Discovery BoxMatthew 12:43 
Context12:43 “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
Context15:17 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.”
