12:43 “When 2 an unclean spirit 3 goes out of a person, 4 it passes through waterless places 5 looking for rest but 6 does not find it.
1 sn A yoke is a wooden bar or frame that joins two animals like oxen or horses so that they can pull a wagon, plow, etc. together. Here it is used figuratively of the restrictions that a teacher or rabbi would place on his followers.
2 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
3 sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.
4 tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females. This same use occurs in v. 45.
5 sn The background for the reference to waterless places is not entirely clear, though some Jewish texts suggest spirits must have a place to dwell, but not with water (Luke 8:29-31; Tob 8:3). Some suggest that the image of the desert or deserted cities as the places demons dwell is where this idea started (Isa 13:21; 34:14).
6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.