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Selected Verse: Matthew 12:43 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 12:43	Strong Concordance	[1161] When [3752] the unclean [169] spirit [4151] is gone [1831] out of [575] a man [444], he walketh [1330] through [1223] dry [504] places [5117], seeking [2212] rest [372], and [2532] findeth [2147] none [3756].
	King James	When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, &c.--On this important parable, in connection with the corresponding one (Mat 12:29) see on Luk 11:21-26. A charming little incident, given only in Luk 11:27-28, seems to have its proper place here. Luk 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 hast sucked--With true womanly feeling she envies the mother of such a wonderful Teacher. And a higher and better than she had said as much before her (see on Luk 1:28). How does our Lord, then, treat it? He is far from condemning it. He only holds up as "blessed rather" another class: Luk 11:28 : But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it--in other words, the humblest real saint of God. How utterly alien is this sentiment from the teaching of the Church of Rome, which would doubtless excommunicate any one of its members that dared to talk in such a strain! His Mother and Brethren Seek to Speak with Hint and the Answer (Mat 12:46-50).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, &c.--On this important parable, in connection with the corresponding one (Mat 12:29) see on Luk 11:21-26.

A charming little incident, given only in Luk 11:27-28, seems to have its proper place here.

Luk 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 hast sucked--With true womanly feeling she envies the mother of such a wonderful Teacher. And a higher and better than she had said as much before her (see on Luk 1:28). How does our Lord, then, treat it? He is far from condemning it. He only holds up as "blessed rather" another class: Luk 11:28 :

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it--in other words, the humblest real saint of God. How utterly alien is this sentiment from the teaching of the Church of Rome, which would doubtless excommunicate any one of its members that dared to talk in such a strain!

His Mother and Brethren Seek to Speak with Hint and the Answer (Mat 12:46-50).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
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 such was the obstinacy of their unbelief and wickedness, that they would soon return to their former course. and become worse and worse. Infidelity and wickedness, like an evil spirit in a possessed man, were appropriately at "home" in them. If driven out, they would find no other place so comfortable and undisturbed as their bosoms. Everywhere they would be, comparatively, like an evil spirit going through deserts and lonely places, and finding no place of rest. They would return, therefore, and dwell with them. He walketh through dry places - That is, through deserts - regions of country unwatered, sandy, barren, desolate. That our Saviour here speaks according to the ancient belief of the Jews that evil spirits had their abodes in those desolate, uninhabited regions, there can be no doubt; nor can there be any doubt that the Bible gives countenance to the opinion. Thus Rev 18:2; "Babylon - is become the habitation of "devils" and the hold of "every foul spirit;" that is, has become "desolate - a place where evil spirits appropriately dwell. So Isa 13:21; "And satyrs shall dance there:" "i. e." according to the ancient Greek translation, "devils or demons shall dance there." See also Jer 50:39. Compare the Isa 34:4 note; Deu 32:17 note. Seeking rest, and findeth none - These desolate and dry regions are represented as uncomfortable habitations; so much so, that the dissatisfied spirit, better pleased with a dwelling in the bosoms of people, as affording an opportunity of doing evil, seeks a return there. Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house ... - The man is called his house, because the spirit had dwelt in him. He findeth it empty ... - There is here a continuance of the reference to the dwelling of the spirit in people. The man was called his "house." By the absence of the evil spirit the house is represented as unoccupied, or "empty, swept," and "garnished;" that is, while the evil spirit was away, the man was restored to his right mind, or was freed from the influence of the evil spirit. Garnished - Adorned, put in order, furnished. Applied to the "man," it means that his mind was sane and regular when the evil spirit was gone, or he had a "lucid interval." Mat 12:45 Then goeth he ... - Seeing the state of the man; dissatisfied with a lonely dwelling in the desert where he could do no evil; envious of the happiness of the individual, and supremely bent on wickedness, he resolved to increase his power of malignant influences and to return. He is therefore represented as taking seven other spirits still worse than himself, and returning to his former habitation. Seven denotes a large but indefinite number. It was a favorite number with the Jews, and was used to denote "completeness" or "perfection," or any "finished" or "complete" number. See Sa1 2:5. Compare Rev 1:4. Here it means a sufficient number completely to occupy and harass his soul. Even so shall it be with this generations - This shows the scope and design of this illustration. The state of that man was a representation of that generation of people. Much might be done to cure their unbelief, much to reform them externally; but such was the firm hold which the principles of infidelity and wickedness had taken of their minds "as their proper habitation," that they would return, after all the means used to reform them, and they would be worse and worse. And this was literally accomplished. After all the instructions and miracles of the Saviour and his apostles; after all that had been done for them by holy people and prophets, and by the judgments and mercies of God; and after all their external temporary reformations - like the temporary departure of an evil spirit from a man possessed - yet such was their love of wickedness that the nation became worse and worse. They increased in crime, like the seven-fold misery and wretchedness of the man into whose bosom the seven additional evil spirits came. They rejected God's messengers, abused his mercies, crucified his Son, and God gave their temple, and capital, and nation into the hands of the Romans. and thousands of the people to destruction. It is not "proved" by this passage that evil spirits actually "dwell" in deserts It is proved only that such was the opinion of the Jews; that that opinion was drawn from some expressions in the Bible; and that "such expressions were sufficiently clear to justify the Saviour in drawing an argument from them to confound those who firmly believed that such was the case." Nor is there any absurdity in the opinion; for, 1. There are evil spirits. See the notes at Mat 8:33. 2. They must exist in "some place." 3. There is as much propriety that they should be located about our earth as anywhere. 4. The clear doctrine of the Bible is, that many of them have much to do with our world. 5. It is as reasonable that they should dwell commonly in desolate and uninhabited regions as anywhere else.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

