^11:21When a strong man,⁵⁹ fully armed, guards his own palace,⁶⁰ his possessions are safe.⁶¹^11:22But⁶² when a stronger man⁶³ attacks⁶⁴ and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s⁶⁵ armor on which the man relied⁶⁶ and divides up⁶⁷ his plunder.⁶⁸^11:23Whoever is not with me is against me,⁶⁹ and whoever does not gather with me scatters.⁷⁰

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Footnotes

59 The referent of the expression “a strong man” is Satan.
60 The word αὐλή (aulē) describes any building large and elaborate enough to have an interior courtyard, thus “dwelling, palace, mansion” (L&N 7.6).
61 Grk “his goods are in peace.”
62 Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
63 The referent of the expression “a stronger man” is Jesus.
64 Grk “stronger man than he attacks.”
65 Grk “his”; the referent (the first man mentioned) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
66 Grk “on which he relied.”
67 Or “and distributes.”
68 Some see the imagery here as similar to Eph 4:7–10, although no opponents are explicitly named in that passage. Jesus has the victory over Satan. Jesus’ acts of healing mean that the war is being won and the kingdom is coming.
69 Whoever is not with me is against me. The call here is to join the victor. Failure to do so means that one is being destructive. Responding to Jesus is the issue.
70 For the image of scattering, see Pss. Sol. 17:18.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

NLTNew Living Translation

For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe. But when a stronger man attacks him and conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder. The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.

KJV 1900King James Version

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

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