Βεελζεβούλ
Beelzeboúl
G954 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A name referring to a supernatural being, often considered a prince or ruler of malevolent spiritual forces. In Hellenistic and early Christian contexts, it functions as a title for the chief of demons or adversarial spiritual powers. Semantically, the term is used to denote either a specific demonic figure or the leader of hostile spirits, and by extension serves as an epithet for the principal opponent in cosmic conflict myths, including the Satan figure in later texts.
Semantic Range
name of the Ekronite deity Baal-zebub, name for a chief demon, title for the leader of hostile spiritual beings, designation for Satan in later Judean and Christian contexts, polemical term
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew בַּעַל זְבוּב (Ba‘al Zəvūv), which means 'lord of flies' (2 Kings 1:2–3) and was the name of a deity worshipped in Ekron. The Greek transliteration Βεελζεβούλ (Beelzeboúl) may reflect either this name or a deliberate derogatory alteration, possibly alluding to 'lord of dung' (by association with זֶבֶל zevel, 'dung' in later Hebrew). The form in the Gospels may also reflect variations in transmission and polemical adaptation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Greek of the New Testament, Βεελζεβούλ appears in the Synoptic Gospels (e.g., Matthew 10:25, 12:24–27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15–19), usually in the context of accusations against Jesus regarding the source of his exorcism power. The name itself is not found in classical or wider Hellenistic Greek literature outside Judean or Christian contexts. The underlying Hebrew name בַּעַל זְבוּב (Baal-zebub) is attested in the Hebrew Bible as the god of Ekron, but early Greek and later Jewish and Christian traditions transformed the term into a polemical or pejorative epithet for a high-ranking demon or Satanic figure. In some manuscripts and translation traditions this form is rendered as 'Beelzebub' (from Baal-zebub, 'lord of flies') while others adopt 'Beelzebul,' often interpreted as 'lord of the (heavenly) dwelling' or, pejoratively, 'lord of dung.' Greek and Latin Christian writers after the NT period increasingly treated the name as a title for the chief demon or Satan. English Bible translations use 'Beelzebul' or 'Beelzebub,' but these do not preserve the polemical nuances of the original Judean, Hellenistic, and early Christian contexts. There is overlap and sometimes confusion between the NT depiction of Βεελζεβούλ and the Satan figure, but they are not strictly synonymous in all sources. In Second Temple and New Testament Judean culture, to label someone as being in league with Beelzebul was to accuse them of alliance with demonic or unclean powers, not merely of idolatry but of participating with the chief antagonist in the cosmic struggle against Israel's God.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Chaldee origin (by parody on בַּעַל זְבוּב); dung-god; Beelzebul, a name of Satan:--Beelzebub.
Root Family
Βεελζεβούλ (Beelzeboul) — to rule, to possess, lordship
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G954-01 |
Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N ACC M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul | 7 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G954-01 |
Matthew 10:25 | Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N ACC M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul |
G954-01 |
Matthew 12:24 | Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N DAT M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul |
G954-01 |
Matthew 12:27 | Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N DAT M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul |
G954-01 |
Mark 3:22 | Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N ACC M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul |
G954-01 |
Luke 11:15 | Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N DAT M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul |
G954-01 |
Luke 11:18 | Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N DAT M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul |
G954-01 |
Luke 11:19 | Βεελζεβοὺλ | beelzeboul | N DAT M SG |
Beelzebul | Beelzebul, ruling lord | Beelzeboul |