Matthew 12 43

Matthew 12:43 kjv

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Matthew 12:43 nkjv

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

Matthew 12:43 niv

"When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

Matthew 12:43 esv

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

Matthew 12:43 nlt

"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.

Matthew 12 verses

Matthew 12 43 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate activity of an unclean spirit after being expelled from a person. It highlights the restless and relentless nature of evil spirits, showing that they actively seek a dwelling place. After expulsion, such a spirit wanders through desolate, waterless areas, metaphorically and literally, searching for a place of rest or habitation, but it finds none. This sets the stage for the spirit's eventual decision to return to its former dwelling, a critical prelude to the subsequent verses detailing the "seven spirits" parable.

Matthew 12 43 Context

Matthew 12:43 is part of Jesus' teaching that immediately follows His powerful deliverance of a demon-possessed man (Matt 12:22) and the Pharisees' blasphemous accusation that He cast out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Matt 12:24). Jesus refutes their claim, demonstrates the inconsistency of their logic, and then speaks about the binding of the strong man (Satan). The "parable" of the returning unclean spirit (Matt 12:43-45) serves as a potent warning to that generation, particularly to the resistant Jewish leaders and people. They had been exposed to the presence and power of the Kingdom of God through Jesus' ministry, effectively having evil influences driven out (the 'house cleansed'). However, because they did not truly receive and fill their hearts with Christ, they were vulnerable to a far worse spiritual condition.

Matthew 12 43 Word analysis

• When (Ὅταν - Hotan): A particle indicating a conditional or temporal occurrence; "whenever," "whensoever," implying this is a characteristic behavior or consequence, not a one-off event. It signals a general principle.
• an unclean spirit (τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα - to akatharton pneuma):
  • ἀκάθαρτον (akatharton): "Unclean," "impure," "defiled," "ritually impure." This word is significant because it highlights not just moral wickedness but a state that renders one unfit for God's presence or worship, echoing Old Testament concepts of ceremonial impurity (e.g., in Lev). It points to a pervasive spiritual contamination.
  • πνεῦμα (pneuma): "Spirit," "wind," "breath." Here, it clearly refers to a distinct, intelligent, non-material entity that is malevolent and antagonistic to God.
• comes out of (ἐξέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - exelthē apo tou anthrōpou):
  • ἐξέλθῃ (exelthē): From exerchomai, "to come or go out," "to depart." It implies a forceful or compelled expulsion, as these spirits do not leave willingly.
  • ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου (apo tou anthrōpou): "From the person." Specifies the human host as their preferred dwelling.
• it goes through (διέρχεται - dierchetai): From dierchomai, "to pass through," "to go about," "to travel." This emphasizes the active movement and roaming nature of the spirit.
• arid places (δι' ἀνύδρων τόπων - di' anydrōn topōn):
  • ἀνύδρων (anydrōn): "Waterless," "dry," "desert-like." Symbolically, water in the Bible often represents life, blessing, the Holy Spirit. "Waterless" thus implies a place devoid of divine life, spiritual blessing, or the Spirit's refreshing presence.
  • τόπων (topōn): "Places," "regions."
  • Significance: In Jewish tradition and the Bible, desolate or dry places (wilderness, deserts) were sometimes seen as dwelling places for demons or spirits. This could be understood literally as places without human habitation, or figuratively as spiritually barren states or individuals lacking God's Spirit.
• seeking rest (ζητοῦν ἀνάπαυσιν - zētoun anapausin):
  • ζητοῦν (zētoun): "Seeking," "searching for," "endeavoring to find." Highlights the spirit's active pursuit.
  • ἀνάπαυσιν (anapausin): "Rest," "repose," "refreshment," "cessation from labor or discomfort."
  • Significance: This implies that these spirits are restless without a body to inhabit. Their "rest" is found in active malevolence, corruption, and the perversion of creation through possession. They are in turmoil when disembodied.
• and does not find it (καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκον - kai ouch heuriskon):
  • οὐχ εὑρίσκον (ouch heuriskon): "Not finding." This indicates the failure of their search in such desolate places. While arid places may be their habitat, they don't provide the rest they desire, which can only be achieved through inhabiting a living being and engaging in their destructive work.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "When an unclean spirit comes out of a person": This phrase concisely describes the act of exorcism, highlighting that the spirit's departure is not voluntary but an expulsion from its current host. It sets up the condition for the spirit's subsequent behavior.
• "it goes through arid places seeking rest": This reveals the spirits' nature and immediate post-expulsion behavior. They are not destroyed but are displaced. The "arid places" represent environments (literal or spiritual) where spiritual vitality is absent, yet these places paradoxically do not offer the "rest" the spirits seek. Their "rest" is tied to malevolent activity within a host.
• "and does not find it": This crucial concluding phrase of the verse emphasizes the frustration and ultimate inability of the spirit to find its desired state of repose outside of a human host. This unfulfilled search directly motivates the spirit's plan to return, making the subsequent verse impactful.

Matthew 12 43 Bonus section

The idea of evil spirits inhabiting desolate places can be found in ancient Near Eastern thought, where deserts were often considered dwelling places for demons and monsters (e.g., Azazel in Lev 16; Is 34:14-15 with jackals and other creatures of the desert). This resonates with Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (Matt 4), where He confronts Satan, implying the wilderness is a place associated with the evil one. This passage also implicitly reveals that demons require a host; they find no ultimate satisfaction in simply existing in an ethereal, disembodied state. Their ultimate "rest" and activity is tied to impacting and corrupting living beings. The verse underscores the active and predatory nature of spiritual evil, emphasizing that spiritual freedom is not merely about removal but about divine indwelling.

Matthew 12 43 Commentary

Matthew 12:43 presents a crucial aspect of spiritual warfare and personal discipleship. Jesus uses the image of the wandering unclean spirit to illustrate a profound spiritual principle: expelling evil (or cleansing from sin/evil influences) is only the first step. The space that has been cleared cannot remain empty. If a life or "house" is swept clean of overt sin or demonic influence, but not filled with the presence of God and the fruit of the Spirit, it becomes an inviting vacuum for evil to return.

The spirit's "seeking rest" points to its inherently restless and malevolent nature; its "rest" is found in its destructive work through a host. The "arid places" represent environments devoid of God's life, but even there, the spirit finds no satisfaction because its nature demands an active sphere of influence. This spiritual restlessness drives it back to where it can resume its purpose of defilement.

This parable is a severe warning to the Jewish generation, including the Pharisees. Through Jesus, many experienced an external cleansing or witnessed the powerful expulsion of demons. They were given a window into the Kingdom, but if they failed to accept Jesus as their King and fill their "house" with His presence, their final state would be worse than the first (as explained in vv. 44-45). This highlights the peril of mere external reform or temporary moral cleansing without a genuine and enduring spiritual transformation and filling by the Holy Spirit.

Practical Examples:

• A person who stops an addiction but doesn't fill the void with healthy habits or a relationship with God may relapse or find a worse vice.
• A "reformed" individual who abandons obvious sins but doesn't embrace faith and spiritual disciplines risks returning to deeper sin or being influenced by other negative forces.
• A church that cleanses itself of clear errors but neglects the proactive teaching of truth and fervent pursuit of God's presence can become sterile and open to false doctrines.