Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
3 of 32
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
αὐτοῖς
unto them
G846
αὐτοῖς
unto them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 32
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
Διὰ
Because
G1223
Διὰ
Because
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
6 of 32
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀπιστίαν
unbelief
G570
ἀπιστίαν
unbelief
Strong's:
G570
Word #:
8 of 32
faithlessness, i.e., (negatively) disbelief (lack of christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience)
ἀμὴν
verily
G281
ἀμὴν
verily
Strong's:
G281
Word #:
10 of 32
properly, firm, i.e., (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it)
γὰρ
for
G1063
γὰρ
for
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
11 of 32
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
λέγω
I say
G3004
λέγω
I say
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
12 of 32
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
ἐὰν
If
G1437
ἐὰν
If
Strong's:
G1437
Word #:
14 of 32
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
ἔχητε
ye have
G2192
ἔχητε
ye have
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
15 of 32
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
πίστιν
faith
G4102
πίστιν
faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
16 of 32
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
ὡς
as
G5613
ὡς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
17 of 32
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
ἐρεῖτε
ye shall say
G2046
ἐρεῖτε
ye shall say
Strong's:
G2046
Word #:
20 of 32
an alternate for g2036 in certain tenses; to utter, i.e., speak or say
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 32
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἔντεῦθεν
hence
G1782
ἔντεῦθεν
hence
Strong's:
G1782
Word #:
25 of 32
hence (literally or figuratively); (repeated) on both sides
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
27 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
29 of 32
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οὐδὲν
nothing
G3762
οὐδὲν
nothing
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
30 of 32
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
Cross References
Luke 17:6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.Mark 11:23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.Luke 18:27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.Luke 1:37For with God nothing shall be impossible.Matthew 21:21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.Mark 9:23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.1 Corinthians 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.Matthew 13:31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:Mark 4:31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:John 11:40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Historical Context
The disciples had previously cast out demons (10:1, 8), so their failure here confused them. Jesus diagnoses unbelief—perhaps presuming on past success rather than trusting God presently. The mustard seed, proverbially tiny, illustrates that even small genuine faith accesses infinite divine power. Mountain-moving was rabbinic imagery for overcoming great difficulties.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'mountains' in your life need mustard-seed faith to move?
- How does unbelief limit God's power working through you?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Jesus' explanation 'Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you' addresses the disciples' failure to cast out the demon (v. 16). The problem was 'unbelief,' not lack of ability. The mustard seed analogy emphasizes faith's quality, not quantity—even tiny genuine faith accomplishes impossible things. The mountain-moving metaphor represents seemingly impossible obstacles overcome by faith.