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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) “Whenever an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid lands looking for a place to rest, and doesn’t find any.![]()
OET-LV And whenever the unclean spirit may_come_out from the person, it_is_passing_through through waterless places seeking rest and it_is_ not _finding.
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SR-GNT Ὅταν δὲ τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, διέρχεται διʼ ἀνύδρων τόπων ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει. ‡
(Hotan de to akatharton pneuma exelthaʸ apo tou anthrōpou, dierⱪetai diʼ anudrōn topōn zaʸtoun anapausin kai ouⱪ heuriskei.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT Now when the unclean spirit has gone out from the man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and it does not find any.
UST Listen to this story: an evil spirit leaves someone and wanders around in desolate areas looking for someone else to live in. However, it does not find anyone there.
BSB When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find [it].
MSB When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find [it].
BLB Now when the unclean spirit is gone out from the man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.
AICNT “When the unclean spirit goes out from a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest and does not find it.
OEB No sooner does a foul spirit leave a person, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest, and does not find it.
WEBBE “When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, and doesn’t find it.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it.
LSV And when the unclean spirit may go forth from the man, it walks through dry places seeking rest and does not find;
FBV When an evil spirit leaves someone, it wanders through deserted places looking for rest, and finds nowhere to stay.
TCNT “When an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it goes through waterless places seeking rest, but does not find any.
T4T “Sometimes when an evil spirit leaves a person, it wanders around in desolate areas, seeking someone in whom it can rest. If it does not find anyone,
LEB ¶ “Now whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find it.[fn]
12:43 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
BBE But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of a man, goes through dry places looking for rest, and getting it not.
Moff When an unclean spirit leaves a man, it roams through dry places in search of refreshment and finds none.
Wymth "No sooner however has the foul spirit gone out of the man, then he roams about in places where there is no water, seeking rest but finding none.
ASV But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.
DRA And when an unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest, and findeth none.
YLT 'And, when the unclean spirit may go forth from the man, it doth walk through dry places seeking rest, and doth not find;
Drby But when the unclean spirit has gone out of the man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and does not find [it].
RV But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.
(But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth/passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth/finds it not. )
SLT And when the unclean spirit has gone out from a man, he passes through sterile places, seeking rest, and finds not.
Wbstr When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and he findeth none.
KJB-1769 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
(When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth/finds none. )
KJB-1611 When the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man, hee walketh thorow dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)
Bshps When the vncleane spirite is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout drye places, sekyng rest, and fyndeth none.
(When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout dry places, seeking rest, and findeth/finds none.)
Gnva Nowe when the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout drie places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
(Now when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout dry places, seeking rest, and findeth/finds none. )
Cvdl Whan the vncleane sprete is gone out of man, he walketh thorow dry places, sekinge rest, & fyndeth none.
(When the unclean spirit is gone out of man, he walketh through dry places, sekinge rest, and findeth/finds none.)
TNT When the vnclene sprite is gone out of a man he walketh throughout dry places seking reest and fyndeth none.
(When the unclean sprite is gone out of a man he walketh throughout dry places seking reest and findeth/finds none. )
Wycl Whanne an vnclene spirit goith out fro a man, he goith bi drie places, `and sekith rest, and fyndith not.
(When an unclean spirit goeth/goes out from a man, he goeth/goes by dry places, and seeketh/seeks rest, and findeth/finds not.)
Luth Wenn der unsaubere Geist von dem Menschen ausgefahren ist, so durchwandelt er dürre Stätten, suchet Ruhe und findet sie nicht.
(When the/of_the unclean spirit from to_him people extended is, so through he have_a_drought sites/places, seeks rest/silence and finds they/she/them not.)
ClVg Cum autem immundus spiritus exierit ab homine, ambulat per loca arida, quærens requiem, et non invenit.[fn]
(Since however unclean/impure spirit exierit away man, he_walks through places dry, seeking rest/repose, and not/no he_found. )
12.43 Cum autem, etc. Quasi dicat: Vos non estis similes Ninivitis vel reginæ Austri: quia me prædicante pœnitentiam non pœnituistis, et me docente sapientiam non didicistis. Sed estis similes homini a quo diabolus exclusus iterum ingreditur. Distat inter opera mea qui polluta mundo, et Satanæ, qui mundata gravius contaminat. Ambulat per loca. Explorat corda fidelium a mollitie fluxæ cogitationis purgata, si quos gressus ibi figere possit quod, quia nequit, ad humida redit.
12.43 Since however, etc. As_if let_him_say: You(pl) not/no you_are similar Ninivitis or queens Austri: because me preaching repentance not/no pœnituistis, and me teache wisdom not/no I_learntstis. But you_are similar to_man from where the_devil exclusus again enters. Distat between works my who/which polluted to_the_world, and Satanæ, who/which cleansa heavier contaminat. Ambulat through places. Explorat hearts faithful from softensie fluxæ thinksionis purgata, when/but_if which steps there figere can that, because nequit, to humida returns.
UGNT ὅταν δὲ τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, διέρχεται δι’ ἀνύδρων τόπων ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει.
(hotan de to akatharton pneuma exelthaʸ apo tou anthrōpou, dierⱪetai di’ anudrōn topōn zaʸtoun anapausin kai ouⱪ heuriskei.)
SBL-GNT Ὅταν δὲ τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, διέρχεται διʼ ἀνύδρων τόπων ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει.
(Hotan de to akatharton pneuma exelthaʸ apo tou anthrōpou, dierⱪetai diʼ anudrōn topōn zaʸtoun anapausin, kai ouⱪ heuriskei.)
