24"When the unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' [11:25] And coming, it finds it swept clean and put in order. [11:26] Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle there. And the last state of that person becomes worse than the first."
LUK 11:24-26
An Unclean Spirit Returns
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish thought, unclean spirits were understood as malevolent entities causing physical, mental, or spiritual harm. Ritual impurity was a pervasive concern, tied to holiness codes and the need for purification. Waterless places were seen as desolate, uninhabitable regions, often associated with demonic activity or divine judgment. The imagery of a house swept clean and ordered reflects a space prepared for habitation, yet empty and vulnerable. In a culture where spiritual protection was sought through rituals, amulets, and prayers, leaving a space unoccupied after cleansing was risky. The return of the spirit with seven others worse than itself underscores the belief that spiritual emptiness invites greater evil. This teaching would resonate with listeners familiar with exorcism practices and the need for ongoing vigilance against spiritual forces.
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How other translations render this
LUK 11:24
- KJV
- When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
- BSB
- When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’
- Koinōnos
- When the unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.
LUK 11:25
- KJV
- And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
- BSB
- On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
- Koinōnos
- And coming, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
LUK 11:26
- KJV
- Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
- BSB
- Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”
- Koinōnos
- Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle there. And the last state of that person becomes worse than the first.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 11:24
- unclean:The word translated 'unclean' refers to something ritually impure or defiled, making it unfit for sacred use or contact according to religious law.
- waterless:The term 'waterless' here evokes a sense of desolation and barrenness, a place utterly devoid of life-sustaining water, often associated with wilderness or desert.
LUK 11:25
- being unoccupied:The word translated 'being unoccupied' literally means 'swept clean.' It implies not just emptiness, but an active process of clearing out, leaving it ready for something new to fill it.
- and:The word translated 'and' here carries the sense of being 'put in order' or 'arranged.' It suggests a state of being well-ordered and prepared, not just decorated.