Matthew 9 · Verse 34

Matthew 9:34

But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
Matthew 9:34, King James Version

Matthew 9:34 in other translations

BSBBut the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
WEBBut the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”
ASVBut the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons.
YLTbut the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he doth cast out the demons.'
DARBYBut the Pharisees said, He casts out the demons through the prince of the demons.
BBEBut the Pharisees said, By the ruler of evil spirits, he sends evil spirits out of men.
WebsterBut the Pharisees said, He casteth out demons, through the prince of the demons.

What does Matthew 9:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
34. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils--"the demons through the prince of the demons." This seems to be the first muttering of a theory of such miracles which soon became a fixed mode of calumniating them--a theory which would be ridiculous if it were not melancholy as an outburst of the darkest malignity. (See on Mt 12:24, &c.). Mt 9:35-10:5. Third Galilean Circuit--Mission of the Twelve Apostles. As the Mission of the Twelve supposes the previous choice of them--of which our Evangelist gives no account, and which did not take place till a later stage of our Lord's public life--it is introduced here out of its proper place, which is after what is recorded in Lu 6:12-19. Third Galilean Circuit (Mt 9:35)--and probably the last.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 34. Prince of the devils. That is, Beel-Zebub. Mt 12:24.

(o) "He casteth" Mt 12:24, Mk 3:22, Lk 11:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils - This verse is wanting in both the Greek and Latin of the C. Bezae, in another copy of the Itala, and in Hilary and Juvencus. But see on Mat 12:24 (note). It is a consummate piece of malice to attribute the works of God to the devil. Envy cannot suffer the approbation which is given to the excellencies of others. Those whose hearts are possessed by this vice speak the very language of the devil. Calumny is but a little distance from envy. Though all persons may not have as much envy as the Pharisees, yet they should fear having some degree of it, as all have the principle from whence it proceeds, viz. sin.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 9:32-34

Of the two, better a dumb devil than a blaspheming one. Christ's cures strike at the root, and remove the effect by taking away the cause; they open the lips, by breaking Satan's power in the soul. Nothing can convince those who are under the power of pride. They will believe anything, however false or absurd, rather than the Holy Scriptures; thus they show the enmity of their hearts against a holy God.

Read the full comment on Matthew 9:32-34 →

Matthew 9:34 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.

οἱhoiTheG3588
δὲdenowG1161
ΦαρισαῖοιPharisaioiPhariseesG5330
ἔλεγον·elegonwere saying;G3004
ἐνenByG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
ἄρχοντιarchontiprinceG758
τῶνtōnof theG3588
δαιμονίωνdaimoniōndemonsG1140
ἐκβάλλειekballeiHe casts outG1544
τὰta<the>G3588
δαιμόνια.¶daimoniademons.G1140

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

Cross references for Matthew 9:34

  • Luke 11:15

    But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

  • Mark 3:22

    And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

  • Matthew 12:23-24

    And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

  • John 3:20

    For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:23,24; Mr 3:22; Lu 11:15; Joh 3:20

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

Context

  • Matthew 9:33

    And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

  • Matthew 9:34

    But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

  • Matthew 9:35

    And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Read all of Matthew 9

Matthew 9:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas los Fariseos decían: Por el príncipe de los demonios echa fuera los demonios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais les pharisiens disaient: Il chasse les démons par le chef des démons.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Pharisäer aber sagten: Er treibt die Dämonen aus durch den Obersten der Dämonen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Pharisæi autem dicebant: In principe dæmoniorum ejicit dæmones.