Matthew 17:21 · KJV
Matthew 17:21
By Prayer and Fasting
In Matthew 17:21 Jesus tells His disciples that certain spiritual battles yield only to prayer and fasting: "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." It points to a deeper dependence on God.
Matthew 17:21 (KJV)
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
What Matthew 17:21 means
After the disciples fail to cast out a demon, Jesus explains that "this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Some obstacles do not move by effort or technique, but by a life of deepened dependence on God — the kind cultivated in prayer and self-denial.
The verse is notable because many modern translations move it to a footnote; the King James Version keeps it in the text. Its enduring appeal is the reminder that prayer and fasting are not empty rituals but real spiritual power.
Key verse
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 17:21 · KJV — Some battles yield only to prayer and fasting.
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A prayer from Matthew 17:21
Lord, teach me a deeper dependence on You. Through prayer and fasting, strengthen my faith and move what I cannot move on my own. Amen.
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Frequently asked
What does Matthew 17:21 mean?
In Matthew 17:21 Jesus tells His disciples that certain spiritual battles yield only to prayer and fasting: "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." It points to a deeper dependence on God.
What is Matthew 17:21 about?
After the disciples fail to cast out a demon, Jesus explains that "this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Some obstacles do not move by effort or technique, but by a life of deepened dependence on God — the kind cultivated in prayer and self-denial.
What is the key verse in Matthew 17:21?
Matthew 17:21 — “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Is Matthew 17:21 in the King James Version?
Yes. The full text of Matthew 17:21 on this page is the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain.