Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

This is the type of verse this blog was created to analyze because it is deep and the translation is misleading. First, a little connective context. This lesson started with a discussion of casting out demons and now appears to return that topic. However, the "unclean spirit" (akathartos pneuma) here is not exactly the devils (daimonion) discussed earlier. Is this a return to the discussion of "devils" or is it really a continuation of a discussion of the weaknesses of those who are accusing him? What is Christ saying?

Alternative translation: When an impure spirit comes out of a man, it goes through worthless positions, seeking a place to stop but gains nothing.

This verse joins at least three previous ideas: the casting out devils; worthless trees producing worthless fruit, and people looking for a sign into a single idea. The unclean spirit is AT ONCE the devils that Christ's casts out, the worthless words of those who are attacking him, and the hopeless of those looking for God to provide absolute proof as the basis of their faith. For Christ the three things are the same form of "sullied spirit." When we express that spirit, we seek to justify ourselve, looking for a solid position, but our efforts amount to nothing. Our negativity find nothing valuable in the world.

"Unclean" is akathartos, which means "foul," "uncleansed," and "morally unclean." It was the term used to refer to a woman's menses.

"Spirit" is pneuma, which means "blast," "wind," "breath," "the breath of life," and "divine inspiration."

"Gone out" is exerchomai, which means "to go out," "to stand forth," and "to come to an end." Despite being translated here as"gone," it is not at all the same term used for "caste out" earlier (ekballo). It comes from the base, erchomai, which means "to set out," "to come," and "to go." It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place and the term ex (ek before a consonant), which means "out of."

"Of a man" is apo (from) anthrôpos, which means both "a man" and in the plural (anthropon) "mankind." It is both the term for individuals and a generic term.

"Walks" is from dierchomai,which means "to go through" and "to pass through." It is the same base word as exerchomai above but with the prefix dia, which means "through," "throughout," and "in the midst of" and is used to describe passage through both time and space.

"Dry places" is anudros (waterless, unwatered) topos, which means "place," "position," and "topic." This could be thought of as a "dry topic" or "worthless position."

"Seeking" is zêteô, which mean "to seek after," "to search after," and "to feel the want of."

"Rest" is anapausis, which means "cessation of motion," "rest," and "relaxation."

"Finds" is heuriskô , which means "to find," "to discover," and "to gain."