Luke 11:24
What does Luke 11:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 11:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 11:24 means
Jesus describes the activity of an "unclean spirit" that has been cast out of a person. It wanders through "waterless places," symbolically representing barren, desolate regions where it finds no rest or suitable dwelling. Unable to find a new abode, it decides to return to its original "house," the person from whom it was expelled. This illustrates the persistent nature of evil and its desire to reoccupy its former dwelling.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of a man, goes through dry places, looking for rest; and when he does not get it, he says, I will go back to my house from which I came.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`When the unclean spirit may go forth from the man it walketh through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding, it saith, I will turn back to my house whence I came forth;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest: and not finding, he saith: I will return into my house whence I came out.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890When the unclean spirit has gone out of the man, he goes through dry places seeking rest; and not finding [any] he says, I will return to my house whence I came out.
Context
This verse introduces a parabolic warning that immediately follows Jesus' declaration about spiritual allegiance. It illustrates the danger of merely removing evil without replacing it with spiritual good. This sets the stage for the chilling consequence described in the next two verses, highlighting the need for true transformation rather than just external cleansing, linking back to the overall theme of spiritual condition.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 2:2
And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
- Ezekiel 47:8
Then said he unto me, These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall go down into the Arabah; and they shall go toward the sea; into the sea shall the waters go which were made to issue forth; and the waters shall be healed.
- Mark 9:25
And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
- Isaiah 41:17
The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
- Job 1:7
And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
- Mark 5:10
And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
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