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.
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Jesús y los discípulos fueron juntos a una casa, y una multitud personas también fue a la casa y la entró y la casa estaba llena de personas y Jesús y sus discípulos no comían nada.
Personas chismearon y contaron la familia de Jesús: “Las multitudes van a él y Jesús no come nada.”
La familia (dijo): “Ay Jesús está loco, ahorita lo traigamos, vamonos”. Y fueron (por él).
En la misma casa había algunos maestros de la ley de Jerusalén que lo vieron y dijeron: “Jesús tiene adentro de él el rey de los demonios, que se llama Beelzebú. Jesús y él tienen una conspiración y el demonio ayuda a Jesús, así que puede expulsar demonios.”
Jesús dijo: “¿El demonio me ayuda? Es absurdo. Les doy un ejemplo: Si yo soy un demonio y quiero expulsar a un demonio, ¿lo puedo? No puedo, es imposible, yo también soy demonio.
Por ejemplo, primero: Si diferentes gobiernos se pelean ellos fracasarán.
Segundo: Si en una familia ellos se pelean, se separarán.
Tercero: Si dos demonios se pelean no ganan nada, los dos se eliminarán.
Otro ejemplo: Una persona entra en una casa y toma cosas, y un hombre fuerte y poderoso lo ve. Le tiene miedo (al hombre fuerte) porque lo vio.
Primero debe agarrarlo (al hombre fuerte) y atarlo hasta que esté impotente en el piso y esto hecho puede libremente recoger las cosas.
Este ejemplo del (hombre) fuerte y poderoso es como el rey de los demonios, ¿entienden?
Les advierto y digo la verdad; si una persona hace pecados diferentes y es irrespetuoso contra Dios y después pide perdón, Dios lo perdonará y borrará sus pecados.
Pero hay una excepción: Si uds insultan contra el espíritu santo y lo apodan demonio, huy, no serán perdonados jamás, habrá un castigo fuerte para siempre.”
Allá vino la familia de Jesús y tocaban alguién: “Por favor, que Jesús venga” y el hombre dijo a Jesús: “Tu mamá y tus hermanos te llaman, por allá.”
Jesús miró a sus familiares y a la multitud, a todas las personas que estaban sentadas alrededor, y Jesús dijo: “Les pregunto: ¿Quiénes son mi mamá y mis hermanos?
Uds mismos son mi familia, porque uds obedecen sólo a Dios, por eso uds son mi mamá y mis hermanos.”
Jesus and the disciples went together to a house and a multitude of people also went to the house and entered it and the house was full of people, and Jesus and his disciples did not eat anything.
Some people gossiped and told Jesus’ family: “The multitudes go to him and Jesus does not eat anything.”
The family (said): “Ah, Jesus has gone mad, we will bring him back now, let’s go.” And they went (for him).
In the same house there were some teachers of the law from Jerusalem, and they watched him and said: “Jesus has inside him the king of demons, which is called Beelzebub. Jesus and he are conspiring together and the demon is helping Jesus so that he can throw out demons.”
Jesus said: “So the demon is helping me? That’s absurd. Let me give you an example: If I am a demon and I want to throw out a demon, can I? No I cannot, it’s impossible, I am a demon myself.
“For example, firstly: If different governments fight with each other they will all go down.
“Secondly: If the people in a family fight together they will be separated.
“Thirdly: If two demons fight together, they do not gain anything, both will be eliminated.
“Another example: A person enters a house and takes things away and a strong, powerful man sees him, he gets frightened because he’s been seen.
“First he has to take hold (of the strong man) tie him up so that he lies wriggling on the floor and when that is done he can freely collect the things.
“This example of the strong and powerful (man) is like the king of demons, do you understand?
“I warn you, and I say the truth; if a person does different sins and is disrespectful towards God and afterwards asks forgiveness, God will forgive him and delete his sins.
“But there is one exception: If you insult the Holy Spirit and nickname him a demon, wow, you will never be forgiven, there will be a strong punishment forever.”
Over there the family of Jesus came and they touched someone: “Please, let Jesus come” and the man went and told Jesus: “Your mother and brothers call you, over there.”
Jesus looked at his family and at the multitude, at all the people seated around him, and Jesus said: “I ask you, who are my mother and my brothers?
“You yourselves are my family, because you obey only God, that’s why you are my mother and my brothers.”
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)
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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 .
At this point, Jesus applied what he had just said about countries and families to Satan’s rule over his followers. Jesus’ point was that Satan would not oppose himself. Therefore, when Jesus forced demons to leave people, it was not Satan who gave him the power to do it.
To say this forcefully, Jesus used an “if” followed by imaginary situation to prove that it could not be true. For some other ways to translate an imaginary situation that cannot be true, see the General Comment 3:26a–c following 3:26c.
3:26a
And: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And is a common connector. Here it connects the truth in 3:24–25 to the way Jesus compared this truth to what the teachers of the law had said about him. The Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version say:
So
It could also be translated as:
Likewise
if: The conditional word if introduces a situation that is untrue. Jesus did this in order to show the teachers of the law that what they accused him of is also untrue.
Satan is divided: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is divided is the same verb as in 3:24a and 3:25a. It refers to a situation in which Satan’s followers are opposing and fighting each other.
rises against himself: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rises against himself here indicates that Satan works against himself by fighting his own demons. It implies that the two sides were originally together and have become enemies.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
has rebelled against himself (New Jerusalem Bible) -or-
fights against himself (Contemporary English Version) -or-
fights against his own demons/spirits
3:26b–c
3:26b and 3:26c are saying the same thing. In some languages it will be more natural to combine these two statements into one. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:
that will be the end of him
3:26b
he cannot stand: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cannot stand is the same word as in 3:24b and 3:25b. It means “he will not endure” or “he will not continue.” Satan will be destroyed/defeated. For example, the New Century Version says:
he cannot continue
3:26c
his end has come: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his end has come here means “Satan’s power is destroyed/finished.” The Contemporary English Version and God’s Word say:
that will be the end of him
General Comment on 3:26a–c
Verse 3:26 is talking about something that cannot be true. In some languages it will sound more natural to translate this verse without the conditional “if.” For example:
Obviously Satan will not want to fight against his own demons and destroy his own power. -or-
Will Satan want to destroy himself by fighting against himself? Will he force his own demons out of people? Of course not!
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.
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