Βελίαλ (G955) — Greek Lexicon

Βελίαλ

Belíal

G955 noun

SILEX Entry

Root Βελίαλ worthless, lawless, evil (personified)

Definition

Proper noun used to denote 'worthlessness,' 'lawlessness,' or, in later contexts, an embodiment of opposition to God. In early Jewish and Greek writings, functions either as a common noun (a personification of worthlessness or evil) or as a proper name for a supernatural adversary. In most Greek contexts, refers generally to extreme wickedness or a wicked being.

Semantic Range

worthlessness, lawlessness, extreme wickedness; personification of evil; name of a supernatural adversary or adversarial principle; used of evil persons or entities epitomizing opposition to God

Root / Etymology

Direct transliteration of Hebrew בְּלִיַּעַל (beliyyaʿal), from בְּלִי (without) + יַעַל (profit, benefit); i.e., 'without value' or 'worthless.' The Greek spelling aims to reproduce the Hebrew pronunciation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Βελίαλ appears only once in the Greek New Testament (2 Corinthians 6:15), where it stands in parallel to 'Christ' as a representative of Israelite faith and implies a supernatural adversary or personification of evil or lawlessness. In the Septuagint, the Hebrew beliyyaʿal is usually rendered as 'lawless men' or 'sons of worthlessness,' not as a proper name, and so Βελίαλ as a proper noun is extremely rare in Greek sources. In later Second Temple Jewish writings (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls), 'Belial' becomes an explicit figure identified with ultimate evil, a demonic leader, or the opponent of God. In English translation traditions, 'Belial' is sometimes left untranslated or rendered as 'wickedness' or 'worthlessness,' but the wider Jewish and Christian tradition eventually treats 'Belial' as a name for an evil supernatural being or as another name for Satan. Usage in the New Testament reflects this development. Distinct from terms like Σατανᾶς (Satanas, 'Satan'), which more clearly denote an adversary, Βελίαλ retains its Hebrew connotation of both moral and ontological worthlessness or opposition to the divine.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (בְּלִיַּעַל); worthlessness; Belial, as an epithet of Satan:--Belial.

Root Family

Βελίαλ (Belial) — worthless, lawless, evil (personified)

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G955-01`	Ἀδμεὶν	admein	`N GEN M SG`	Admin	of Worthless-One	Belial	1
`G955-02`	Βελιάρ	beliar	`N ACC M SG`	Belial	Worthless One	Belial	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G955-01`	Luke 3:33	Ἀδμεὶν	admein	`N GEN M SG`	Admin	of Worthless-One	Belial
`G955-02`	2 Corinthians 6:15	Βελιάρ	beliar	`N ACC M SG`	Belial	Worthless One	Belial

← G954 Greek Lexicon G956 →