Matthew 12 · Verse 26

Matthew 12:26

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Matthew 12:26, King James Version

Matthew 12:26 in other translations

BSBIf Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
WEBIf Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
ASVand if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
YLTand if the Adversary doth cast out the Adversary, against himself he was divided, how then doth his kingdom stand?
DARBYAnd if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom subsist?
BBEAnd if Satan sends out Satan, he makes war against himself; how then will he keep his kingdom?
WebsterAnd if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?

What does Matthew 12:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?--The argument here is irresistible. "No organized society can stand--whether kingdom, city, or household--when turned against itself; such intestine war is suicidal: But the works I do are destructive of Satan's kingdom: That I should be in league with Satan, therefore, is incredible and absurd."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 If Satan cast out Satan - A good cause will produce a good effect, and an evil cause an evil effect. Were I on Satan's side, I would act for his interest and confirm his influence among you; but I oppose his maxims by my doctrine, and his influence by my power.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 12:22-30

A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is blind in the things of God, and dumb at the throne of grace; sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose. Satan blinds the eyes by unbelief, and seals up the lips from prayer. The more people magnified Christ, the more desirous the Pharisees were to vilify him. It was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided…

Read the full comment on Matthew 12:22-30 →

Matthew 12:26 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εἰeiifG1487
ὁho<the>G3588
σατανᾶςsatanasSatanG4567
τὸνton<the>G3588
σατανᾶνsatananSatanG4567
ἐκβάλλει,ekballeicasts out,G1544
ἐφ᾽eph᾽againstG1909
ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438
ἐμερίσθη·emeristhēhe is divided;G3307
πῶςpōsHowG4459
οὖνounthenG3767
σταθήσεταιstathēsetaiwill standG2476
ἡhētheG3588
βασιλείαbasileiakingdomG932
αὐτοῦ;autouof him?G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 12:26

  • Colossians 1:13

    Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

  • 1 John 5:19

    And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

  • Revelation 20:2-3

    And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

  • John 12:31

    Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • Revelation 16:10

    And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

  • John 16:11

    Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

  • Revelation 9:11

    And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4

    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

  • Matthew 4:10

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

  • John 14:30

    Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
his.
Joh 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2Co 4:4; Col 1:13; 1Jo 5:19; Re 9:11
Re 12:9; 16:10; 20:2,3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 12:25

    And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

  • Matthew 12:26

    And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

  • Matthew 12:27

    And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si Satanás echa fuera á Satanás, contra sí mismo está dividido; ¿cómo, pues, permanecerá su reino?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si Satan chasse Satan, il est divisé contre lui-même; comment donc son royaume subsistera-t-il?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn der Satan den Satan austreibt, so ist er wider sich selbst entzweit; wie wird denn sein Reich bestehen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si Satanas Satanam ejicit, adversus se divisus est: quomodo ergo stabit regnum ejus?