Luke 11 21

Luke 11:21 kjv

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

Luke 11:21 nkjv

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

Luke 11:21 niv

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.

Luke 11:21 esv

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;

Luke 11:21 nlt

For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe ?

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 21 Meaning

Luke 11:21 presents a parable spoken by Jesus, illustrating the nature of His power over demonic forces. It describes a scenario where a powerful individual, fully equipped with armor, guards his own domain, ensuring the security of his possessions. This serves as an analogy for Satan's dominion over the world and over individuals, where he maintains his authority and keeps his subjects, metaphorically called "goods," in a state of captivity and false peace. The implied contrast, further explained in the subsequent verse (Luke 11:22), is that only a "stronger one" can overcome this well-guarded domain, conquer the "strong man," and seize his spoils, thereby delivering those held captive. This verse therefore sets the stage for understanding Jesus' authority as the "stronger one" who invades and liberates from Satan's grasp.

Luke 11 21 Context

Luke 11:21 is part of a crucial teaching moment where Jesus confronts the accusations of His critics. The immediate context (Luke 11:14-23) sees Jesus casting out a demon from a mute man, which prompts some onlookers to accuse Him of driving out demons by Beelzebul, the "prince of demons." Others demand a sign from heaven. In response, Jesus dismantles their illogical argument, stating that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, implying that Satan would not cast out Satan. He then introduces the parable of the strong man to explain how His exorcisms are, in fact, evidence of God's kingdom advancing and His divine authority, rather than collaboration with evil. This specific verse, therefore, lays the foundation for Jesus demonstrating that He is superior to Satan, thus capable of plundering Satan's realm. Historically and culturally, the Jewish understanding of the world often included a robust belief in demonic influence and the spiritual battle between good and evil, with messianic expectations sometimes including deliverance from oppressive spiritual forces. Jesus' parables resonated deeply with these worldviews, highlighting His unique power as an unprecedented invasion into the kingdom of darkness.

Luke 11 21 Word analysis

• When (ὅταν - hotan): A conjunction that sets up a temporal and conditional clause. It marks the setting for the metaphorical scenario, not a specific past event.
• a strong man (ἰσχυρός - ischyros):
  • Original Language: Greek 'ischyros'.
  • Meaning: Powerful, mighty, strong, potent.
  • Significance: Here, it directly refers to Satan. This term highlights the immense power and authority Satan wields over the unbelieving world and individuals bound by sin, a power not to be underestimated. He is portrayed as well-established and formidable.
• fully armed (καθωπλισμένος - kathōplismenos):
  • Original Language: Greek 'kathōplismenos', perfect passive participle of 'kathoplizō'.
  • Meaning: Armed throughout, completely equipped with arms, fully accoutred, armed from head to foot.
  • Significance: This emphasizes Satan's preparedness and defenses. He is not weak or caught off guard, but fully ready to defend his dominion, illustrating the serious nature of spiritual conflict. His protection is thorough.
• guards (φυλάσσῃ - phylassē):
  • Original Language: Greek 'phylassē', present subjunctive of 'phylassō'.
  • Meaning: To guard, watch, keep; to maintain and preserve in safety.
  • Significance: Conveys a continuous action of maintaining control and vigilance over his domain. This implies his active presence and protection over what he perceives as his own.
• his own palace (τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν - tēn heautou aulēn):
  • Original Language: Greek 'aulēn' (court, palace, courtyard). 'heautou' (his own).
  • Meaning: His personal dwelling, mansion, or fortress.
  • Significance: Represents Satan's dominion. This can be understood as the entire world system influenced by evil (Eph 2:2) or specifically an individual life in which a demon has taken hold (Lk 8:29, Mk 5:2). The possessive "his own" denotes his perceived authority and entitlement over this realm.
• his goods (τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ - ta hyparchonta autou):
  • Original Language: Greek 'hyparchonta', present participle, neuter plural of 'hyparchō'.
  • Meaning: Things that exist; possessions, property, resources, belongings.
  • Significance: These "goods" represent the people, their lives, souls, or minds, that are under Satan's control, enslaved by sin, or held captive by demonic influence. It tragically highlights the spiritual bondage people experience prior to Christ's intervention.
• are safe (ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἐστίν - en eirēnē estin):
  • Original Language: Greek 'eirēnē' (peace, well-being, tranquility).
  • Meaning: Is in peace, in security.
  • Significance: This describes a state of undisturbed possession and control. For Satan, it's a deceptive peace—the false security of a kingdom unchallenged from within. For those "goods" (people), it signifies a state of bondage masked by an absence of resistance or a deluded sense of well-being, implying their captivity is unchallenged until Christ arrives.

• "When a strong man, fully armed": This phrase introduces the formidable opponent. The combination of 'strong' and 'fully armed' underscores the formidable nature of Satan's power and defenses against any intrusion into his established domain. It means he's not an easy opponent.
• "guards his own palace": This highlights Satan's absolute control and perceived ownership over his realm, which encompasses the lives and souls he holds captive. The "palace" signifies his fortified stronghold and sphere of influence, maintained through active vigilance.
• "his goods are safe": This phrase describes the consequence of the strong man's diligent guarding. The "goods" are securely held within his dominion, reflecting the deep spiritual bondage that characterizes the unredeemed. This safety is ironic, as it refers to the secure state of imprisonment rather than true well-being or freedom.

Luke 11 21 Bonus section

This parable, shared by Jesus, indirectly challenges contemporary Jewish exorcistic practices that were thought to work by incantations or rituals, implying that true liberation required more than just invoking names or spirits—it necessitated an absolute conquering power over the very ruler of demons. The "strong man" (Satan) is shown to be defeated not by internal division but by external, superior force. This sets Christ apart from all others who merely treated symptoms of demonic oppression; Jesus addresses the root power, defeating the spiritual hierarchy itself. This concept implies that salvation and deliverance are not just about escaping sin's guilt but also about liberation from the spiritual authority that holds humanity in bondage.

Luke 11 21 Commentary

Luke 11:21 is a powerful metaphorical assertion by Jesus regarding the reality of spiritual warfare and His unparalleled authority. It frames the existing global condition: a world effectively held under the dominion of Satan, the "strong man," who is not a weak or casual adversary but is "fully armed" and diligently "guards his own palace." This "palace" represents the realm where he maintains control, often understood as the world system, sin-enslaved humanity, or individual lives taken captive. The "goods" being "safe" describes the unfortunate security of those held captive by Satan; they are secure in their bondage and spiritually unaware or unable to free themselves from his grasp, experiencing a false peace within their spiritual imprisonment. This verse thus lays the foundation for understanding Jesus' subsequent claim in Luke 11:22, where He declares Himself as the "stronger one" who overcomes this fortified adversary, breaks his defenses, and liberates his captives, demonstrating that His exorcisms are direct evidence of the Kingdom of God forcefully invading and plundering the kingdom of darkness. This illustrates that deliverance requires a power superior to Satan himself.