Matthew 12:44-46 New English Translation
44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’[a] When it returns,[b] it finds the house[c] empty, swept clean, and put in order.[d] 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so[e] the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!”
Jesus’ True Family
46 While Jesus[f] was still speaking to the crowds,[g] his mother and brothers[h] came and stood outside, asking[i] to speak to him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 12:44 tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”
- Matthew 12:44 tn Grk “comes.”
- Matthew 12:44 tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.
- Matthew 12:44 sn The image of the house empty, swept clean, and put in order refers to the life of the person from whom the demon departed. The key to the example appears to be that no one else has been invited in to dwell. If an exorcism occurs and there is no response to God, then the way is free for the demon to return. Some see the reference to exorcism as more symbolic; thus the story’s only point is about responding to Jesus. This is possible and certainly is an application of the passage.
- Matthew 12:45 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the concluding point of the story.
- Matthew 12:46 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Matthew 12:46 tn Grk “crowds, behold, his mother.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
- Matthew 12:46 sn The issue of whether Jesus had brothers (siblings) has had a long history in the church. Epiphanius, in the 4th century, argued that Mary was a perpetual virgin and had no offspring other than Jesus. Others argued that these brothers were really cousins. Nothing in the text suggests any of this. See also John 7:3.
- Matthew 12:46 tn Grk “seeking.”
New English Translation (NET)
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