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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the Pharisees during a dispute over His exorcism authority, immediately following His declaration that the kingdom of God has arrived.

The words — The Greek phrase εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν (eiselthein eis tēn oikian) literally translates to “to enter into the house.” It establishes the physical entry as the necessary precondition for the subsequent binding and plunder.

The thread — The same house-and-strong-man analogy appears in Mark 3:27 and Luke 11:21. Isaiah 49:24 raises a parallel rhetorical question about delivering captives from a tyrant.

Why it lands — The text states that plundering a strong man’s house requires first tying up its guard. It demands the reader acknowledge that Jesus’ ability to bind demonic forces demonstrates His direct authority over them.

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

Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he 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?
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.
Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
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.
Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,
1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
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.
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.
Revelation 12:7 Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.