14And he was casting out a demon that was mute. And it came about when the demon had gone out the mute man spoke, and the crowds marveled. [11:15] But some of them said, "By Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, he casts out the demons." [11:16] And others, testing him, were seeking a sign from heaven from him. [11:17] But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against a house falls. [11:18] And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? — for you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. [11:19] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [11:20] But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [11:21] When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own courtyard, his possessions are secure. [11:22] But when a stronger man comes against him and overpowers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder. [11:23] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
LUK 11:14-23
A House Divided
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, casting out demons was understood as an act of spiritual authority over malevolent forces. Demons were seen as intermediary spirits, often harmful, that could afflict individuals, causing physical or mental ailments like muteness . Jesus’ ability to cast out demons was interpreted by some as evidence of divine power, while others accused Him of collusion with Beelzebul, a name associated with Satan or the chief demon. This accusation reflects a common tactic of discrediting a rival’s power by attributing it to malevolent sources. Jesus’ response, using the metaphor of a divided kingdom or household , draws on the widely understood principle that internal division leads to collapse. In a society structured around honor-shame dynamics, His argument underscores the absurdity of Satan working against himself, thereby affirming His authority as divinely sanctioned.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
LUK 11:14
- KJV
- And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
- BSB
- One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,
- Koinōnos
- And he was casting out a demon that was mute. And it came about when the demon had gone out the mute man spoke, and the crowds marveled.
LUK 11:15
- KJV
- But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
- BSB
- but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
- Koinōnos
- But some of them said, "By Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, he casts out the demons.
LUK 11:16
- KJV
- And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
- BSB
- And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
- Koinōnos
- And others, testing him, were seeking a sign from heaven from him.
LUK 11:17
- KJV
- But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
- BSB
- Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
- Koinōnos
- But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against a house falls.
LUK 11:18
- KJV
- If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
- BSB
- If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
- Koinōnos
- And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? — for you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.
LUK 11:19
- KJV
- And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
- BSB
- And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
- Koinōnos
- And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
LUK 11:20
- KJV
- But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
- BSB
- But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
- Koinōnos
- But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
LUK 11:21
- KJV
- When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
- BSB
- When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
- Koinōnos
- When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own courtyard, his possessions are secure.
LUK 11:22
- KJV
- But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
- BSB
- But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.
- Koinōnos
- But when a stronger man comes against him and overpowers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder.
LUK 11:23
- KJV
- He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
- BSB
- He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
- Koinōnos
- Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 11:14
- a demon:The word translated 'a demon' here refers to a spiritual being, often malevolent, that was believed to influence human affairs and could cause physical or mental ailments.
- and:The term used here for 'deaf' often implied being both deaf and mute, as the inability to hear typically resulted in an inability to speak.
LUK 11:17
- is brought to desolation,:The word translated 'is brought to desolation' carries the strong sense of being stripped bare, laid waste, or made utterly desolate, often implying ruin or destruction.
LUK 11:22
- the:The word translated 'the full armor' specifically refers to the complete set of defensive and offensive equipment worn by a heavily armed soldier, including shield, helmet, breastplate, and weapons.