MAT 12:43-45

An Unclean Spirit Returns

43"Now when the unclean spirit goes out from a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest and finds none.

44Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house standing empty, swept, and put in order.

45Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle there — and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So also it will be with this evil generation."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Jewish context, unclean spirits were understood as malevolent entities causing physical, mental, or spiritual harm, often linked to ritual impurity. Waterless places were desolate, uninhabitable regions, culturally associated with danger and the dwelling of demons. The imagery of a swept and ordered house reflects a space ritually cleansed but left empty, a vulnerable state in a worldview where spiritual forces actively sought habitation. The return of the spirit with seven others more evil underscores the escalation of spiritual danger when a void is left unfilled. For Jesus’ audience, this would resonate with their understanding of exorcism and the necessity of replacing impurity with holiness, as taught in Jewish tradition. The reference to 'this evil generation' likely evoked the collective moral and spiritual failures of Israel, as seen in prophetic critiques of their covenant unfaithfulness.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

MAT 12:43

KJV: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
BSB: When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
Koinōnos: Now when the unclean spirit goes out from a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest and finds none.

MAT 12:44

KJV: Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
BSB: Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order.
Koinōnos: Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house standing empty, swept, and put in order.

MAT 12:45

KJV: Then goeth he, and taketh with himself 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. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
BSB: Then it goes and brings with it 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. So will it be with this wicked generation.”
Koinōnos: Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle there — and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So also it will be with this evil generation.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 20.8.5

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 20.8.5

“Now as for the affairs of the Jews, they grew worse and worse continually, for the country was again filled with robbers and impostors, who deluded the multitude.”

Cited to ground: The reference to 'this evil generation' likely evoked the collective moral and spiritual failures of Israel, as seen in prophetic critiques of their covenant unfaithfulness.

Translator's notes

MAT 12:43

unclean:The word translated 'unclean' here refers to something ritually or morally impure, making it unfit for sacred use or association with God. It carries a sense of defilement or pollution.
waterless:The term 'waterless' describes a desolate, arid place, often associated with wilderness or desert regions. In ancient thought, such places were sometimes considered uninhabitable or even the dwelling places of spirits.

MAT 12:44

and:The word translated 'swept' implies a thorough cleaning, often with a broom, suggesting that the space was not just tidied but made ready for new occupancy or use.

MAT 12:45

more evil:The word translated 'evil' here describes something actively harmful, malicious, or morally corrupt, often with an emphasis on its destructive impact on others.