Matthew 12:43

Matthew 12:43 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
• New International Version (NIV)“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

Context of Matthew 12:43

41The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them – and now, something greater than Jonah is here! 42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here! “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!”

Matthew 12:43 word by word

Ὅταν δὲ τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, διέρχεται δι᾽ ἀνύδρων τόπων ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• theπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• uncleanἀκάθαρτοςakathartos · uncleanG169
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• is goneἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• out ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• he walkethδιέρχομαιdierchomai · to pass throughG1330
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• dryἄνυδροςanudros · waterlessG504
• placesτόποςtopos · placeG5117
• seekingζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
• restἀνάπαυσιςanapausis · restG372
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• findethεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• noneοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for Matthew 12:43

• Luke 11:24“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’
• Acts 8:13Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed.
• Job 1:7The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”
• Job 2:2And the Lord said to Satan, “Where do you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”
• 1 Peter 5:8Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
• Psalms 63:1O God, you are my God! I long for you! My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
• Isaiah 35:6Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will flow in the desert, streams in the wilderness.
• Isaiah 41:18I will make streams flow down the slopes and produce springs in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and the arid land into springs.
• Ezekiel 47:8He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the Arabah; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh.
• Amos 8:11Be certain of this, the time is coming,” says the sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land – not a shortage of food or water but an end to divine revelation!
• Matthew 8:29They cried out, “Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
• Mark 5:7Then he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God – do not torment me!”
• Luke 8:28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!”

Commentaries on Matthew 12:43

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 43When the unclean spirit - If there had been no reality in demoniacal possessions, our Lord would have scarcely appealed to a case of this kind here, to point out the real state of the Jewish people, and the desolation which was coming upon them. Had this been only a vulgar error, of the nonsense of which the learned scribes and the wise Pharisees must have been convinced, the case not being one in point, because not true, must have been treated by that…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. 43People believed demons liked the dry desert (see Revelation 18:2; compare Isaiah 13:21; 34:14).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 12:43

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

In the dictionaries

• Unclean Spirit
• Adulterous
• Condemn
• Daemon
• Desolation
• Idle
• Judgment
• Restore
• Sin
• Wither

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