convulses, rends,
tears asunder. Old and common word. {Foameth} (\aphrizei\). Here
only in the N.T. Poetic and late word. {Grindeth} (\trizei\).
Another _hapax legomenon_ in the N.T. Old word for making a
shrill cry or squeak. {Pineth away} (\x•rainetai\). Old word for
drying or withering as of grass in Jas 1:11. {And they were not
able} (\kai ouk ischusan\). They did not have the strength
(\ischus\) to handle this case. See Mt 17:16; Lu 9:40 (\kai ouk
•dun•th•san\, first aorist passive). It was a tragedy.
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MR9.RWP.html (3 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:04:30 a.m.]