Bible Strands
Matthew 12:26
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the Pharisees immediately after they accuse Him of casting out demons by Beelzebul, directly following His declaration that any divided kingdom or household cannot stand.
The words — The Greek εἰ (ei) = if establishes a hypothetical premise, while ἐκβάλλει (ekballei) = casts out describes the expulsion of demons, together constructing a logical impossibility.
The thread — The passage echoes the theme of Satan's defeated kingdom in John 12:31, which declares the prince of this world will be cast out, and aligns with Colossians 1:13 and 1 John 5:19 regarding deliverance from darkness and the evil one's power.
Why it lands — The text states that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, requiring the reader to conclude that Jesus’ exorcisms prove the arrival of God’s kingdom rather than demonic collusion.
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
And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Cross-references
- Colossians 1:13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
- 1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
- Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
- Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- John 14:30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me.
- John 16:11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- Revelation 9:11 They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.
- Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.