Luke 11 17

Luke 11:17 kjv

But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

Luke 11:17 nkjv

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.

Luke 11:17 niv

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

Luke 11:17 esv

But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.

Luke 11:17 nlt

He knew their thoughts, so he said, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 17 Meaning

Luke 11:17 captures Jesus' profound rebuttal to the accusation that He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. Jesus exposes the fundamental illogic of this claim by stating a universal principle: any kingdom or house internally divided against itself is inherently unstable and destined for ruin. He argues that if Satan were divided, fighting against his own kingdom by enabling its overthrow (e.g., through expelling demons), his domain could not stand. This principle applies equally to all structured entities, from nations to households, emphasizing that internal disunity leads to self-destruction.

Luke 11 17 Context

Luke 11:17 immediately follows the accusation made by some that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebul, the "prince of demons" (Lk 11:15). This charge directly questions the source of Jesus' miraculous power and aligns Him with evil forces, despite the obvious good He was doing. The immediate chapter context involves Jesus casting out a demon that caused muteness (Lk 11:14), His response to the Beelzebul accusation (Lk 11:15-26), and subsequent teachings on hearing God's word and the sign of Jonah. Historically, the Jewish leaders often sought to undermine Jesus' authority and ministry, frequently attributing His divine works to ungodly sources. This accusation by the religious elite was a polemic designed to discredit Jesus by associating Him with Satan, thereby presenting a significant challenge to His Messiahship and authority. Jesus' reply here is a logical refutation demonstrating the absurdity and self-defeating nature of their claim, exposing their lack of understanding or malicious intent.

Luke 11 17 Word analysis

(ul)

• But he, knowing: This phrase (Greek: Autos de eidos, lit. "He himself knowing") emphasizes Jesus' divine perception. The Greek eidos (participle of oida) implies a deep, intuitive, and complete understanding, not merely learning or guessing. It highlights His omniscient nature, showing He knows their thoughts even without them speaking them aloud, a powerful display of His deity in contrast to their false accusation.
• their thoughts: Reveals the internal malice or spiritual blindness of the accusers. Jesus responds to their inner state, not just their spoken words.
• said to them: A direct, authoritative confrontation of their accusation and inner reasoning.
• Every kingdom: Refers to any organized structure, dominion, or realm, whether political, spiritual, or familial. The Greek basileia has a broad application, signifying its universal principle.
• divided: The Greek diameristheisa (from diamerizo) signifies being completely split apart, partitioned, or fragmented into hostile factions. It's more than just disagreement; it implies internal civil war.
• against itself: Emphasizes the self-destructive nature of the division; the conflict is internal, not external.
• will be laid waste: The Greek eremōthēsetai (from eremoo) means to be desolated, made desolate, or utterly ruined and left vacant. This is the inevitable outcome of internal division—complete destruction.
• and house: The Greek oikos here can mean a physical household or a family/dynasty. It broadens the principle from kingdoms (large political entities) to families (smaller, more intimate social units).
• will fall: The Greek peseitai (from pipto) denotes collapse, descent, or failure.
• upon house: This idiom paints a vivid picture of cascading collapse, one part falling on and destroying another, symbolizing complete and utter ruin. It is not just one house falling, but a compounding destruction.

(ul)

• "But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them": This highlights Jesus' divine insight and sovereign authority in His response. He perceives the deeper spiritual malevolence or blindness behind their words, and His words carry the weight of divine truth and discernment.
• "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste": This establishes a universal logical and spiritual principle. It signifies that any system, nation, or organization that experiences internal fragmentation and conflict inevitably heads toward destruction and desolation. It underlines the essential nature of unity for survival.
• "and house will fall upon house": This phrase functions as a parallel illustration and amplification of the preceding principle. By narrowing the scope from "kingdom" to "house," Jesus demonstrates the principle's applicability from grand political structures down to the most intimate social units like families, showing that disunity at any level leads to a catastrophic, compounding collapse. It suggests total ruin without remaining support.

Luke 11 17 Bonus section

The logical refutation Jesus presents in this verse (and its immediate context in Lk 11:18) forms what is known as the "undivided kingdom" argument. This argument is powerful not only because it exposes the accusers' illogic but also because it subtly points to Jesus' true identity. By effectively binding Satan and casting out demons, Jesus is not working for Satan but is actually invading Satan's domain. This implies He is stronger than Satan and actively spoiling Satan's house (Lk 11:21-22), an act of true spiritual warfare from the side of God, not of Beelzebul. The concept of division leading to ruin is deeply embedded in ancient wisdom and history, observed in the collapse of empires, families, and even within the spiritual realm of fallen angels, illustrating that chaos is ultimately self-consuming. This argument solidified the claim that Jesus' authority came from God, not from evil.

Luke 11 17 Commentary

Luke 11:17 is a cornerstone of Jesus' defense against malicious accusations, brilliantly showcasing His divine wisdom and incisive logic. The accusers tried to discredit Him by claiming He performed miracles by demonic power. Jesus' rebuttal reveals the profound absurdity of their claim: Satan, as a kingdom ruler, would never empower actions that weaken or defeat his own dominion. For Satan to cast out Satan would be an act of suicidal folly, leading to his kingdom's swift downfall. This verse thus articulates a timeless, universal principle: internal division is a fatal flaw for any entity, whether a nation, a family, or even a spiritual realm. Its message extends beyond the immediate context, serving as a powerful admonition for the importance of unity in God's Church, in families, and within individuals for spiritual and societal health, warning that disunity brings inevitable ruin.Examples: A nation fractured by civil war cannot endure; a church divided by factions will cease to be effective; a family riddled with strife will disintegrate.