Mark 3:26 kjv
And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
Mark 3:26 nkjv
And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.
Mark 3:26 niv
And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.
Mark 3:26 esv
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.
Mark 3:26 nlt
And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.
Mark 3 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 12:25 | "...Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand." | Parallel account of Jesus' kingdom logic |
| Lk 11:17-18 | "...Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided..." | Parallel account, including Satan's division |
| Matt 12:26 | "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?" | Direct parallel clarifying Satan's self-defeat |
| Lk 10:18 | "He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.'" | Foreshadowing Satan's downfall and defeat |
| Rom 16:20 | "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." | God's definitive victory over Satan |
| Rev 20:10 | "...and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire..." | Satan's final judgment and eternal end |
| Gen 3:15 | "...He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." | Protoevangelium: Prophecy of the serpent's defeat |
| Heb 2:14 | "...that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil..." | Jesus' mission to nullify the devil's power |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | "...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." | Jesus' purpose: undoing evil's influence |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them..." | Christ's victory over spiritual evil powers |
| Jas 4:7 | "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." | Call to resist Satan, who will flee |
| 1 Pet 5:8-9 | "...Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." | Description of Satan's adversarial nature |
| Eph 6:11-12 | "...For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities..." | The spiritual nature of the Christian conflict |
| Jn 8:44 | "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth..." | Description of Satan's deceptive and murderous character |
| Prov 11:14 | "Where there is no guidance, a people falls..." | Principle: Lack of order leads to ruin |
| Prov 29:18 | "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint..." | Disorder without divine guidance |
| Mk 1:27 | "And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, 'What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.'" | Witness to Jesus' unique authority over demons |
| Mk 3:27 | "But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man..." | Contextual: Jesus binding Satan |
| Rev 12:9 | "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world..." | Detailed identification of Satan |
| Isa 14:12 | "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!" | Prophetic text, often seen as referring to Satan's fall |
| Ezek 28:16-17 | Portrayal of a magnificent, proud being whose perfection was corrupted, often interpreted as referring to Satan. | Allegorical depiction of spiritual pride and fall |
| Acts 26:18 | "...to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God..." | Deliverance from Satan's dominion |
Mark 3 verses
Mark 3 26 Meaning
Mark 3:26 presents a core part of Jesus' logical counter-argument to the scribes' accusation that He casts out demons by the power of Satan (Beelzebul). The verse asserts that if Satan were to become divided against himself, his domain would inevitably crumble and fail, much like any kingdom or household fractured by internal strife. This rhetorical statement highlights the sheer illogicality of their claim, demonstrating that Jesus' evident power over demons must stem from a source fundamentally opposed to, and greater than, Satan, rather than from within Satan's own self-defeating system. Consequently, it concludes that such self-division would lead directly to Satan's ultimate downfall.
Mark 3 26 Context
This verse is part of Jesus' response to an accusation made by scribes who had come from Jerusalem. They claimed that Jesus cast out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the "prince of demons" (Mk 3:22). This was a direct assault on Jesus' divine authority, implying that His powerful works were demonic in origin rather than from God. In response, Jesus presents a series of logical arguments, using analogies of a divided kingdom (Mk 3:24) and a divided house (Mk 3:25) to illustrate the impossibility of a self-destructive entity surviving. Verse 26 then specifically applies this principle to Satan himself, exposing the absurdity of the scribes' accusation. The subsequent "strong man" parable (Mk 3:27) further clarifies that Jesus' power involves invading and conquering Satan's domain, culminating in the severe warning against blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Mk 3:28-30).
Mark 3 26 Word analysis
- And if: Καὶ ἐὰν (Kai ean). This connective phrase seamlessly links this specific argument about Satan to the more general preceding analogies of a divided kingdom and house (Mk 3:24-25). It introduces a hypothetical condition crucial for Jesus' logical refutation.
- Satan: Σατανᾶς (Satanas). Derived from the Hebrew satan, meaning "adversary" or "accuser." It denotes the specific chief adversary of God and humanity. He represents an organized spiritual power of evil, seeking to oppose God's redemptive work. His unity, albeit in wickedness, is essential for his kingdom's operation against God.
- rises up against himself: ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἀνέστη (eph' heauton anestē). This literally means "stood upon himself" in opposition or revolt. It describes an active internal uprising or rebellion, signifying an intrinsic conflict. Such an action would fundamentally contradict Satan's nature and purpose, which is to consolidate evil against God, not against himself.
- and is divided: καὶ ἐμερίσθη (kai emeristhē). "Divided" implies being separated into factions, disunited, or fragmented internally. It represents the inevitable outcome of "rising up against himself." Satan's kingdom, despite being built on evil, relies on a perverted form of order and cohesion to exert influence and stand against the divine.
- he cannot stand: οὐ δύναται στῆναι (ou dynatai stēnai). "Cannot stand" means lacking the inherent power or ability to maintain stability, to endure, or to remain established. It conveys utter failure and collapse. This emphasizes the universal truth that disunity brings destruction, applying even to the forces of evil.
- but has an end: ἀλλὰ τέλος ἔχει (alla telos echei). The Greek telos implies a conclusion, fulfillment, or ultimate doom. This signifies not just a temporary setback but a definitive and final cessation of his power and rule. While Jesus presents it as a logical consequence of division, it subtly alludes to Satan's destined and inevitable destruction at the hands of God (Rev 20:10), a defeat already foreshadowed and initiated by Jesus' ministry.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And if Satan rises up against himself and is divided": This phrase sets up the counter-factual premise, demonstrating the absurdity of the scribes' accusation. It underscores that if the very orchestrator of evil were to engage in self-destruction, it would imply a fundamental failure in his unified opposition to God, an act impossible given his strategic intent.
- "he cannot stand, but has an end": This highlights the inescapable outcome of such internal conflict. The inability to "stand" denotes immediate organizational collapse, while "has an end" speaks to ultimate demise, signifying total defeat and destruction. This declaration asserts that true power against evil comes from a divine source capable of definitively ending its dominion.
Mark 3 26 Bonus section
- This argument is a classic example of reductio ad absurdum, where Jesus takes His opponents' premise to its logically absurd conclusion to reveal its inherent flaw.
- While evil forces can cause chaos and destruction outside themselves, Jesus' argument emphasizes that internal disunity would contradict their primary objective: collective opposition to God. Their unity, though for evil purposes, is key to their influence.
- The fact that Jesus could effectively "bind" the strong man (Satan, as seen in the subsequent verse 27) and plunder his domain through exorcisms meant He possessed a power fundamentally greater than Satan. This signified the inauguration of God's Kingdom on earth, actively conquering the realm of darkness.
- The phrase "has an end" also points beyond mere logical consequence to an eschatological reality. Jesus' ministry and defeat of demons were initial manifestations of the ultimate defeat destined for Satan, prefiguring the definitive judgment that awaits him.
Mark 3 26 Commentary
Mark 3:26 serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' logical brilliance and His undeniable authority over evil. By asking how Satan's kingdom could stand if divided against itself, Jesus exposes the irrationality of the scribes' charge that He operates by demonic power. The very nature of a "kingdom," even one built on malevolence, requires a semblance of unity to function and resist external threats. Satan's purpose is to oppose God and hold humanity captive; self-division would utterly undermine this objective, leading to his ruin. Therefore, Jesus' exorcisms could not logically be from Satan; they were evidence of a superior power—God's Spirit—invading and dismantling Satan's dominion. This verse thus affirms Jesus as the One who conquers the "strong man" (Satan) and binds him, signaling the advance of God's Kingdom and the certain, eventual triumph over all evil.