Writers from Jerusalem say Jesus casts out demons by the power of Beelzebub.
Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And when a household is divided against itself, that household there will not have the power to stand.
Unity is the source of strength. A central point in all good strategy.
Though they are translated alike, there ere are three hidden differences between this verse from the previous one (Mark 3:24). The least significant difference is the order of the words, the final "house" coming before the infinitive "to stand" rather than after.
The word translated as "can" means "to have power." This is important because the topic is the nature of power, in this case, the power of an adversary or suffering. The second difference is that "have power" is either the future tense or something that "should" or "might" not happen. So "will not have the power" or "might not have the power." The final difference is that the voice of the final "stand," is active instead of passive. This "house" version of the verse doesn't appear in Matthew and Luke, only the earlier "kingdom" version.
None of those differences are reflected in the translation.
Unlike the Greek word for "kingdom," which means the domain of a single person, in Greek a "house" is not just the building but the group of people within it, especially in the female form used here. A "house" as a family or a clan, encompassing all the people in the house and headed by the master of the house. A ruling house would be a masculine word. A division in a house is more clearly a split between its members. In this verse, Jesus seems to be saying that "adversity" or "suffering" has more of a "house" than a "kingdom," because of the use of the future tense for the "can" in this verse.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "that" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "kingdom" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "him" is not the object of the verb but the subject, "he."
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "" is not the object of the verb but the subject, "he."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "stand" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to stand."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and " is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "that" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "kingdom" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "him" is not the object of the verb but the subject, "he."
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "" is not the object of the verb but the subject, "he."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "stand" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to stand."
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
if -- (CW) The Greek word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
house -- The Greek word translated as "house," refers to the building itself, all the people that dwell in it, including slaves and servants, all property owned by that family, and all the descendants of the continued line. We might say "estate" in English to capture this idea.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
divided - "Divided" is a verb, in the form of an adjective which means "to divide," "to spit up," and "to be divided." It is in the passive, so, having been divided, have been split up." This is a rare word for Jesus st to use.
against -- The word translated as "against" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
itself, - "Itself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself," and so on.
that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." Used a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here." Jesus often uses it as a term of honor to refer to his father, the Spirit, prophets, and so on. Used in the form of an adverb, it means "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
house -- The Greek word translated as "house," refers to the building itself, all the people that dwell in it, including slaves and servants, all property owned by that family, and all the descendants of the continued line. We might say "estate" in English to capture this idea. This occurrence is preceded by an article, "the."
can -- (WF, CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. This should be either the future tense or the form of possibibility, something that "should" or "may" happen.
not The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
stand. (WF) The verb translated as "shall stand" means "to make stand," "to set up," "to establish and similar words in the active form. In the passive, it means "to be placed," "to stand," and "to stand firm." Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]," "to bury," "to establish," "to make," "to cause," and "to assign." This is a word Jesus uses because of its multiple meanings. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
missing "And " -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
if -- (CW) The Greek word meaning "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
house -- The Greek word translated as "house," refers to the building itself, all the people that dwell in it, including slaves and servants, all property owned by that family, and all the descendants of the continued line. We might say "estate" in English to capture this idea.
is -- This helping verb "is" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
divided - "Divided" is a verb, in the form of an adjective which means "to divide," "to spit up," and "to be divided." It is in the passive, so, having been divided, have been split up." This is a rare word for Jesus st to use.
against -- The word translated as "against" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
itself, - "Itself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself," and so on.
that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as being in a specific place or time from a word that means "there." Used a pronoun, the sense is "that one there" or "this one here." Jesus often uses it as a term of honor to refer to his father, the Spirit, prophets, and so on. Used in the form of an adverb, it means "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
house -- The Greek word translated as "house," refers to the building itself, all the people that dwell in it, including slaves and servants, all property owned by that family, and all the descendants of the continued line. We might say "estate" in English to capture this idea. This occurrence is preceded by an article, "the."
can -- (WF, CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. This should be either the future tense or the form of possibibility, something that "should" or "may" happen.
not The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
stand. (WF) The verb translated as "shall stand" means "to make stand," "to set up," "to establish and similar words in the active form. In the passive, it means "to be placed," "to stand," and "to stand firm." Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]," "to bury," "to establish," "to make," "to cause," and "to assign." This is a word Jesus uses because of its multiple meanings. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
ἐὰν ([162 verses]conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if)and an (might)) which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.
οἰκία [40 times](noun sg fem nom) "House" is oikia, which means "house," "building," and "household." -- The Greek word translated as "house," refers to the building itself, all the people that dwell in it, including slaves and servants, all property owned by that family, and all the descendants of the continued line. We might say "estate" in English to capture this idea.
ἐφ᾽ [138 verses](prep) "On" is from epi which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "of an end or purpose," "of the condition upon which a thing is done," "on condition that," and "of price." With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, judging, it means "in the case of."
ἑαυτὴν[75 verses] (adj sg fem acc) "Itself" is from heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself", "itself", "themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos.
μερισθῇ, [5 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj pass) "Be divided" is merizo, which means "divide," "distribute," "assign," "sever," "cut-off," (passive) "to be divided," "to be dispersed," and "to be reckoned a part."
οὐ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.
δυνήσεται [61 verses](verb 3rd sg fut ind mid or verb 3rd sg aor subj mid) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough."
ἡ [821 verses](article sg fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
οἰκία [40 times](noun sg fem nom) "House" is oikia, which means "house," "building," and "household."
ἐκείνη: [107 verses](adj sg fem nom) "That" is ekeinos, which means "the person there," "that person," "that thing," and, in the form of an adverb, "in that case," "in that way," "at that place," and "in that manner."
στῆναι: [28 verses] (verb aor inf act) "Stand" is histemi, which means "to make to stand," , "to set up," "to bring to a standstill," "to check," "to appoint," "to establish," "to set upright," "to erected," "to fix by agreement," and "to place." In the passive, it means "to be placed," "to be set," "to stand," "to stand still," "to stand firm," "to arise."