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41 The people[a] of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them[b]—and now,[c] something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the South[d] will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon—and now,[e] something greater than Solomon is here!

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

43 “When[f] an unclean spirit[g] goes out of a person,[h] it passes through waterless places[i] looking for rest but[j] does not find it.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:41 tn Grk “men”; the word here (ἀνήρ, anēr) usually indicates males or husbands, but occasionally is used in a generic sense of people in general, as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 1.a, 2).
  2. Matthew 12:41 tn Grk “at the preaching of Jonah.”
  3. Matthew 12:41 tn Grk “behold.”
  4. Matthew 12:42 sn On the queen of the South see 1 Kgs 10:1-3 and 2 Chr 9:1-12, as well as Josephus, Ant. 8.6.5-6 (8.165-175). The South most likely refers to modern southwest Arabia, possibly the eastern part of modern Yemen, although there is an ancient tradition reflected in Josephus which identifies this geo-political entity as Ethiopia.
  5. Matthew 12:42 tn Grk “behold.”
  6. Matthew 12:43 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  7. Matthew 12:43 sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.
  8. Matthew 12:43 tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both males and females. This same use occurs in v. 45.
  9. Matthew 12:43 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).
  10. Matthew 12:43 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

41 The men of Nineveh(A) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,(B) and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came(C) from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

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