Matthew 12:25
New International Version
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

New Living Translation
Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

English Standard Version
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

Berean Standard Bible
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Berean Literal Bible
And having known their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom having been divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house having been divided against itself will not stand.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

New American Standard Bible
And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

NASB 1995
And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.

NASB 1977
And knowing their thoughts He said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

Legacy Standard Bible
And knowing their thoughts He said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.

Amplified Bible
Knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will [continue to] stand.

Christian Standard Bible
Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Knowing their thoughts, He told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

American Standard Version
And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Contemporary English Version
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them: Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself.

English Revised Version
And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. And every city or household divided against itself will not last.

Good News Translation
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and so he said to them, "Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long. And any town or family that divides itself into groups which fight each other will fall apart.

International Standard Version
He knew what they were thinking and told them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Majority Standard Bible
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

NET Bible
Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.

New Heart English Bible
And knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself, shall not stand.

Weymouth New Testament
Knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war has raged suffers desolation; and every city or house in which there is internal strife will be brought low.

World English Bible
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated, and no city or house having been divided against itself stands,

Berean Literal Bible
And having known their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom having been divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house having been divided against itself will not stand.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, 'Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated, and no city or house having been divided against itself, doth stand,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesus knowing their reflections, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate. And every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

New American Bible
But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.

New Revised Standard Version
He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom which is divided against itself, will be destroyed; and every house or city that is divided against itself, will not stand.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But Yeshua knew their designs, and he said to them, “Every Kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed and every house and city that is divided against itself will not stand.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. And no city or house divided against itself shall stand.

Godbey New Testament
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

Haweis New Testament
But Jesus knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself will be desolated; and every city, or family, divided against itself cannot subsist:

Mace New Testament
Jesus perceiving what they surmized, said to them, any kingdom once divided against itself will soon be desolate: nor can any city or house divided against itself, long subsist.

Weymouth New Testament
Knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war has raged suffers desolation; and every city or house in which there is internal strife will be brought low.

Worrell New Testament
And, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom, divided against itself, is brought to naught; and every city or house, divided against itself, shall not stand.

Worsley New Testament
But Jesus, who well knew their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate; and no city, or family, divided against itself can stand:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A House Divided
24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?…

Cross References
Mark 3:24-25
If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. / If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.

Luke 11:17
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.

John 17:21
that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.

James 3:16
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

Galatians 5:15
But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Ephesians 4:3
and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

Romans 16:17
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Proverbs 11:29
He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

Isaiah 9:21
Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Micah 7:6
For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

Zechariah 11:6
For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

Jesus.

Matthew 9:4
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Psalm 139:2
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Jeremiah 17:10
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Every kingdom.

Isaiah 9:21
Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 19:2,3
And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom…

Mark 3:23-26
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? …

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City Civil Desolation Destruction Divided Division House Household Itself Jesus Kingdom Low Raged Ruined Stand Strife Subsist Suffers Thoughts War Waste
Matthew 12
1. Jesus reproves the blindness of the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath,
3. by scripture,
9. by reason,
13. and by a miracle.
22. He heals a man possessed that was blind and mute;
24. and confronting the absurd charge of casting out demons by Beelzebub,
32. he shows that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven.
36. Account shall be made of idle words.
38. He rebukes the unfaithful, who seek after a sign,
46. and shows who is his brother, sister, and mother.














Knowing their thoughts
This phrase highlights Jesus' divine omniscience. The Greek word for "knowing" is "εἰδώς" (eidōs), which implies a deep, intuitive understanding. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, perceives the inner thoughts and intentions of the heart, a characteristic attributed to God alone (1 Samuel 16:7). This insight into human nature underscores His authority and divinity, reminding us that nothing is hidden from God’s sight.

Jesus said to them
Here, Jesus directly addresses the Pharisees, who were questioning His authority and power. The act of speaking is significant in biblical terms, as God's word is powerful and creative (Genesis 1). Jesus' words are not just responses but authoritative declarations that reveal truth and challenge falsehood.

Every kingdom divided against itself
The term "kingdom" (Greek: "βασιλεία" - basileia) refers to a realm or domain under a sovereign rule. Historically, kingdoms that experienced internal strife often faced downfall, as seen in the divided kingdom of Israel after Solomon's reign (1 Kings 12). This principle of unity is crucial for the survival and prosperity of any nation or organization.

will be laid waste
The phrase "laid waste" (Greek: "ἐρημοῦται" - erēmoutai) suggests desolation and ruin. It conveys the inevitable consequence of division, emphasizing the destructive power of discord. This serves as a warning that internal conflict leads to devastation, a truth applicable to both spiritual and earthly realms.

and every city or household divided against itself
The inclusion of "city" and "household" broadens the scope from political entities to personal and communal relationships. The Greek word for "household" is "οἰκία" (oikia), which can mean both a physical house and a family unit. This illustrates that the principle of unity is essential at all levels of society, from the smallest family unit to the largest empire.

will not stand
The phrase "will not stand" (Greek: "οὐ σταθήσεται" - ou stathēsetai) indicates instability and collapse. In biblical terms, to "stand" often means to endure or remain firm (Ephesians 6:13). This serves as a call to unity and harmony, reflecting the biblical ideal that strength and endurance come from being united in purpose and spirit.

(25) Jesus knew their thoughts.--The Searcher of Hearts saw the meaning of the whispers and the looks of real or affected horror, and now enters on a full answer to the charge. Of all the accusations brought against Him this was the one that caused the greatest Pain, and drew forth the most indignant answer. He had restored peace and joy, freedom of reason and will to those who had lost them, had been doing His Father's work on earth, and He was accused of being in league with the powers of evil. The work of healing was represented as the bait of the Tempter luring men to their final destruction.

Every kingdom divided against itself.--The answer assumes, as the teaching of the New Testament does from first to last, the existence of a kingdom of evil, compact and organised, with a distinct unity of purpose. The laws which govern the life of other kingdoms are applicable to that also. Its head and ruler was not likely to enter on a work which was self-destructive. Reason, calmness, peace, these were not his gifts to men.

Verses 25-37. - Our Lord shows the monstrous character of their accusation, and urges the need of a complete change at heart.

(1) An a priori argument that such an action on Satan's part, as they suppose, would be self-destructive (vers. 25, 26).

(2) An argumentum ad hominem. The Pharisees cannot logically and morally acknowledge that their disciples' miracles are performed by Divine help without acknowledging that Jesus' miracles are also. But then they ought to recognize what this implies-that the kingdom of God has come (vers. 27, 28).

(3) This last alternative is true; for how otherwise can they explain the fact of Satan's captives being released (ver. 29)? . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Knowing
Εἰδὼς (Eidōs)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
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.

thoughts,
ἐνθυμήσεις (enthymēseis)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1761: Inward thought, reflection, plur: thoughts. From enthumeomai; deliberation.

[Jesus] said
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
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.

“Every
Πᾶσα (Pasa)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

divided
μερισθεῖσα (meristheisa)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3307: From meros; to part, i.e. to apportion, bestow, share, or to disunite, differ.

against
καθ’ (kath’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

itself
ἑαυτῆς (heautēs)
Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

will be laid waste,
ἐρημοῦται (erēmoutai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2049: (a) I make desolate, bring to desolation, destroy, waste, (b) of a person: I strip, rob. From eremos; to lay waste.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

every
πᾶσα (pasa)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

city
πόλις (polis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

household
οἰκία (oikia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3614: From oikos; properly, residence, but usually an abode; by implication, a family.

divided
μερισθεῖσα (meristheisa)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3307: From meros; to part, i.e. to apportion, bestow, share, or to disunite, differ.

against
καθ’ (kath’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

itself
ἑαυτῆς (heautēs)
Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

will not stand.
σταθήσεται (stathēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.


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