Luke 11:16-18 New English Translation

¹⁶Others, to test^[a] him,^[b] began asking for^[c] a sign^[d] from heaven. ¹⁷But Jesus,^[e] realizing their thoughts, said to them,^[f] “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed,^[g] and a divided household falls.^[h] ¹⁸So^[i] if^[j] Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because^[k] you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

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Footnotes

Luke 11:16 tn Grk “testing”; the participle is taken as indicating the purpose of the demand.
Luke 11:16 tn The pronoun “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
Luke 11:16 tn Grk “seeking from him.” The imperfect ἐζήτουν (ezētoun) is taken ingressively. It is also possible to regard it as iterative (“kept on asking”).
Luke 11:16 sn What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.
Luke 11:17 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
Luke 11:17 sn Jesus here demonstrated the absurdity of the thinking of those who maintained that he was in league with Satan and that he actually derived his power from the devil. He first teaches (vv. 17-20) that if he casts out demons by the ruler of the demons, then in reality Satan is fighting against himself, with the result that his kingdom has come to an end. He then teaches (v. 21-22) about defeating the strong man to prove that he does not need to align himself with the devil because he is more powerful. Jesus defeated Satan at his temptation (4:1-13) and by his exorcisms he clearly demonstrated himself to be stronger than the devil. The passage reveals the desperate condition of the religious leaders, who in their hatred for Jesus end up attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.
Luke 11:17 tn Or “is left in ruins.”
Luke 11:17 tn Grk “and house falls on house.” This phrase pictures one house collapsing on another, what is called today a “house of cards.”
Luke 11:18 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the clause that follows is a logical conclusion based on the preceding examples.
Luke 11:18 tn This first class condition, the first of three “if” clauses in the following verses, presents the example vividly as if it were so. In fact, all three conditions in these verses are first class. The examples are made totally parallel. The expected answer is that Satan’s kingdom will not stand, so the suggestion makes no sense. Satan would not seek to heal.
Luke 11:18 tn Grk “because.” “I ask you this” is supplied for the sake of English.

New English Translation (NET)