OET interlinear LUKE 11:17

11:17a

In Greek, this verse begins with a phrase that is literally “but he.” This emphatic phrase shows a turning point in the story. It contrasts the unspoken motives of the various groups in the crowd with the fact that Jesus knew what they thought even though they did not say it. The BSB does not indicate this emphatic contrast explicitly. In some languages, there may be a natural way to do this. For example:

But he (RSV)

But as for Jesus, he

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus: Jesus knew what the different groups of people in 11:15–16 were thinking. He knew what the people who spoke about him in 11:15 were thinking. He also knew the real motives of the people who wanted a sign (11:16).

said to them: The phrase said to them expresses the result of Jesus knowing their thoughts. Some English versions indicate that this is a result by using the word “so.” For example:

so he said to them (GNT)

Express this relationship in a way that is natural in your language.

11:17b

Every kingdom divided against itself: The phrase Every kingdom divided against itself describes a civil war. It refers to any nation or country where different groups within that country fight one another. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other (GNT)

Any kingdom divided by civil war (NLT)

kingdom: A kingdom is a country that is ruled by a king. But Jesus was not talking only about countries that had kings. He was giving a general principle that can be applied to any country or tribe. Other ways to translate kingdom in this context are:

nation

tribe

will be laid waste: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as will be laid waste means “will be destroyed.” It is implied that it will also be deserted, that is, few people will remain alive in that country. It does not mean that the country will become a “desert” in the sense of a sandy or rocky area with little water or vegetation.

The verb will be laid waste is a passive verb. Some ways to translate this verb are:

will be destroyed (NCV)

will end up in ruin (CEV)

will not last very long (GNT)

11:17c

and a house divided against a house will fall: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as a house divided against a house will fall is literally “a house upon a house falls.” There are two ways to interpret this clause:

1. It is a second example. It describes a household or family whose members are fighting each other. For example:

   a family divided against itself falls apart (GNT) (BSB, NIV, NLT, NASB, KJV, REB, NCV, GW, CEV, GNT, NET)

2. It is the result of a kingdom that is divided against itself. Civil war like this leads to one family fighting another. It may also lead to one house literally collapsing against another house. For example:

   and house falls upon house (NRSV) (NRSV, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions. This interpretation is parallel with the statement in 11:17b. It also agrees with the parallel accounts in Matthew and Mark.

a house: The term house refers to a family or a group of people living together as one household.

divided against a house: As in 11:17b, the phrase divided against a house here means “fight one another.” When the members of a household fight one another, that household will fall. This means that the family will split apart and will soon cease to exist as a family unit. Some other ways to translate this are:

a family that is divided against itself will not continue (NCV)

a family that fights will break up (CEV)

A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. (NLT)