σκῦλον G4661
Spoils, plunder, or goods seized from a defeated enemy; the possessions taken in victory
Jesus describes the strong man's house being invaded: 'when someone stronger attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils' (Luke 11:22). The plural σκῦλα designated military plunder, possessions stripped from defeated enemies. In Jesus's parable, Satan is the strong man guarding his possessions until someone stronger (Jesus) binds him and seizes his goods. The spoils represent people held captive by Satan's power, now liberated by Jesus's superior authority. Exorcisms and healings demonstrate this cosmic conflict—Jesus plundering Satan's kingdom, dividing the spoils among God's people.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke 11:22 uses the accusative plural σκῦλα: 'he divides his spoils.' The military imagery pictures defeat and dispossession—the victorious attacker strips the defeated strong man and distributes the plunder. Spanish 'despojos,' French 'dépouille' (spoil/remains)—both preserve the martial context. Jesus's point answers accusations that he casts out demons by Beelzebul (11:15): actually, he's invading Satan's kingdom, binding him, and freeing captives. Every exorcism is spiritual conquest, evidence that God's kingdom has come upon them (11:20). 1×
AR["غَنائِمَهُ"]·ben["লুট"]·DE["σκῦλα"]·EN["spoils"]·FR["dépouille"]·heb["שְׁלָל"]·HI["लूट"]·ID["jarahan"]·IT["skula"]·jav["jarahan"]·KO["전리품을"]·RU["добычу"]·ES["despojos"]·SW["nyara"]·TR["ganimetini"]·urd["لوٹ-کا-مال"]
Related Senses
H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5159 1. inherited land or property (170×)G2983 1. receive, obtain (134×)H3423 1. Qal: take possession of land (130×)G2983 2. take, take up (113×)G2398 1. one's own, belonging to oneself (91×)G3860 1. hand over, deliver to custody (78×)H7998 1. spoil, plunder, booty (74×)G1325 2. be given, be granted (70×)H5414 2. put, place, set (68×)H7999a 1. pay, repay, recompense (63×)H7069 1. Buy, purchase (59×)H1892 1. vanity, futility, absurdity (58×)H5159 2. heritage as covenant portion (52×)H6299 1. redeem or ransom (Qal active) (49×)H4376 1. Sell (Qal active) (47×)H1350a 1. Redeem, buy back (46×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σκῦλον, τό, mostly in plural σκῦλα, arms stripped off a slain enemy, spoils, Refs 5th c.BC+; σκῦλα γράφειν to write one's name on arms gained as spoils, which were then dedicated to a deity, Refs 5th c.BC+: less frequently in singular, booty, spoil, prey, σκῦλον οἰωνοῖσιν Refs 5th c.BC+