If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.
Parallel translations
- WEB If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.
- KJV If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
- BSB If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
- ESV And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.
- NASB And if Satan also has been divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you claim that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.
- NLT You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If Satan is divided against himself, his kingdom cannot stand. The accusation refutes itself.
Overview
Jesus applies the principle directly: Satan would not empower the destruction of his own works. The opponents' logic, taken to its end, collapses. The argument clears the way for the true explanation of Jesus' power.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Matt 12:26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
- Matt 12:31–34Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
- Jas 3:5–8So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
- Matt 4:10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
- Luke 11:15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 11:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.