Mark 3:27

Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the scribes who accused him of operating by Beelzebul’s power, immediately after declaring that a divided kingdom cannot stand. He responds to their claim by describing a necessary sequence of conquest before plunder.

The words — οὐδεὶς (oudeis) = no one and δύναται (dunatai) = is able establish an absolute logical barrier. The Greek syntax makes the binding of the strong man a strict precondition for any entry or theft.

The thread — The identical scenario appears in Matthew 12:29 and Luke 11:21, while echoing the rhetorical challenge of Isaiah 49:24 regarding captives of a tyrant. These references show the saying functioning as a logical proof against the accusation that Satan would empower an opponent.

Why it lands — The text states that plundering a strong man’s house is impossible without first restraining him. It requires the reader to accept that spiritual deliverance depends on neutralizing the opposing authority before any claim to its domain can be executed.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Cross-references

Isaiah 49:24 Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?
Matthew 12:29 Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
1 John 4:4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,