Luke 11:21
New International Version
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.

New Living Translation
For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—

English Standard Version
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;

Berean Standard Bible
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.

Berean Literal Bible
When the strong man being armed might guard his house, his possessions are in peace.

King James Bible
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

New King James Version
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

New American Standard Bible
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are secure.

NASB 1995
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed.

NASB 1977
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own homestead, his possessions are undisturbed;

Legacy Standard Bible
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed.

Amplified Bible
When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his belongings are undisturbed and secure.

Christian Standard Bible
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure.

American Standard Version
When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace:

Contemporary English Version
When a strong man arms himself and guards his home, everything he owns is safe.

English Revised Version
When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.

Good News Translation
"When a strong man, with all his weapons ready, guards his own house, all his belongings are safe.

International Standard Version
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.

Majority Standard Bible
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.

NET Bible
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe.

New Heart English Bible
"When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe.

Webster's Bible Translation
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

Weymouth New Testament
"Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property;

World English Bible
“When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When the strong man may keep his hall armed, his goods are in peace;

Berean Literal Bible
When the strong man being armed might guard his house, his possessions are in peace.

Young's Literal Translation
'When the strong man armed may keep his hall, in peace are his goods;

Smith's Literal Translation
When the strong, completely armed, should watch his court-yard, his possessions are in peace:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When a strong armed man guards his entrance, the things that he possesses are at peace.

New American Bible
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe.

New Revised Standard Version
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When a strong man is armed and keeps watch over his courtyard, his property is safe;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Whenever an armed strongman keeps his homestead, his property is at peace.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
When the strong man armed keeps guard over his palace, his goods are in peace;

Godbey New Testament
When the strong man armed may keep his palace, his goods are in peace:

Haweis New Testament
When a strong man, in complete armour, guards his palace, his goods are in peace.

Mace New Testament
when a man that is stout and well arm'd guards his palace, his possessions are safe.

Weymouth New Testament
"Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property;

Worrell New Testament
"When the strong man, fully armed, is guarding his own court, his goods are in peace;

Worsley New Testament
for when a strong man well-armed defends his palace, his substance is secure:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A House Divided
20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure. 22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.…

Cross References
Matthew 12:29
Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

Mark 3:27
Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

Ephesians 6:11-17
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. / Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. ...

Colossians 2:15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Isaiah 49:24-25
Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered? / Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

1 John 4:4
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Revelation 20:1-3
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. / He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. / And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. / The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Hebrews 2:14
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 18:39
You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.

Psalm 24:8
Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.


Treasury of Scripture

When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace:

See on

Matthew 12:29
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Mark 3:27
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Jump to Previous
Armed Castle Court Dwelling Enjoys Equipped Fully Goods Guardeth Guarding Guards Hall House Keepeth Keeps Palace Peace Peaceful Possession Possessions Property Safe Strong Undisturbed Watch Whenever
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Armed Castle Court Dwelling Enjoys Equipped Fully Goods Guardeth Guarding Guards Hall House Keepeth Keeps Palace Peace Peaceful Possession Possessions Property Safe Strong Undisturbed Watch Whenever
Luke 11
1. Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11. assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him.
14. He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27. and shows who are blessed;
29. preaches to the people;
37. and reprimands the outward show of holiness.














When a strong man
The phrase "strong man" in Greek is "ἰσχυρὸς ἄνθρωπος" (ischyros anthropos). This term denotes not just physical strength but also power and authority. In the context of the ancient world, a "strong man" would be someone who commands respect and fear, possibly a warrior or a leader. Spiritually, this can be seen as a representation of Satan or any force of evil that holds power over a person or situation. The strength of this "man" is significant, as it sets the stage for the contrast with the stronger one who is to come.

fully armed
The Greek word "καθωπλισμένος" (kathoplismenos) suggests being equipped with armor and weapons, ready for battle. In the historical context, a fully armed man would be prepared to defend his territory against any threat. Spiritually, this implies that the forces of evil are not passive but actively prepared to maintain their hold over individuals or situations. The imagery of armor suggests a readiness and a determination to protect what is theirs.

guards his house
The term "guards" comes from the Greek "φυλάσσει" (phylassei), meaning to watch over or protect vigilantly. The "house" can be interpreted as a domain or sphere of influence. In biblical times, a house was not just a physical structure but a symbol of one's life, family, and possessions. This phrase suggests a diligent and constant effort to maintain control and authority over one's domain, reflecting the vigilance of evil in maintaining its grip.

his possessions are secure
The Greek word for "possessions" is "ὑπάρχοντα" (hyparchonta), which refers to one's goods or wealth. The security of these possessions indicates a state of peace and stability, albeit a false one, as it is under the control of the "strong man." In a spiritual sense, this security is deceptive, as it is based on the strength and vigilance of the evil force, rather than on truth or righteousness. The verse implies that as long as the strong man is unchallenged, his control remains unthreatened.

(21-23) When a strong man armed keepeth his palace.--See Notes on Matthew 12:29-30. The only noticeable variations are the use of "palace" for "house;" of the strong man being "armed;" of the "armour" or "panoply" (the same word as in Ephesians 6:13) in which he trusted; of the "division of the spoils." It is throughout a fuller and more vivid report, but apparently of the same sayings.

Verses 21, 22. - When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. The exegesis is easy here. The strong man is the devil; his palace is the world; his goods especially here the poor possessed; the stronger than he is Jesus himself, who, as he paints this feature in the picture, is thinking of the scenes of the temptation, when in good earnest he overcame his ghostly adversary, then he took from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and now he, the Conqueror, divideth his spoils, among which are these unhappy possessed ones now being rescued from the power of their tormentor.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
When
Ὅταν (Hotan)
Conjunction
Strong's 3752: When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.

a strong [man],
ἰσχυρὸς (ischyros)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2478: Strong (originally and generally of physical strength); mighty, powerful, vehement, sure. From ischus; forcible.

fully armed,
καθωπλισμένος (kathōplismenos)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2528: To arm completely. From kata; and hoplizo; to equip fully with armor.

guards
φυλάσσῃ (phylassē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5442: Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid.

his
ἑαυτοῦ (heautou)
Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

house,
αὐλήν (aulēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 833: From the same as aer; a yard; by implication, a mansion.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

possessions
ὑπάρχοντα (hyparchonta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5225: To begin, am, exist, be in possession. From hupo and archomai; to begin under, i.e. Come into existence; expletively, to exist (verb).

are
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

secure.
εἰρήνῃ (eirēnē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.


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NT Gospels: Luke 11:21 When the strong man fully armed guards (Luke Lu Lk)
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