Matthew 12:43

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

12:43 “When 1  an unclean spirit 2  goes out of a person, 3  it passes through waterless places 4  looking for rest but 5  does not find it.

Matthew 15:17

15:17 Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and then passes out into the sewer? 6 

1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

2 sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.

3 tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females. This same use occurs in v. 45.

4 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).

5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

6 tn Or “into the latrine.”