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 such was the obstinacy of their unbelief and wickedness, that they would soon return to their former course. and become worse and worse. Infidelity and wickedness, like an evil spirit in a possessed man, were appropriately at "home" in them. If driven out, they would find no other place so comfortable and undisturbed as their bosoms. Everywhere they would be, comparatively, like an evil spirit going through deserts and lonely places, and finding no place of rest. They would return, therefore, and dwell with them.

He walketh through dry places - That is, through deserts - regions of country unwatered, sandy, barren, desolate. That our Saviour here speaks according to the ancient belief of the Jews that evil spirits had their abodes in those desolate, uninhabited regions, there can be no doubt; nor can there be any doubt that the Bible gives countenance to the opinion. Thus Rev 18:2; "Babylon - is become the habitation of "devils" and the hold of "every foul spirit;" that is, has become "desolate - a place where evil spirits appropriately dwell. So Isa 13:21; "And satyrs shall dance there:" "i. e." according to the ancient Greek translation, "devils or demons shall dance there." See also Jer 50:39. Compare the Isa 34:4 note; Deu 32:17 note.

Seeking rest, and findeth none - These desolate and dry regions are represented as uncomfortable habitations; so much so, that the dissatisfied spirit, better pleased with a dwelling in the bosoms of people, as affording an opportunity of doing evil, seeks a return there.

Mat 12:44

Then he saith, I will return into my house ... - The man is called his house, because the spirit had dwelt in him.

He findeth it empty ... - There is here a continuance of the reference to the dwelling of the spirit in people.

The man was called his "house." By the absence of the evil spirit the house is represented as unoccupied, or "empty, swept," and "garnished;" that is, while the evil spirit was away, the man was restored to his right mind, or was freed from the influence of the evil spirit.

Garnished - Adorned, put in order, furnished. Applied to the "man," it means that his mind was sane and regular when the evil spirit was gone, or he had a "lucid interval."

Mat 12:45

Then goeth he ... - Seeing the state of the man; dissatisfied with a lonely dwelling in the desert where he could do no evil; envious of the happiness of the individual, and supremely bent on wickedness, he resolved to increase his power of malignant influences and to return.

He is therefore represented as taking seven other spirits still worse than himself, and returning to his former habitation. Seven denotes a large but indefinite number. It was a favorite number with the Jews, and was used to denote "completeness" or "perfection," or any "finished" or "complete" number. See Sa1 2:5. Compare Rev 1:4. Here it means a sufficient number completely to occupy and harass his soul.

Even so shall it be with this generations - This shows the scope and design of this illustration. The state of that man was a representation of that generation of people. Much might be done to cure their unbelief, much to reform them externally; but such was the firm hold which the principles of infidelity and wickedness had taken of their minds "as their proper habitation," that they would return, after all the means used to reform them, and they would be worse and worse. And this was literally accomplished. After all the instructions and miracles of the Saviour and his apostles; after all that had been done for them by holy people and prophets, and by the judgments and mercies of God; and after all their external temporary reformations - like the temporary departure of an evil spirit from a man possessed - yet such was their love of wickedness that the nation became worse and worse. They increased in crime, like the seven-fold misery and wretchedness of the man into whose bosom the seven additional evil spirits came. They rejected God's messengers, abused his mercies, crucified his Son, and God gave their temple, and capital, and nation into the hands of the Romans. and thousands of the people to destruction.

