Luke 11:17
New International Version
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

New Living Translation
He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

English Standard Version
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
And He knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom having been divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falls.

King James Bible
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

New King James Version
But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.

New American Standard Bible
But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.

NASB 1995
But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.

NASB 1977
But He knew their thoughts, and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.

Legacy Standard Bible
But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against itself falls.

Amplified Bible
But He, well aware of their thoughts and purpose, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is doomed to destruction; and a house divided against itself falls.

Christian Standard Bible
Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Knowing their thoughts, He told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.

American Standard Version
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said: A kingdom where people fight each other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up.

English Revised Version
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. A house divided against itself falls.

Good News Translation
But Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, "Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long; a family divided against itself falls apart.

International Standard Version
Since he knew what they were thinking, he told them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is devastated, and a divided household collapses.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
But Jesus, realizing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a divided household falls.

New Heart English Bible
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

Weymouth New Testament
And, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war rages goes to ruin: family attacks family and is overthrown.

World English Bible
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated; and house against house falls;

Berean Literal Bible
And He knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom having been divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falls.

Young's Literal Translation
And he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, 'Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated; and house against house doth fall;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is rendered desolate; and a house against a house falls.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he seeing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself, shall be brought to desolation, and house upon house shall fall.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But when he perceived their thoughts, he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate, and house will fall upon house.

New American Bible
But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.

New Revised Standard Version
But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom which is divided against itself, shall be destroyed; and a house which is divided against itself shall fall.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But because Yeshua knew their thoughts he said to them, “Every realm that is divided against itself will be laid waste, and the home that is divided against its nature falls.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But, knowing their purpose, he said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation; and a house that is divided against a house, falls.

Godbey New Testament
And He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself, comes to desolation, and house falls upon house.

Haweis New Testament
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house against a house, falleth.

Mace New Testament
but Jesus perceiving their suspicions, said to them, every kingdom divided against itself will soon be desolate: one family divided against another, falls to ruin.

Weymouth New Testament
And, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war rages goes to ruin: family attacks family and is overthrown.

Worrell New Testament
But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom, divided against itself, is made desolate; and a house divided against a house falls.

Worsley New Testament
But He who well knew their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate, and a house against a house falleth: if Satan also be divided against himself,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A House Divided
16And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven. 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. 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.…

Cross References
Matthew 12:25
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.

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

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Daniel 2:44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.

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.

John 17:20-23
I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, / 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. / I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— ...

Ephesians 4:3-6
and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. / There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; / one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ...

Colossians 3:13-14
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. / And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.

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

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

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.

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.”

2 Samuel 15:31
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”


Treasury of Scripture

But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falls.

knowing.

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

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:

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

Every.

2 Chronicles 10:16-19
And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents…

2 Chronicles 13:16,17
And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand…

Isaiah 9:20,21
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: …

Jump to Previous
Attacks Civil Desolated Desolation Destruction Divided Division Fall Falleth Falls Family Goes House Household Itself Jesus Kingdom Laid Overthrown Rages Ruin Thoughts War Waste
Jump to Next
Attacks Civil Desolated Desolation Destruction Divided Division Fall Falleth Falls Family Goes House Household Itself Jesus Kingdom Laid Overthrown Rages Ruin Thoughts War Waste
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.














But Jesus knew their thoughts
This phrase highlights the divine omniscience of Jesus. The Greek word for "knew" is "ginōskō," which implies a deep, intimate understanding. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, possesses the ability to perceive the innermost thoughts and intentions of the heart. This divine insight underscores His authority and authenticity as the Son of God. In a historical context, this ability to know thoughts would have been seen as a clear indication of His divine nature, setting Him apart from mere human teachers or prophets.

and said to them
The act of speaking here is significant. Jesus often used His words to teach, correct, and reveal truth. The Greek word "eipon" is used, which is a common term for speaking but in this context, it carries the weight of divine proclamation. Jesus' words are not just casual conversation; they are authoritative declarations meant to instruct and guide. This reflects the power of the spoken word in biblical times, where oral tradition was a primary means of communication and teaching.

Every kingdom divided against itself
The imagery of a "kingdom" is rich with historical and scriptural significance. In the Greek, "basileia" refers to a realm or dominion. Jesus uses this metaphor to illustrate the principle of unity versus division. Historically, kingdoms that were divided internally often faced collapse, as seen in the fall of empires throughout history. This statement serves as a warning against internal strife and disunity, applicable not only to nations but also to communities and the church.

will be laid waste
The phrase "laid waste" comes from the Greek "erēmoutai," meaning to be desolate or destroyed. This is a vivid depiction of the consequences of division. In a biblical context, desolation is often associated with judgment and ruin, as seen in the Old Testament prophecies against Israel and other nations. Jesus is emphasizing the inevitable downfall that comes from internal discord, urging His listeners to seek unity and harmony.

and a house divided against a house will fall
The "house" here can be understood both literally and metaphorically. In Greek, "oikia" refers to a dwelling or household, but it can also symbolize a family or community. The repetition of the concept of division reinforces the message. Historically, a divided house, whether a family or a community, lacks the strength and stability to withstand external pressures. This teaching is a call to unity, reminding believers that strength comes from standing together in faith and purpose.

(17-23) But he, knowing their thoughts.--St. Luke seems here to bring together into one narrative two incidents which in St. Matt. (Matthew 9:32; Matthew 12:22) appear as separated. The points of resemblance, the dumbness in both cases, both followed by the whisper that Jesus cast out devils by Beelzebub, may have easily led one who collected the facts some years after they occurred to regard the two as identical. On the general tenor of the passage, see Notes on Matthew 12:24-30.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Jesus]
Αὐτὸς (Autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 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.

knew
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
διανοήματα (dianoēmata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1270: A reasoning, thought, cogitation. From a compound of dia and noieo; something thought through, i.e. A sentiment.

[and] 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
διαμερισθεῖσα (diameristheisa)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1266: To divide up into parts, break up; I distribute. From dia and merizo; to partition thoroughly.

against
ἐφ’ (eph’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

itself
ἑαυτὴν (heautēn)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative 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.

a house
οἶκος (oikos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3624: A dwelling; by implication, a family.

divided against
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

a house
οἶκον (oikon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3624: A dwelling; by implication, a family.

will fall.
πίπτει (piptei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4098: A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall.


Links
Luke 11:17 NIV
Luke 11:17 NLT
Luke 11:17 ESV
Luke 11:17 NASB
Luke 11:17 KJV

Luke 11:17 BibleApps.com
Luke 11:17 Biblia Paralela
Luke 11:17 Chinese Bible
Luke 11:17 French Bible
Luke 11:17 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Luke 11:17 But he knowing their thoughts said (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 11:16
Top of Page
Top of Page