Luke 11:21-23
New English Translation
21 When a strong man,[a] fully armed, guards his own palace,[b] his possessions are safe.[c] 22 But[d] when a stronger man[e] attacks[f] and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s[g] armor on which the man relied[h] and divides up[i] his plunder.[j] 23 Whoever is not with me is against me,[k] and whoever does not gather with me scatters.[l]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 11:21 tn The referent of the expression “a strong man” is Satan.
- Luke 11:21 tn The word αὐλή (aulē) describes any building large and elaborate enough to have an interior courtyard, thus “dwelling, palace, mansion” (L&N 7.6).
- Luke 11:21 tn Grk “his goods are in peace.”
- Luke 11:22 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- Luke 11:22 tn The referent of the expression “a stronger man” is Jesus.
- Luke 11:22 tn Grk “stronger man than he attacks.”
- Luke 11:22 tn Grk “his”; the referent (the first man mentioned) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Luke 11:22 tn Grk “on which he relied.”
- Luke 11:22 tn Or “and distributes.”
- Luke 11:22 sn Some see the imagery here as similar to Eph 4:7-10, although no opponents are explicitly named in that passage. Jesus has the victory over Satan. Jesus’ acts of healing mean that the war is being won and the kingdom is coming.
- Luke 11:23 sn Whoever is not with me is against me. The call here is to join the victor. Failure to do so means that one is being destructive. Responding to Jesus is the issue.
- Luke 11:23 sn For the image of scattering, see Pss. Sol. 17:18.
Luke 11:21-23
New King James Version
21 (A)When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But (B)when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his [a]spoils. 23 (C)He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 11:22 plunder
Luke 11:21-23
New International Version
21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.(A)
Luke 11:21-23
King James Version
21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Read full chapter
Luke 11:21-23
English Standard Version
21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 (A)but when one stronger than he attacks him and (B)overcomes him, he takes away his (C)armor in which he trusted and (D)divides his spoil. 23 (E)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Read full chapterNET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.