It is not "proved" by this passage that evil spirits actually "dwell" in deserts It is proved only that such was the opinion of the Jews; that that opinion was drawn from some expressions in the Bible; and that "such expressions were sufficiently clear to justify the Saviour in drawing an argument from them to confound those who firmly believed that such was the case." Nor is there any absurdity in the opinion; for,

1. There are evil spirits. See the notes at Mat 8:33.

2. They must exist in "some place."

3. There is as much propriety that they should be located about our earth as anywhere.

4. The clear doctrine of the Bible is, that many of them have much to do with our world.

5. It is as reasonable that they should dwell commonly in desolate and uninhabited regions as anywhere else.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
But how dreadful will be the consequence of their rejecting me? When the unclean spirit goeth out - Not willingly, but being compelled by one that is stronger than he. He walketh - Wanders up and down; through dry places - Barren, dreary, desolate; or places not yet watered with the Gospel: Seeking rest, and findeth none - How can he, while he carries with him his own hell? And is it not the case of his children too? Reader, is it thy case? Luk 11:24.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
When 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 very people with contempt for whose conviction it was alone designed. He walketh through dry places - Δι' ανυδρων τοπων. There seems to be a reference here to the Orphic demonology, in which evil spirits were divided into various classes, according to the different regions of their abode, or places in which they delighted. These classes were five: 1. Δαιμονες ουρανιοι, Celestial demons. 2. Δαιμονες ηεριοι, Aerial. 3. Δαιμονες ενυδριοι, Aquatic. 4. Δαιμονες χθονιοι, Terrestrial. 5. Και δαιμονες υποχθονιοι, And subterranean demons. See Orph. ad Mus. ap. Schott. The Platonists, the followers of Zoroaster, and the primitive Jews, made nearly the same distinctions. Seeking rest - Or refreshment. Strange! a fallen corrupt spirit can have no rest but in the polluted human heart: the corruption of the one is suited to the pollution of the other, and thus like cleaves to like.

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⁴⁶ While [2089] he [846] yet [1161] talked [2980] to the people [3793], behold [2400], his mother [3384] and [2532] his [846] brethren [80] stood [2476] without [1854], desiring [2212] to speak [2980] with him [846].
⁴⁷ Then [1161] one [5100] said [2036] unto him [846], Behold [2400], thy [4675] mother [3384] and [2532] thy [4675] brethren [80] stand [2476] without [1854], desiring [2212] to speak [2980] with thee [4671].
⁴⁸ But [1161] he answered [611] and said [2036] unto him that told [2036] him [846], Who [5101] is [2076] my [3450] mother [3384]? and [2532] who [5101] are [1526] my [3450] brethren [80]?
⁴⁹ And [2532] he stretched forth [1614] his [846] hand [5495] toward [1909] his [846] disciples [3101], and said [2036], Behold [2400] my [3450] mother [3384] and [2532] my [3450] brethren [80]!
⁵⁰ For [1063] whosoever [3748] [302] shall do [4160] the will [2307] of my [3450] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772], the same [846] is [2076] my [3450] brother [80], and [2532] sister [79], and [2532] mother [3384].

²⁸ But [1161] he [846] said [2036], Yea rather [3304], blessed [3107] are they that hear [191] the word [3056] of God [2316], and [2532] keep [5442] it [846].

²⁸ And [2532] the angel [32] came in [1525] unto [4314] her [846], and said [2036], Hail [5463], thou that art highly favoured [5487], the Lord [2962] is with [3326] thee [4675]: blessed [2127] art thou [4771] among [1722] women [1135].

²⁷ And [1161] it came to pass [1096], as [1722] he [846] spake [3004] these things [5023], a certain [5100] woman [1135] of [1537] the company [3793] lifted up [1869] her voice [5456], and said [2036] unto him [846], Blessed [3107] is the womb [2836] that bare [941] thee [4571], and [2532] the paps [3149] which [3739] thou hast sucked [2337].
²⁸ But [1161] he [846] said [2036], Yea rather [3304], blessed [3107] are they that hear [191] the word [3056] of God [2316], and [2532] keep [5442] it [846].

