Matthew 12:44

Matthew 12:44 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.

Context of Matthew 12:44

42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 43"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation." 46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

Matthew 12:44 word by word

τότε λέγει· εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου ἐπιστρέψω ὅθεν ἐξῆλθον. καὶ ἐλθὸν εὑρίσκει σχολάζοντα, σεσαρωμένον καὶ κεκοσμημένον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• I will returnἐπιστρέφωepistrephō · to turnG1994
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• houseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• houseοἶκοςoikos · house: homeG3624
• from whenceὅθενhothen · whenceG3606
• I came outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• and whenκαίkai · andG2532
• he is comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• he findethεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• emptyσχολάζωscholazō · be devoted/emptyG4980
• sweptσαρόωsaroō · to sweepG4563
• garnishedκοσμέωkosmeō · to arrangeG2885

Cross-references for Matthew 12:44

• Matthew 12:29Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
• Luke 11:21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;
• John 13:27Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."
• Ephesians 2:2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
• 1 John 4:4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
• Matthew 13:20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
• Psalms 81:11"But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
• Hosea 7:6For with hearts like an oven they approach their intrigue; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
• John 12:6He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
• John 13:2During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,
• Acts 5:1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
• Acts 8:18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
• 1 Corinthians 11:19for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:9The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
• 1 Timothy 6:4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
• 1 John 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Commentaries on Matthew 12:44

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 44Into my house - The soul of that person from whom he had been expelled by the power of Christ, and out of which he was to have been kept by continual prayer, faith, and watchfulness. He findeth it empty - Unoccupied, , empty of the former inhabitant, and ready to receive a new one: denoting a soul that has lost the life and power of godliness, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Swept and garnished - As signifies to be idle, or unemployed, it may refer…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 43-45Verses 43-45 When the unclean spirit … - The “general sentiment” which our Saviour here teaches is much more easily understood than the illustration which he uses. The Jews had asked a sign from heaven that should decisively prove that he was the Messiah, and satisfy their unbelief. He replies that, though he should give them such a sign a proof conclusive and satisfactory, and though for a time they should profess to believe and apparently reform, yet…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-45Verses 38-45 Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abraham and Gideon; but denied to those who demanded them to excuse their unbelief. The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 43-45The Messiah came in victory over evil spirits. But instead of turning back to God, the nation as a whole rejected him. Jesus said that when an evil spirit is cast out, it may return if the person is not ready to resist it. In the same way, judgment would come on this evil generation because they rejected the Messiah (God’s chosen one).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 43-4543-45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, &c.--On this important parable, in connection with the corresponding one (Mt 12:29) see on Lu 11:21-26. A charming little incident, given only in Lu 11:27, 28, seems to have its proper place here. Lu 11:27: And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company--out of the crowd. lifted up her voice and said unto Him, Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 12:44

• Demons
• Impenitence
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Regeneration

In the dictionaries

• Adulterous
• Condemn
• Daemon
• Desolation
• Idle
• Judgment
• Restore
• Sin
• Wither
• Adorn

Commentaries on Matthew 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings