Writers from Jerusalem say Jesus casts out demons by the power of Beelzebub.
Mark 3:26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
Mark 3:26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.
And if this adversity stands up against itself and is divided? It does not have the power to stand. Instead, it has a purpose.
This verse starts with a humorous play on words, but it finishes with a mystery. The humor is a simple play on words, the word translated in the KJV as "rise up" and, in the NIV as "oppose" actually means "stand up" so it plays against the "stand" later in the sentence. The sense is "if he stands against himself, he doesn't have the power to stand."
However, the real fun is the last word or the punchline. The word translated consistently in the Bible is a great multiple-meaning word. It does mean "end" but primarily in the sense of a fulfillment of a purpose. It also has a lot of other meanings, especially in this context. Given that the context is "not having power," the word also means having the "decisive authority." This means that the last line could mean "it has a decision," or "it has a fulfillment," or "it has a completion" or "it has a purpose." The question is how these terms relate to "the adversary" or "this suffering." I personally prefer the idea of "purpose."
Suffering remains because it has a purpose.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "satan" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "rise" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this context.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "stand" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to stand."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "end" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "satan" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "opposes" should be something more like "stand up."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "against" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "stand" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to stand."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "instead" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "his" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "end" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "come" doesn't exist in the source.
And-- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
if -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
Satan -- "Satan" is from an Aramaic word meaning "adversary" or "opponent". This is the closest Jesus comes to using it to refer to the OT "Lucifer". See this article on the word and this article on this word and related terms.
rise -- (CW) "Rise up " is a Greek verb that means "to make to stand up", "to raise from the dead", "to rouse to action," and "to make people rise up." This is from the same root as the verb translated as "stand" later in this verse. Its prefix has the sense of "up" or "over" in English. This is not the precise meaning of the word when used with stand."
up - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
against -- The word translated as "against" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
himself, -- "Himself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself," and so on.
and - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
divided, "Be divided" is from an uncommon noun, which means "divide", "distribute", "assign", "sever", "cut-off," (passive) "to be divided", "to be dispersed," and "to be reckoned a part." Jesus only uses this word in this and parallel phrases and two others referring to satanas's realm that is, suffering's domain.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
can- -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English.
not The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
stand, -- (WF) The verb translated as "stand" means "to make stand", "to set up", "to establish and similar words. The form is a passive infinitive, "be made to stand." Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]", "to bury", "to establish", "to make", "to cause," and "to assign." This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."
hath The word translated as "hath" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep."
an The "an" comes from the fact that the following word has no definite article. There is no indefinite article in Greek,
end. - (CW) The word translated as "end" means "purpose," "outcome," "something done," or "goal." It is the term Jesus uses to describe the culmination or the purpose of an era or lifetime. It is more of an accomplishment than simply ending a task. In some contexts, it refers to "having the power of deciding," and so "decision" and even "doom." Here, that sense plays against the phrase "not having power." It can mean what is "due" to the gods or the state.
And-- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
if -- The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
Satan -- "Satan" is from an Aramaic word meaning "adversary" or "opponent". This is the closest Jesus comes to using it to refer to the OT "Lucifer". See this article on the word and this article on this word and related terms.
opposes -- (WW) "Opposes " is a Greek verb that means "to make to stand up", "to raise from the dead", "to rouse to action," and "to make people rise up." This is from the same root as the verb translated as "stand" later in this verse. Its prefix has the sense of "up" or "over" in English. This is not the precise meaning of the word when used with "stand."
up - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
missing "against" -- (MW) The untranslated word "against" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
himself, -- "Himself" is a special reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself," and so on.
and - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also."
is -- This helping verb "is" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
divided, "Be divided" is from an uncommon noun, which means "divide", "distribute", "assign", "sever", "cut-off," (passive) "to be divided", "to be dispersed," and "to be reckoned a part." Jesus only uses this word in this and parallel phrases and two others referring to satanas's realm that is, suffering's domain.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
can- -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English.
not The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
stand, -- (WF) The verb translated as "stand" means "to make stand", "to set up", "to establish and similar words. The form is a passive infinitive, "be made to stand." Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]", "to bury", "to establish", "to make", "to cause," and "to assign." This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
missing "instead" -- (MW) The untranslated word "instead" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."
his -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "his" in the Greek source.
end. - (CW) The word translated as "end" means "purpose," "outcome," "something done," or "goal." It is the term Jesus uses to describe the culmination or the purpose of an era or lifetime. It is more of an accomplishment than simply ending a task. Its use in the phrase "end of the world" is discussed in this article.
has - The word translated as "has" means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", or "keep."
come. -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "come" in the Greek source.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
εἰ [90 verses](prep) "If" is from ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever", "in case," and "whenever." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions.
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
Σατανᾶς [16 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Satan" is satanas which is an Aramaic word meaning "adversary", "opponents," or "one who opposes another in purpose or act. "
ἀνέστη [29 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Rise up" is from anistemi, which means "to make stand up", "to raise up", "to raise from sleep", "to wake up", "to raise from the dead", "to rouse to action", "to put up for sale", "to make people rise", "to emigrate", "to transplant," and "to rise and leave the sanctuary."
ἐφ᾽ [138 verses](prep) "Against" is from epi which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "of an end or purpose," "of the condition upon which a thing is done," "on condition that," and "of price." With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, judging, it means "in the case of."
ἑαυτὸν [75 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Himself" is from heautou, is a reflexive pronoun that means "himself", "herself", "itself "themselves," and "ourselves." It is an alternative to autos.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just." -
ἐμερίσθη, [5 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "Be divided" is from merizo, which means "divide", "distribute", "assign", "sever", "cut-off," (passive) "to be divided", "to be dispersed," and "to be reckoned a part."
οὐ [440 verses](conj) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective. -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
δύναται [61 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind mp) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities", "to be able," and "to be strong enough." - The word translated as "I can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power.
στῆναι [28 verses](verb aor inf act) "Shall...stand" is from histemi, which means "to make to stand", "to stand", "to set up", "to bring to a standstill", "to check", "to appoint", "to establish", "to fix by agreement", "to be placed", "to be set", "to stand still", "to stand firm", "to set upright", "to erected", "to arise," and "to place." Like the English words "put" and "set," it has a number of specific meanings from "to put down [in writing]", "to bury", "to establish", "to make", "to cause," and "to assign."
ἀλλὰ [154 verses] (adv) "But" is alla, which means "otherwise", "but", "still", "at least", "except", "yet," nevertheless", "rather", "moreover," and "nay."
τέλος [11 verses]((noun sg neut acc) "End" is from telos, which means "fulfillment", "performance", "consummation", "result", "product," "outcome", "end", "achievement", "attainment", "goal", "state of completion," "maturity", "services rendered", "something done", "task", "duty", "toll," and "custom."
ἔχει. [181 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Hath" is echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe," and "to have means to do."
In the standard translation, this line seems to rephrase the previous few verses, but it does much more than that in Greek. It doesn't talk about adversity casting out suffering or how kingdoms and houses cannot be divided between two warring authorities. It brings in the new concepts, of "rousing people to action" and, most importantly, the idea of telos, that is, purpose. In this verse, Jesus is telling us the purpose of adversity, that is, explaining the need for problems and suffering. Of course, much of this is lost in the desire to personalize "Satan" instead of simply translating the word into what it means, which is "adversity" or "suffering." Personalizing suffering as "Satan" makes our suffering here on earth seem like some war between the gods, which a pagan view.