The Meaning of Luke 11:22 Explained

Luke 11:22

KJV: 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.

YLT: but when the stronger than he, having come upon him, may overcome him, his whole-armour he doth take away in which he had trusted, and his spoils he distributeth;

Darby: but when the stronger than he coming upon him overcomes him, he takes away his panoply in which he trusted, and he will divide the spoil he has taken from him.

ASV: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Luke 11:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 11:14-26 - For Or Against?
The strong man of this parable is evidently Satan, who guards the palace of man's nature, to which he has no right. It is the palace of the King, which has been captured by His direst foe. The demon-possession of the body is a parable and illustration of the terrible results of the possession of the soul by the demons of jealousy, passion, etc. Satan is strong-stronger than Adam in his innocence or David in his palace. He is armed with the lie; is always on the watch to lull us into false security; but the peace which He gives is of death.
Thank God, Christ is stronger! In the wilderness and on the Cross He proved Himself so. He took away His foe's armor and bruised his head. When Christ takes up His residence in the heart Satan may rage outside and fling in horrid suggestions, but the door is kept closed against his return. They are to be pitied who make a reform in their own strength-Satan will return. Only Christ can work permanent deliverance. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 11

1  Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11  assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him
14  He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27  and shows who are blessed;
29  preaches to the people;
37  and reprimands the outward show of holiness

Greek Commentary for Luke 11:22

But when [επαν δε]
Note οταν — hotan in Luke 11:21. [source]
Stronger than he [ισχυροτερος αυτου]
Comparative of ισχυρος — ischuros followed by the ablative.Come upon him and overcome him (επελτων νικησηι αυτον — epelthōn nikēsēi auton). Second aorist active participle of επερχομαι — eperchomai and first aorist active subjunctive of νικαω — nikaō Aorist tense here because a single onset while in Luke 11:22 the guarding (πυλασσηι — phulassēi present active subjunctive) is continuous.His whole armour An old and common word for all the soldier‘s outfit (shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves, breastplate). Tyndale renders it “his harness.” In the N.T. only here and Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13 where the items are given.Wherein he trusted (επ ηι επεποιτει — eph' hēi epepoithei). Second past perfect active of πειτω — peithō to persuade. The second perfect πεποιτα — pepoitha is intransitive, to trust. Old and common verb. He trusted his weapons which had been so efficacious.His spoils It is not clear to what this figure refers. Strong as Satan is Jesus is stronger and wins victories over him as he was doing then. In Colossians 2:15 Christ is pictured as triumphing openly over the powers of evil by the Cross. [source]
Come upon him and overcome him [επελτων νικησηι αυτον]
Second aorist active participle of επερχομαι — eperchomai and first aorist active subjunctive of νικαω — nikaō Aorist tense here because a single onset while in Luke 11:22 the guarding (πυλασσηι — phulassēi present active subjunctive) is continuous. [source]
His whole armour [την πανοπλιαν αυτου]
An old and common word for all the soldier‘s outfit (shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves, breastplate). Tyndale renders it “his harness.” In the N.T. only here and Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13 where the items are given.Wherein he trusted (επ ηι επεποιτει — eph' hēi epepoithei). Second past perfect active of πειτω — peithō to persuade. The second perfect πεποιτα — pepoitha is intransitive, to trust. Old and common verb. He trusted his weapons which had been so efficacious.His spoils It is not clear to what this figure refers. Strong as Satan is Jesus is stronger and wins victories over him as he was doing then. In Colossians 2:15 Christ is pictured as triumphing openly over the powers of evil by the Cross. [source]
Wherein he trusted [επ ηι επεποιτει]
Second past perfect active of πειτω — peithō to persuade. The second perfect πεποιτα — pepoitha is intransitive, to trust. Old and common verb. He trusted his weapons which had been so efficacious. [source]
His spoils [τα σκυλα αυτου]
It is not clear to what this figure refers. Strong as Satan is Jesus is stronger and wins victories over him as he was doing then. In Colossians 2:15 Christ is pictured as triumphing openly over the powers of evil by the Cross. [source]
A stronger []
Also with the article: the stronger. [source]
A stronger []
Also with the article: the stronger. [source]
All his armor [τὴν πανοπλίαν]
Wrong; for the armor is regarded as a whole - the panoply - which is a transcript of this word. Rightly, Rev., his whole armor. Tynd., his harness. [source]
All his armor [τὴν πανοπλίαν]
Wrong; for the armor is regarded as a whole - the panoply - which is a transcript of this word. Rightly, Rev., his whole armor. Tynd., his harness. [source]
Spoils [τὰ σκῦλα]
See on Mark 5:35. Compare on goods, Matthew 12:29. [source]
Spoils [τὰ σκῦλα]
See on Mark 5:35. Compare on goods, Matthew 12:29. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 11:22

