No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
Parallel translations
- WEB But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house.
- BSB Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
- NKJV No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.
- NASB But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
- NLT Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
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
No one can plunder a strong man's house unless he first binds the strong man. It matters because Jesus reveals that his exorcisms mean he has overpowered Satan.
Overview
Jesus pictures himself as the stronger one who binds the 'strong man,' Satan, and then frees his captives. His deliverances are not collaboration with the devil but conquest of him. This points to the heart of his mission, the decisive defeat of Satan accomplished at the cross and resurrection, liberating those held in bondage.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Isa 49:24–26Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
- Matt 12:29Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
- Luke 11:21–23When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
- Eph 6:10–13Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- Rev 20:1–3And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
- 1 Jn 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
- Isa 53:12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Isa 27:1In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.
- Col 2:15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
- 1 Jn 3:8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
- Rev 12:7–9And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
- Rom 16:20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
- Isa 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- John 12:31Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
- Luke 10:17–20And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
- Heb 2:14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
- Gen 3:15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 3:27 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.