The sentence begins with When, but it is really a hypothetical sentence. The present tense in this short narrative indicates that this kind of happening is what commonly takes place. Translators will have to determine how to express this in their own languages. It can be rendered “If an unclean spirit leaves…” or “On those occasions when…,” or even “Suppose an evil spirit leaves a person, what happens? It travels through….”

The unclean spirit: since no unclean spirit has been mentioned yet in the context, it will be better to use the indefinite article “an” (Good News Translation, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) than to retain the of the Greek text. Unclean spirit (Good News Translation “evil spirit”) is the same expression used in 10.1, except for the plural form in the earlier passage.

The text does not say whether this evil spirit was thrown out of a person or left voluntarily. Most translators do follow the text, has gone out, with something like “leaves” or “goes out.” However, since one supposes that such departures are usually the result of some exorcism, other translators have said “is driven out” or “is forced to leave.”

A man is literally “the man”; one wonders why Revised Standard Version would have retained the definite article before spirit while dropping it here. Man is the equivalent of “person” (Good News Translation).

Translators should make sure that it is clear in their translation that he refers to the spirit, not to the person.

Passes through has been translated as “travels through” or “goes about in.”

Waterless places were thought to be favorite dwelling places of demons (see Isa 13.21-22; 34.14). New English Bible has “deserts,” and Good News Translation “dry country.”

The abstract noun rest is given the meaning “resting-place” by New English Bible; New American Bible has “a place of rest.” It is best understood in the broad sense of “shelter” or “place to stay” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch); in Ruth 3.1 the Septuagint uses this Greek noun to refer to a home. The translation should not lead to the implication that the spirit is tired out and looking for a place to rest; rather he is looking for a permanent place of residence. Following this interpretation, translators can have “looking for a place to stay” or “trying to find a place to live.”

But he finds none can also be “but it can’t find one (or, any)” (so Good News Translation) or “but there is no place for it (to stay).”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .