875. aphrizó
Lexical Summary
aphrizó: To foam

Original Word: ἀφρίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aphrizó
Pronunciation: af-rid'-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (af-rid'-zo)
KJV: foam
NASB: foaming, foams
Word Origin: [from G876 (ἀφρός - foaming)]

1. to froth at the mouth (in epilepsy)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
foam.

From aphros; to froth at the mouth (in epilepsy) -- foam.

see GREEK aphros

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from aphros
Definition
to foam at the mouth
NASB Translation
foaming (1), foams (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 875: ἀφρίζω

ἀφρίζω; (ἀφρός); to foam: Mark 9:18, 20. (Sophocles El. 719; Diodorus 3, 10; Athen. 11, 43, p. 472 a.; (others).) (Compare: ἐπαφρίζω.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 875 describes the violent “foaming” that accompanies the convulsions of a demon-tormented boy in the Gospel of Mark. Though the term appears only twice, its setting within Jesus’ deliverance ministry provides a vivid window into spiritual conflict, the authority of Christ, and the disciples’ call to faith-filled prayer.

Scriptural Occurrences

Mark 9:18: “Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.”

Mark 9:20: “They brought the boy to Jesus, and when the spirit saw Him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.”

Narrative Setting in Mark

The episode follows the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13) and precedes Jesus’ second prediction of His passion (Mark 9:30-32). This placement highlights the contrast between Christ’s unveiled glory on the mountain and the brokenness found at the foot of it. The disciples, left behind, were unable to expel the unclean spirit (Mark 9:18), exposing their dependence on Jesus and their need for deeper spiritual discipline (Mark 9:29).

Foaming as an Indicator of Demonic Oppression

Ancient writers linked frothing to epilepsy, yet the Gospel narrative attributes the symptoms to a personal evil spirit. Scripture distinguishes between natural illness and demonic activity, and the evangelist records the foaming detail to emphasize the spirit’s destructive intent (Mark 9:22). The dramatic manifestation underlines the New Testament’s portrayal of demons as hostile powers seeking to distort God’s image in humanity.

Christ’s Authority over Chaotic Forces

The boy’s writhing and foaming cease at Christ’s command (Mark 9:25-26). The episode anticipates the cross, where Jesus will decisively defeat principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15). Here, even before His death and resurrection, the Messiah demonstrates sovereign authority, revealing that the kingdom of God has drawn near in His person.

Lessons in Faith and Discipleship

• Faith’s Object: The father’s cry, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24), shows that imperfect faith, when directed toward Jesus, is sufficient to receive His help.
• Spiritual Preparation: Jesus’ statement, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer” (Mark 9:29), teaches that deliverance ministry flows from a life saturated in communion with God, not from technique alone.
• Dependence, not Performance: The disciples’ earlier successes (Mark 6:13) did not guarantee automatic victory; continual reliance on divine power remains essential.

Historical and Cultural Background

Greco-Roman society often interpreted convulsive disorders through superstition, and Jewish tradition recognized both medical and spiritual dimensions. By recording the foaming detail without medicalizing or mythologizing it, Mark frames the incident within a biblical worldview that affirms both the reality of spiritual beings and the compassion of God toward human suffering.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Discernment: Careful evaluation is required to distinguish demonic influence from physiological illness, avoiding both reductionism and sensationalism.
2. Compassionate Engagement: Like Jesus, ministers are to treat sufferers as individuals made in God’s image, not as spectacles.
3. Prayer-Saturated Ministry: Persistent, faith-filled prayer remains foundational for addressing spiritual oppression today.

Related Biblical Themes

• Conflict between the kingdom of God and demonic powers (Matthew 12:28; Ephesians 6:12).
• The compassionate heart of Jesus toward afflicted children (Matthew 17:14-18; Luke 7:12-15).
• The role of belief and prayer in experiencing divine deliverance (James 5:14-16).

Practical Application

Believers are called to cultivate a life of prayer, grounded in Scripture, that actively resists evil while resting in Christ’s finished work. The dramatic “foaming” of Mark’s narrative points beyond itself to the cosmic victory of the Savior who still liberates those oppressed by the devil.

Conclusion

Though rare in the New Testament, Strong’s 875 vividly captures the chaos produced by demonic affliction and, more importantly, the triumph of Jesus Christ over that chaos. The term anchors a lesson in faith, dependence, and the unmatched authority of the Son of God—a truth as vital for contemporary disciples as for the original Twelve.

Forms and Transliterations
αφριζει αφρίζει ἀφρίζει αφριζων αφρίζων ἀφρίζων αφρόνως ηφρονεύσαντο aphrizei aphrízei aphrizon aphrizōn aphrízon aphrízōn
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Mark 9:18 V-PIA-3S
GRK: αὐτόν καὶ ἀφρίζει καὶ τρίζει
NAS: him, it slams him [to the ground] and he foams [at the mouth], and grinds
KJV: him: and he foameth, and gnasheth
INT: him and he foams and gnashes

Mark 9:20 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: γῆς ἐκυλίετο ἀφρίζων
NAS: he [began] rolling around and foaming [at the mouth].
KJV: the ground, and wallowed foaming.
INT: ground he rolled foaming

Strong's Greek 875
2 Occurrences


ἀφρίζει — 1 Occ.
ἀφρίζων — 1 Occ.

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