^11:24“When an unclean spirit⁷¹ goes out of a person,⁷² it passes through waterless places⁷³ looking for rest but⁷⁴ not finding any. Then⁷⁵ it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’⁷⁶^11:25When it returns,⁷⁷ it finds the house⁷⁸ swept clean and put in order.⁷⁹^11:26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so⁸⁰ the last state of that person⁸¹ is worse than the first.”⁸²

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Footnotes

71 This is a reference to an evil spirit. See Luke 4:33.
72 Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
73 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).
74 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
75 Most , including a few early and important ones (𝔓45 א* A C D W Ψ f1, 13 𝔐 lat), lack τότε (tote, “then”). Other , including some early and important ones (𝔓75 א2 B L Θ Ξ 070 33 579 892 1241 co), have the adverb. Although the external evidence better supports the longer reading, the internal evidence is on the side of the shorter, for conjunctions and adverbs were frequently added by copyists to remove asyndeton and to add clarification. The shorter reading is thus preferred. The translation, however, adds “Then” because of English stylistic requirements. has τότε in brackets indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
76 Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”
77 Grk “comes.”
78 The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.
79 The image of the house swept clean and put in order refers to the life of the person from whom the demon departed. The key to the example appears to be that no one else has been invited in to dwell. If an exorcism occurs and there is no response to God, then the way is free for the demon to return. Some see the reference to exorcism as more symbolic; thus the story’s only point is about responding to Jesus. This is possible and certainly is an application of the passage.
80 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the concluding point of the story.
81 Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females.
82 The point of the story is that to fail to respond is to risk a worse fate than when one started.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find it. It says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came out.’ And when it arrives it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last state of that person becomes worse than the first!”

KJV 1900King James Version

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Public Domain