RP-GNT Ὅταν δὲ τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, διέρχεται δι' ἀνύδρων τόπων, ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει.
(Hotan de to akatharton pneuma exelthaʸ apo tou anthrōpou, dierⱪetai di' anudrōn topōn, zaʸtoun anapausin, kai ouⱪ heuriskei.)
TC-GNT Ὅταν δὲ τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, διέρχεται δι᾽ ἀνύδρων τόπων, ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκει.
(Hotan de to akatharton pneuma exelthaʸ apo tou anthrōpou, dierⱪetai di anudrōn topōn, zaʸtoun anapausin, kai ouⱪ heuriskei. )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
12:43 Demons were thought to prefer the arid desert (see Rev 18:2; cp. Isa 13:21; 34:14).
In this section, the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders increases. Jesus had already said several times that he was someone special. He said that he was greater than the temple (12:6). He said that he was Lord of the Sabbath (12:8). In this section, the religious leaders wanted to see a miraculous sign to confirm that he was really from God.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for asking for a sign, and he refused to give them an immediate sign. A sign would come later. It would be the sign of Jonah. By referring to the sign of Jonah, Jesus meant that he would be in the grave three days (12:40) before God resurrected him. He then told two stories and said that he was greater than Jonah and Solomon. Jesus warned them that if they did not recognize God’s work among them, they would be condemned.
Finally, Jesus told a story to warn the religious leaders of the spiritual dangers that faced them if they did not have the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The religious leaders ask for a sign/miracle
The sign of Jonah
There is a parallel passage for 12:38–42 in Luke 11:29–32. There is a parallel passage for 12:43–45 in Luke 11:24–26.
This paragraph warns that removing evil from a person’s life is not enough. The person must also fill himself with good. The way that someone fills himself with good is not explicitly mentioned. The implied way is by following Jesus and having the Holy Spirit fill him.
Jesus used the present tense for all the verbs in 12:43–45. The present tense shows that this is a general example: these events commonly happen for this situation. Use the proper tense in your language to show that this is a general example.
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man,
¶ “When an evil spirit leaves a person,
¶ Jesus continued, “Suppose an evil spirit is forced to leave someone.
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man: An unclean spirit would not normally “go out” of a person unless someone forced it to leave. So it is probably implied that someone forced the unclean spirit to leave the person it possessed. In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
When an evil spirit leaves a person (CEV)
When an evil spirit comes out of a person (GW)
Suppose an evil spirit is caused/forced to leave a person it possessed
unclean spirit: The term unclean spirit refers to the same beings as “evil spirit” and “demon.” You can translate these three terms with the same term. The plural form of the term unclean spirit occurs in 10:1b.
The Jews believed that anyone who had an evil spirit was unclean. So an evil spirit was also called an unclean spirit.
Here are some other ways to translate unclean spirit:
Use a general term in your language that refers to a spirit that is evil and can control people. For example:
demon
devil
Use a specific term in your language that refers to a certain type of spirit. Do not use a term that refers to the spirit of a dead person.
Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
evil spirit (NIV)
See demon in the Glossary for more information.
it passes through arid places seeking rest
it goes through dry lands and looks for a place to rest,
He wanders/roams in dry lands looking for a place to stay/live.
it passes through arid places: The phrase arid places refers to areas that are dry or a desert. The evil spirit wanders/roams around in such places, but it does not stay there. It passes through these places.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
it travels through the desert (CEV)
it goes through dry places (GW)
it wanders through waterless places (JBP)
seeking rest: In this context, the word rest refers to a “place to stay/live” or a “home.” The unclean spirit was looking for a place where it could stop wandering around and start to live. In this context, a place to rest would refer to another person to possess. It does not mean that the unclean spirit was tired.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
hunting for a place to stay/live
looking for a home
and does not find it.
but it does not find any.
But he does not find one.
and does not find it: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as and is most often translated that way. There is a contrast between what the evil spirit sought and what happened: it did not find a place to stay. In some languages, it may be more natural to use “but” instead of and.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
But it doesn’t find any. (GW)
But when the demon doesn’t find a place (CEV)
and never finding it (JBP)
If it/he does not find a place to stay
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ τό ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπό τοῦ ἀνθρώπου διέρχεται διʼ ἀνύδρων τόπων ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν καί οὐχ εὑρίσκει)
Here, the word Now introduces the next topic that Jesus wants to speak about. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next topic, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: [Next,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parables
ὅταν & τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα
whenever & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ τό ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπό τοῦ ἀνθρώπου διέρχεται διʼ ἀνύδρων τόπων ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν καί οὐχ εὑρίσκει)
To further explain what he has been saying about “this generation,” Jesus tells a short story that continues through [12:45](../12/45.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [here is an illustration about this generation: when the unclean spirit]
Note 3 topic: writing-participants
ὅταν & τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
whenever & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ τό ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα ἐξέλθῃ ἀπό τοῦ ἀνθρώπου διέρχεται διʼ ἀνύδρων τόπων ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν καί οὐχ εὑρίσκει)
With this clause, Jesus introduces the unclean spirit and the man as characters in his story. If your language has its own way of introducing new participants, you could use it in your translation. Alternate translation: [there was an unclean spirit possessing a man. When the unclean spirit has gone out from the man]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
ἀνύδρων τόπων
waterless places
Jesus is describing the desert by reference to the lack of water there. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a desert] or [the wilderness]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἀνάπαυσιν
rest
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of rest, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [a place to rest]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
ἀνάπαυσιν
rest
Here, rest represents a place to live or stay, which for an unclean spirit would be a person to possess or control. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a place to live] or [a home] or [a person to control]