complete verse (Matthew 12:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 12:29:

  • Uma: “‘ Demons can be compared to a strong person. If we (incl.) enter into the house of a strong person wanting to take the contents of his house, we (incl.) must first tie him up, and only then can we (incl.) carry-off his belongings/stuff. So also, if I cause-to-leave demons, it means that I am stronger than demons.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘The leader of demons is figuratively like a strong man. Nobody can go and rob the house of a strong man if he does not first tie up that strong man, only then can he rob.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I have already defeated Satan. That’s why I can drive away his subjects. Because there is no one who can enter the house of a strong man in order to seize his possessions if he is not first able to tie up the strong man. He must tie him up first and then he can seize the possessions of the strong man.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Satanas can be compared to a strong person, because no one can-enter his house to steal his possessions if he does not first tie-him-up. Then he can run-away-with his possessions.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus explained that he could drive out evil spirits because he had defeated Satanas who was their leader. He said, ‘How can anyone enter and grab the possessions in the house of a strong person unless he first ties up that person? Of course if he is now tied up, his house can now be plundered.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It is not the devil who heals the people who walk with evil spirits. Take a strong man, it is when he is tied up that one can enter his house and take away the things there are inside. It is like that for me. I tied the devil who rules the evil spirits, therefore I am able to heal the people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 12:29

The theme of verse 28 is continued, though with a different figure of speech. Since it is foolish to suggest that Satan could have broken into his own house and tied himself up, the only logical conclusion is that someone stronger than Satan is present.

Or serves as a transitional between this and the preceding verse. New Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible have “Or again,” and Barclay “To put it another way.” Good News Translation drops the transitional from explicit mention, depending upon the context to do the job.

Or how can…? translates a rhetorical question which assumes the answer “He cannot” or “It is impossible.” Good News Translation moves away from the form of a rhetorical question to a statement: “No one can break into….” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch also chooses a statement, though in a form different from that of Good News Translation: “Whoever would break in … must first….” This sentence can also begin “It is impossible for anyone….” Other translators have retained the rhetorical question, Or how can…? but have supplied an answer, “He can’t” or “It can’t be done, of course.”

Enter (so also Moffatt) may be more dynamically rendered as “break into” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New English Bible), since the context demands either force or secrecy as the means of entry. New Jerusalem Bible translates “make his way into”; both An American Translation and Phillips have “get into.”

Strong man should probably be translated literally. It does not mean “important” or anything of that sort here, but refers to physical strength.

Plunder (Good News Translation “take away”) does specifically imply the use of force. For example, in Matthew 13.19 it may be rendered either “snatch away” or “carry off,” and in John 6.15 it may be translated “seize.” Compare also its use in Acts 23.10 (Revised Standard Version “take … by force”). It is rendered as “steal” in many languages.

Goods (so also New English Bible) is translated “belongings” by Good News Translation and “property” by several others (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, An American Translation). The Greek noun may be used in the most general sense, indicating “thing” or “object,” though the context clearly indicates objects that belong to a person and that may be removed.

Binds has been rendered “ties up” by Good News Translation, which is exactly what the word means. Some languages need to specify an instrument such as “with a rope.”

Then indeed may be “Only after he did that could he….”

Plunder is an intensive form of the verb translated “plunder” earlier in the verse; it may be rendered “thoroughly plunder.” Most English translations evidently prefer plunder, but New English Bible has “ransacking,” and Jerusalem Bible “burgle.” One may also translate “then he can take away everything the (strong) man owns.”

It is always important to note that he refers to the burglar, and his house is the house of the strong man.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 12:29

12:29

Verse 12:29 is a parable. In this parable, the “strong man” represents Satan. The strong man’s “house” represents Satan’s kingdom. “His possessions” represent people whom Satan controls. Jesus is the one who is stronger than Satan. He binds Satan and takes those people out of Satan’s kingdom.

Jesus told this parable to show people that he was working against Satan. Satan was not the one who was giving him power to cast out evil spirits.

In some languages, it may be good to explain the meaning of this parable in a footnote. A sample footnote is:

In this parable, Satan is the strong man. The strong man’s house is Satan’s kingdom. The possessions of the strong man are those people whom Satan controls. Jesus is the one who breaks into Satan’s kingdom and takes away or frees the people whom he controls.

12:29a–c

Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How can anyone break into a strong man’s house and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? (Contemporary English Version)

• As a rhetorical question followed by a statement. For example:

How can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property. (God’s Word)

• As a statement. For example:

No one can break into a strong man’s house and take away his belongings unless he first ties up the strong man…. (Good News Translation)
-or-
If anyone wants to enter a strong person’s house and steal his things, he must first tie up the strong person. Then he can steal the things from the house. (New Century Version)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

12:29a

Or again: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Or again indicates that this parable is another way of looking at the point of 12:28. That point is that Jesus is not working with Satan. He is working against Satan.

You may want to use a conjunction that shows that 12:29 is connected in thought with 12:28. Here are some examples:

Similarly
-or-
Or ⌊to say it another way,⌋

how can anyone enter a strong man’s house: The phrase strong man’s house refers to the house of a man who is physically strong. In this parable, the strong man represents Satan. The strong man’s house represents Satan’s kingdom. In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊Satan can be compared to⌋ a strong person. No one can enter his house…

This parable assumes that the strong man is home and guarding his possessions. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this more explicit. For example:

enter a strong man’s house ⌊when he is home⌋

enter: In some languages, it may be better to use a stronger word or phrase than the word enter. For example:

break into (Good News Translation)
-or-
break and enter

12:29b

steal: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as steal means “forcefully take away” or “rob.” In this context, it refers to taking the strong man’s possessions against his will.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

plunder (English Standard Version)
-or-
rob (New Living Translation (1996))

In some languages, a verb like steal will hinder people from understanding that the point of the parable is that Jesus is stronger than Satan. The point is not that Jesus is bad like a robber and steals things. So in some languages, it may be better to use a different type of verb here. For example:

take away (Good News Translation)
-or-
carry away/off

his possessions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as possessions also means “property.” These things are the man’s belongings. They are the things he has in his house. In this parable, this word represents the people whom Satan owns or controls.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

his property (God’s Word)
-or-
his belongings (Good News Translation)
-or-
his possessions (New International Version)

12:29c

unless he first ties up the strong man: The phrase ties up means “binds.” In some languages, it may be necessary to include a previous action. For example:

if he does not first ⌊overpower⌋ the strong man and tie him up

General Comment on 12:29a–c

In some language, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses so that they are in chronological order. For example:

Or again, conly if someone first ties up a strong man acan he then enter the strong man’s house band carry off his possessions.

12:29d

Then he can plunder his house: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plunder is a stronger form of the same Greek verb in 12:29b. The same action is meant here as in 12:29b, but the manner of “thoroughly” is included here. You may use the same verb for “plunder” in 12:29b and here in 12:29d, but you may want to use an extra word to show the completeness of the action. For example:

Then he can thoroughly plunder the house. (NET Bible)
-or-
Then he can completely rob his house
-or-
Then he can take everything (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

Then he could seize all the strong man’s things

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