Mark 5:35 Troublest [σκύλλεις]
See on Matthew 9:36. Compare Luke 11:22, where occurs the cognate word σκῦλα , spoils, things torn or stripped from an enemy. Wyc., travailest. Tynd., diseasest. [source]
Luke 11:22 Stronger than he [ισχυροτερος αυτου]
Comparative of ισχυρος — ischuros followed by the ablative.Come upon him and overcome him (επελτων νικησηι αυτον — epelthōn nikēsēi auton). Second aorist active participle of επερχομαι — eperchomai and first aorist active subjunctive of νικαω — nikaō Aorist tense here because a single onset while in Luke 11:22 the guarding (πυλασσηι — phulassēi present active subjunctive) is continuous.His whole armour An old and common word for all the soldier‘s outfit (shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves, breastplate). Tyndale renders it “his harness.” In the N.T. only here and Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13 where the items are given.Wherein he trusted (επ ηι επεποιτει — eph' hēi epepoithei). Second past perfect active of πειτω — peithō to persuade. The second perfect πεποιτα — pepoitha is intransitive, to trust. Old and common verb. He trusted his weapons which had been so efficacious.His spoils It is not clear to what this figure refers. Strong as Satan is Jesus is stronger and wins victories over him as he was doing then. In Colossians 2:15 Christ is pictured as triumphing openly over the powers of evil by the Cross. [source]
Luke 11:22 Come upon him and overcome him [επελτων νικησηι αυτον]
Second aorist active participle of επερχομαι — eperchomai and first aorist active subjunctive of νικαω — nikaō Aorist tense here because a single onset while in Luke 11:22 the guarding (πυλασσηι — phulassēi present active subjunctive) is continuous. [source]
John 17:1 Lifting up [επαρας]
First aorist active participle of επαιρω — epairō old and common verb with οπταλμους — ophthalmous (eyes) as in John 4:35; John 6:5; John 11:41. Father Vocative form as in John 16:5, John 16:11; John 11:41, Christ‘s usual way of beginning his prayers. It is inconceivable that this real Lord‘s Prayer is the free composition of a disciple put into the mouth of Jesus. It is rather “the tenacious memory of an old man recalling the greatest days of his life” (Bernard), aided by the Holy Spirit promised for this very purpose (John 14:26; John 16:13.). Jesus had the habit of prayer (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Matthew 11:25.; Luke 3:21; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28; Luke 11:22, Luke 11:42; Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46; John 11:41; John 12:27). He prayed here for himself (John 17:1-5), for the disciples (John 17:6-19), for all believers (John 17:20-26). The prayer is similar in spirit to the Model Prayer for us in Matthew 6:9-13. The hour for his glorification has come as he had already told the disciples (John 13:31.; John 12:23). Glorify thy Son First aorist active imperative of δοχαζω — doxazō the only personal petition in this prayer. Jesus had already used this word δοχαζω — doxazō for his death (John 13:31.). Here it carries us into the very depths of Christ‘s own consciousness. It is not merely for strength to meet the Cross, but for the power to glorify the Father by his death and resurrection and ascension, “that the Son may glorify thee” Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive. [source]
Ephesians 6:11 Whole armor [πανοπλίαν]
Panoply is a transcript of the Greek word. Only here, Ephesians 6:13, and Luke 11:22, see note. In classical Greek of the full armor of a heavy-armed soldier. The student may compare the description of the forging of Aeneas' armor by Vulcan (Virgil, “Aeneid,” viii., 415-459), and of the armor itself as displayed to Aeneas by Venus (“Aeneid,” viii., 616-730). Also of the armor of Achilles (Homer, “Iliad,” xviii., 468-617). [source]
Ephesians 6:11 The whole armour [την πανοπλιαν]
Old word from πανοπλος — panoplos (wholly armed, from παν οπλον — panπρος το δυνασται υμας στηναι — hoplon). In N.T. only Luke 11:22; Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13. Complete armour in this period included “shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves, and breastplate” (Thayer). Our “panoply.” Polybius gives this list of Thayer. Paul omits the lance (spear). Our museums preserve specimens of this armour as well as the medieval coat-of-mail. Paul adds girdle and shoes to the list of Polybius, not armour but necessary for the soldier. Certainly Paul could claim knowledge of the Roman soldier‘s armour, being chained to one for some three years. That ye may be able to stand (προς το — pros to dunasthai humās stēnai). Purpose clause with δυνασται — pros to and the infinitive (υμας — dunasthai) with the accusative of general reference (στηναι — humās) and the second aorist active infinitive ιστημι — stēnai (from δυνασται — histēmi) dependent on προς — dunasthai Against (προς — pros). Facing. Another instance of τας μετοδιας του διαβολου — pros meaning “against” (Colossians 2:23). The wiles of the devil See already Ephesians 4:14 for this word. He is a crafty foe and knows the weak spots in the Christian‘s armour. [source]
Revelation 2:7 To him that overcometh [τῷ νικῶντι]
A formula common to all these Epistles. The verb is used absolutely without any object expressed. It is characteristic of John, occurring once in the Gospel, six times in the First Epistle, sixteen times in Revelation, and elsewhere only Luke 11:22; Romans 3:4; Romans 12:21. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 11:22 mean?

when however [one] stronger than he having come upon [him] shall overcome him the complete armor of him he takes away in which he had trusted and the plunder he divides
ἐπὰν δὲ ἰσχυρότερος αὐτοῦ ἐπελθὼν νικήσῃ αὐτόν τὴν πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ αἴρει ἐφ’ ἐπεποίθει καὶ τὰ σκῦλα διαδίδωσιν

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἰσχυρότερος  [one]  stronger 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: ἰσχυρός  
Sense: strong, mighty.
αὐτοῦ  than  he 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐπελθὼν  having  come  upon  [him] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐπεισέρχομαι 
Sense: to come to arrive.
νικήσῃ  shall  overcome 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: νικάω  
Sense: to conquer.
πανοπλίαν  complete  armor 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πανοπλία  
Sense: full armour, complete armour.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
αἴρει  he  takes  away 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: αἴρω  
Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up.
ἐπεποίθει  he  had  trusted 
Parse: Verb, Pluperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπισείω 
Sense: persuade.
σκῦλα  plunder 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: σκῦλον  
Sense: a (beast’s) skin stripped off, a pelt.
διαδίδωσιν  he  divides 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διαδίδωμι  
Sense: to distribute, divide among several.