²¹ When [3752] a strong man [2478] armed [2528] keepeth [5442] his [833] palace [1438], his [846] goods [5224] are [2076] in [1722] peace [1515]:
²² But [1161] when [1875] a stronger [2478] than he [846] shall come upon him [1904], and overcome [3528] him [846], he taketh [142] from him [846] all his armour [3833] wherein [1909] [3739] he trusted [3982], and [2532] divideth [1239] his [846] spoils [4661].
²³ He that is [5607] not [3361] with [3326] me [1700] is [2076] against [2596] me [1700]: and [2532] he that gathereth [4863] not [3361] with [3326] me [1700] scattereth [4650].
²⁴ When [3752] the unclean [169] spirit [4151] is gone [1831] out of [575] a man [444], he walketh [1330] through [1223] dry [504] places [5117], seeking [2212] rest [372]; and [2532] finding [2147] none [3361], he saith [3004], I will return [5290] unto [1519] my [3450] house [3624] whence [3606] I came out [1831].
²⁵ And [2532] when he cometh [2064], he findeth [2147] it swept [4563] and [2532] garnished [2885].
²⁶ Then [5119] goeth he [4198], and [2532] taketh [3880] to him seven [2033] other [2087] spirits [4151] more wicked [4191] than himself [1438]; and [2532] they enter in [1525], and dwell [2730] there [1563]: and [2532] the last [2078] state of that [1565] man [444] is [1096] worse [5501] than the first [4413].

²⁹ Or [2228] else how [4459] can [1410] one [5100] enter [1525] into [1519] a strong man's [2478] house [3614], and [2532] spoil [1283] his [846] goods [4632], except [3362] he first [4412] bind [1210] the strong man [2478]? and [2532] then [5119] he will spoil [1283] his [846] house [3614].

³³ And [1161] they that kept [1006] them fled [5343], and [2532] went their ways [565] into [1519] the city [4172], and told [518] every thing [3956], and [2532] what was befallen to the possessed of the devils [1139].

⁴ John [2491] to the seven [2033] churches [1577] which [3588] are in [1722] Asia [773]: Grace [5485] be unto you [5213], and [2532] peace [1515], from [575] him which [3588] is [5607] [3801], and [2532] which [3588] was [2258] [3801], and [2532] which [3588] is to come [2064] [3801]; and [2532] from [575] the seven [2033] Spirits [4151] which [3739] are [2076] before [1799] his [846] throne [2362];

⁵ They that were full [07649] have hired out [07936] themselves for bread [03899]; and they that were hungry [07457] ceased [02308]: so that the barren [06135] hath born [03205] seven [07651]; and she that hath many [07227] children [01121] is waxed feeble [0535].

⁴⁵ Then [5119] goeth he [4198], and [2532] taketh [3880] with [3326] himself [1438] seven [2033] other [2087] spirits [4151] more wicked [4191] than himself [1438], and [2532] they enter in [1525] and dwell [2730] there [1563]: and [2532] the last [2078] state of that [1565] man [444] is [1096] worse than [5501] the first [4413]. Even so [3779] shall it be [2071] also [2532] unto this [5026] wicked [4190] generation [1074].

⁴⁴ Then [5119] he saith [3004], I will return [1994] into [1519] my [3450] house [3624] from whence [3606] I came out [1831]; and [2532] when he is come [2064], he findeth [2147] it empty [4980], swept [4563], and [2532] garnished [2885].

¹⁷ They sacrificed [02076] unto devils [07700], not to God [0433]; to gods [0430] whom they knew [03045] not, to new [02319] gods that came [0935] newly [07138] up [0935], whom your fathers [01] feared [08175] not.

⁴ And all the host [06635] of heaven [08064] shall be dissolved [04743], and the heavens [08064] shall be rolled together [01556] as a scroll [05612]: and all their host [06635] shall fall down [05034], as the leaf [05929] falleth off [05034] from the vine [01612], and as a falling [05034] fig from the fig tree [08384].

³⁹ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert [06728] with the wild beasts of the islands [0338] shall dwell [03427] there, and the owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [03427] therein: and it shall be no more inhabited [03427] for ever [05331]; neither shall it be dwelt [07931] in from generation [01755] to generation [01755].

²¹ But wild beasts of the desert [06728] shall lie [07257] there; and their houses [01004] shall be full [04390] of doleful creatures [0255]; and owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [07931] there, and satyrs [08163] shall dance [07540] there.

² And [2532] he cried [2896] mightily [2479] with [1722] a strong [3173] voice [5456], saying [3004], Babylon [897] the great [3173] is fallen [4098], is fallen [4098], and [2532] is become [1096] the habitation [2732] of devils [1142], and [2532] the hold [5438] of every [3956] foul [169] spirit [4151], and [2532] a cage [5438] of every [3956] unclean [169] and [2532] hateful [3404] bird [3732].

²⁴ When [3752] the unclean [169] spirit [4151] is gone [1831] out of [575] a man [444], he walketh [1330] through [1223] dry [504] places [5117], seeking [2212] rest [372]; and [2532] finding [2147] none [3361], he saith [3004], I will return [5290] unto [1519] my [3450] house [3624] whence [3606] I came out [1831].