complete verse (Matthew 12:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 12:29:

  • Uma: “‘ Demons can be compared to a strong person. If we (incl.) enter into the house of a strong person wanting to take the contents of his house, we (incl.) must first tie him up, and only then can we (incl.) carry-off his belongings/stuff. So also, if I cause-to-leave demons, it means that I am stronger than demons.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘The leader of demons is figuratively like a strong man. Nobody can go and rob the house of a strong man if he does not first tie up that strong man, only then can he rob.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I have already defeated Satan. That’s why I can drive away his subjects. Because there is no one who can enter the house of a strong man in order to seize his possessions if he is not first able to tie up the strong man. He must tie him up first and then he can seize the possessions of the strong man.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Satanas can be compared to a strong person, because no one can-enter his house to steal his possessions if he does not first tie-him-up. Then he can run-away-with his possessions.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus explained that he could drive out evil spirits because he had defeated Satanas who was their leader. He said, ‘How can anyone enter and grab the possessions in the house of a strong person unless he first ties up that person? Of course if he is now tied up, his house can now be plundered.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It is not the devil who heals the people who walk with evil spirits. Take a strong man, it is when he is tied up that one can enter his house and take away the things there are inside. It is like that for me. I tied the devil who rules the evil spirits, therefore I am able to heal the people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 12:29

The theme of verse 28 is continued, though with a different figure of speech. Since it is foolish to suggest that Satan could have broken into his own house and tied himself up, the only logical conclusion is that someone stronger than Satan is present.

Or serves as a transitional between this and the preceding verse. New Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible have “Or again,” and Barclay “To put it another way.” Good News Translation drops the transitional from explicit mention, depending upon the context to do the job.

Or how can…? translates a rhetorical question which assumes the answer “He cannot” or “It is impossible.” Good News Translation moves away from the form of a rhetorical question to a statement: “No one can break into….” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch also chooses a statement, though in a form different from that of Good News Translation: “Whoever would break in … must first….” This sentence can also begin “It is impossible for anyone….” Other translators have retained the rhetorical question, Or how can…? but have supplied an answer, “He can’t” or “It can’t be done, of course.”

Enter (so also Moffatt) may be more dynamically rendered as “break into” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New English Bible), since the context demands either force or secrecy as the means of entry. New Jerusalem Bible translates “make his way into”; both An American Translation and Phillips have “get into.”

Strong man should probably be translated literally. It does not mean “important” or anything of that sort here, but refers to physical strength.

Plunder (Good News Translation “take away”) does specifically imply the use of force. For example, in Matthew 13.19 it may be rendered either “snatch away” or “carry off,” and in John 6.15 it may be translated “seize.” Compare also its use in Acts 23.10 (Revised Standard Version “take … by force”). It is rendered as “steal” in many languages.

Goods (so also New English Bible) is translated “belongings” by Good News Translation and “property” by several others (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, An American Translation). The Greek noun may be used in the most general sense, indicating “thing” or “object,” though the context clearly indicates objects that belong to a person and that may be removed.

Binds has been rendered “ties up” by Good News Translation, which is exactly what the word means. Some languages need to specify an instrument such as “with a rope.”

Then indeed may be “Only after he did that could he….”

Plunder is an intensive form of the verb translated “plunder” earlier in the verse; it may be rendered “thoroughly plunder.” Most English translations evidently prefer plunder, but New English Bible has “ransacking,” and Jerusalem Bible “burgle.” One may also translate “then he can take away everything the (strong) man owns.”

It is always important to note that he refers to the burglar, and his house is the house of the strong man.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .