a house divided against itself cannot stand

proverb

A group or organization that is weakened by internal dissent will not remain united.

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Meanings

proverb

alternative a house divided cannot stand

  1. A group or organization that is weakened by internal dissent will not remain united.

    If good is done, then there is the spirit of God and not the spirit of evil, for a house divided against itself cannot stand.

    2002, HA Williams, The True Wilderness
    2 more examples

    Thirdly, sometimes by setting and fomenting divisions among Christians, Preacher against Preacher, Church against Church, well knowing, that a house divided against it selfe cannot stand.

    1655, William Lyford, The Plain Mans Senses

    ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.

    1858, Abraham Lincoln, speech, 16 Jun 1858

Origin

With reference to Matthew 12:25 and Mark 3:25.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

a house divided against itself cannot stand. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20house%20divided%20against%20itself%20cannot%20stand

MLA

“a house divided against itself cannot stand.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20house%20divided%20against%20itself%20cannot%20stand. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20house%20divided%20against%20itself%20cannot%20stand.

Source: a house divided against itself cannot stand on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.