The Greek that is typically transliterated in English as “Satan” is transliterated in Kipsigis as “Setani.” This is interesting because it is not only a transliteration that approximates the Greek sound but it is also an existing Kipsigis word with the meaning of “ugly” and “sneaking.” (Source: Earl Anderson in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 85ff. )
In Morelos Nahuatl it is translated as “envious one” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.) and in Tibetan: bdud (བདུད།), lit. “chief devil” (except in Rev. 20:2, where it is transliterated) (source: gSungrab website ).
Peter’s house. This is where Jesus wanted to come with the disciples to eat. As they approached the house they saw a crowd of people. They did not get to eat in the house. Jesus’ mother, brothers and sisters also came there. They said that Jesus had gone crazy, so they decided to take Jesus home. Also the teachers of the Law from Jerusalem came to that place. They began to say to the people:
— Behold you marvel that Jesus casts demons out of people. But in fact the most important demon sits in him, and he gives orders to small demons, and they obey him.
Jesus heard this and turned to the teachers of the Law:
— I will tell you a parable. You say that one demon orders another demon to come out of a man. But is such a thing possible? The first example. There is a kingdom, and in it people fight with each other. Do you think such a kingdom can stand? No, this kingdom will collapse. The second example. If a husband and wife hate each other in a family, will such a family be strong? No, that family will fall apart. Third example. If demons cast each other out, then Satan’s kingdom would have been destroyed long ago. Do you think demons can cast each other out? No, they can’t!
If a very strong man lives in a certain house, and a burglar comes to the house. Would the robber be able to take things from that house? Of course not, because the strong master will drive the robber away. If only the robber succeeds in tying up the master, only then can he rob the house.
People are sinful, they do evil deeds, but God forgives their bad deeds. The spirit of God is in me, it works miracles, heals, casts out demons, but you slander that it is a demon — God will never forgive such lies.
Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):
Дом Петра. Сюда Иисус хотел прийти с учениками, чтобы поесть там. Когда они подходили к дому, они увидели толпу народа. Им не удалось поесть в доме. Также туда пришли мать, братья и сестры Иисуса. Они говорили, что Иисус сошел с ума, и они решили забрать Иисуса домой. Также в то место пришли учителя Закона из Иерусалима. Они начала говорить народу:
— Вот вы восхищаетесь, что Иисус изгоняет бесов из людей. А на самом деле в нем самый главный бес сидит, и он отдает приказы мелким бесам, и те его слушаются.
Иисус услышал это и обратился к учителям Закона:
— Я расскажу вам притчу. Вот вы говорите, что один бес приказывает другому выйти из человека. Но разве такое возможно? Первый пример. Царство, а в нем люди враждуют друг с другом. Как вы думаете, устоит такое царство? Нет, это царство разрушится. Второй пример. Если в семье муж и жена ненавидят друг друга, такая семья будет крепкой? Нет, эта семья распадется. Третий пример. Если бесы изгоняют друг друга, тогда бы царство Сатаны давно бы разрушилось. Как вы думаете, могут ли бесы друг друга изгонять? Нет, такого не бывает!
Если в некотором доме живет очень сильный человек, и пришел в этот дом грабитель. Разве грабитель сможет спокойно забирать себе вещи из этого дома? Конечно, нет, потому что сильный хозяин, прогонит грабителя. Если только грабителю удастся связать хозяина, только тогда он сможет ограбить дом.
Люди грешны, делают злые дела, но Бог прощает им плохие дела. Во мне дух Божий, он творит чудеса, дает исцеление, изгоняет бесов, а вы клевещете, что это бес — вот такой лжи Бог никогда не простит.
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 3:26:
Uma: “So also in the kingdom of demons. If in the kingdom of demons there are disagreements and fights, that kingdom will not last long. That will be the end of it.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Therefore if the leader of demons opposes/fights-with his demon disciples/adherents his ruling will not last long but is coming to an end.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore, if Satan is against his followers, his authority to control will not last long, but rather, it will soon be removed and will disappear.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “The same also with Satan. If he is causing-his fellow evil-spirits -to-leave, it means that he is fighting them, and pretty soon he will have no ruling.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore if Satanas opposes himself, for he and his subjects are in conflict, his rule really won’t last. Isn’t it so that if it’s like that, it’s like he has already been defeated?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Instead of kai emeristhē ‘and is divided’ read by the majority of the modern editions of the Greek text, Textus Receptus and Soden read kai memeristai ‘and has been divided’; Tischendorf and Kilpatrick read emeristhē kai ‘is divided and.’
Exegesis:
anestē eph’ heauton kai emeristhē ‘he rose against himself and is divided’: i.e. if Satan is at war against himself, if there is faction or division in his kingdom, among his subordinates.
telos echei (cf. Heb. 7.3) ‘he has an end,’ i.e. “he is done for” (Manson), “he is finished”, “that is the end of him” (Translator’s New Testament). What is meant is the end of his power, or his kingdom (cf. Lagrange), rather than the end of his existence (as O Novo Testamento de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. Revisdo Autorizadaperece has it).
Translation:
Risen up against himself may be rendered as ‘Satan fighting against himself’ (Amganad Ifugao, Shilluk). On the other hand, one may employ a less violent, but equally meaningful type of equivalent, as in Kekchí e.g. ‘if Satan hates himself’ (literally, ‘looks mean at himself’).
To speak of Satan as being ‘divided’ may mean that he is literally cut into two pieces, obviously not the meaning of the passage. On the other hand, it is quite possible to speak of ‘his power is divided,’ and by this means employ a very close equivalent.
Cannot stand may be treated as in the preceding two verses.
In some languages a person cannot ‘come to an end,’ but ‘his power will end’ (Loma (Liberia)). In others, one may translate ‘he will disappear’ or ‘he will no longer exist.’
It should be noted, that though these conditional sentences (verses 24-26) are given as simple conditionals: ‘if … is…, is (or, will)’; nevertheless, they are essentially conditions contrary to fact: ‘if … should be…, then … would be….’ One must often be quite careful to distinguish between simple conditions, which in this case would imply that Satan cannot stand, as of now, and conditions contrary to fact, implying that Satan was not divided against himself, for certainly Jesus was not acting on the authority of Beelzebul.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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