Matthew 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.

Job 1:7; Job 2:2; Ps 63:1; Isa 35:6,7; Isa 41:18; Eze 47:8-12; Am 8:11-13; Mt 8:29; Mr 5:7-13; Lu 8:28-32; Lu 11:24; Ac 8:13; 1Pe 5:8

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.