Beelzebub is a name that appears several times in the Bible, referring to a pagan god worshipped by the Philistines and possibly also to a powerful demon or the devil himself. The name has a few possible meanings and origins according to scholars. Let’s take a detailed look at what the Bible says about Beelzebub and the various theories about who or what he represents.
Beelzebub as a pagan god
The name Beelzebub first appears in 2 Kings 1:2-3, 16. Here it refers to a god worshipped by the Philistines of Ekron. King Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room and injured himself. He sent messengers to Ekron to ask Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he would recover. The name Baal-zebub means “lord of the flies” in Hebrew. It was probably the local name for a Canaanite god associated with flies.
Later, in 2 Kings 1:16, the name is changed to Baal-zebul which means “lord of the divine abode.” This may have been a derogatory play on words by the Hebrews, changing “lord of flies” to “lord of dung.” The name Baal-zebul eventually morphed into the name Beelzebub in Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible. So the evidence suggests Beelzebub started as a pagan god worshipped by the Philistines, possibly related to flies or dung.
Beelzebub as a demonic entity
The name Beelzebub appears again in the New Testament gospels, referring to some kind of evil spirit or demonic entity. In Matthew 10:25, Jesus warns his disciples: “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” Here Jesus seems to use Beelzebul as a name for Satan.
In Matthew 12:24, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus responds that a house divided against itself cannot stand – suggesting that Satan would not empower someone to oppose his own demons. Again, Beelzebul is portrayed as a powerful demonic ruler.
The name appears again in Luke 11:15-19, in a passage parallel to Matthew 12:24-29. When Jesus casts out a demon, some accuse him of doing it by Beelzebul. Jesus makes the same argument, that Satan would not cast out his own demons. The name Beelzebul here clearly refers to a demonic entity with power over other demons.
The fact that Beelzebub is called the “prince of demons” in these passages implies he is an important figure in demonic circles. Some scholars see Beelzebub as simply an alternate name for Satan. Others think he is a powerful demon who rules over other evil spirits in Satan’s hierarchy.
Theories on the meaning and origin of the name
There are several theories about the meaning and origin of the name Beelzebub in its New Testament demonic sense:
- It may come from the Canaanite god Baal-zebub meaning “lord of the flies.” The Jews and early Christians adapted it as a derogatory name for a demon.
- It may mean “lord of dung” or “lord of filth,” again as a derogatory Jewish play on words.
- It may derive from the Hebrew phrase ba’al zevuv meaning “lord of chaos” or “lord of disorder.”
- It could come from a Hebrew phrase meaning “lord of the (heavenly) dwelling.” This would be an ironic slur, calling the “prince of demons” the lord of the heavenly dwelling.
Unfortunately, there is no scholarly consensus on the precise meaning and origin of the name Beelzebub. But there seems to be agreement that it designates an important evil spiritual entity who wields power over other demons.
Other Bible passages referring to Beelzebub
While the name Beelzebub appears explicitly only in the passages cited above, the figure of Beelzebub may also appear in several other Biblical passages under different names:
- Satan – Revelation 12:9 describes Satan as the one “who deceives the whole world.” Since Beelzebub is called the “prince of demons,” some equate the two names as referring to the same ultimate evil entity.
- The Devil – If Beelzebub is the “prince of demons,” he could be the same figure called “the Devil” in John 8:44 and other passages – the highest evil spirit who rebelled against God and rules over fallen angels/demons.
- Belial – This name is used in 2 Corinthians 6:15, where Paul contrasts Christ with Belial. It may be an ancient name for Satan or a powerful demon lieutenant of his.
- Abaddon – In Revelation 9:11, this figure rules over demonic locusts that torture people. If Abaddon commands other demons, some tie him to Beelzebub.
- The beast – In Revelation 16:13, a figure called the beast is described as having authority over evil spirits. Some scholars equate the beast with Beelzebub as a ruler of demons.
While Beelzebub is never explicitly identified with these names, some Bible scholars see them all as aliases for the same powerful demonic entity who rules over fallen angels and demons in defiance of God.
Key characteristics of Beelzebub
Though interpretations vary, these are some key characteristics that emerge from the Biblical passages on Beelzebub:
- He was originally worshipped as a pagan god named Baal-zebub by the Philistines.
- He is associated with flies and mockingly called “lord of dung.”
- In the New Testament he is identified as a powerful demonic entity.
- He holds a position of authority as the “prince of demons.”
- Some equate him directly with Satan or the Devil as the highest evil spirit.
- Others see him as one of Satan’s chief lieutenants, commanding legions of demons.
- He is opposed to God and Christ and seeks to deceive people into worshipping idols and practicing evil.
Importance of the figure of Beelzebub
While details remain sketchy, the figure of Beelzebub seems important in Scripture for several reasons:
- He illustrates the temptation of pagan idolatry as people worshipped Beelzebub as a false god.
- His name change from Baal-zebub to Beelzebub reflects the Jewish repudiation of pagan gods.
- He represents the reality of spiritual evil – Satan and demons who influence people to rebel against God.
- He shows Satan’s role as ruler over fallen angels/demons who oppose God’s kingdom.
- He foreshadows Satan’s final defeat when his rebellion will be crushed and his influence ended.
- Mentioning figures like Beelzebub warns believers not to give allegiance to any spiritual powers apart from the one true God.
While veiled in mystery, the biblical figure of Beelzebub points to the unseen spiritual struggle between the forces of good and evil. He reminds believers that Satan and the powers of darkness ultimately will be vanquished by God’s sovereign power and authority.
Significant Bible verses about Beelzebub
Some key Bible verses that mention Beelzebub include:
2 Kings 1:2-3 (ESV) – And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?'”
2 Kings 1:16 (ESV) – And he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'”
Matthew 10:25 (ESV) – It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Matthew 12:24 (ESV) – But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
Luke 11:15 (ESV) – But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.”
These key passages reveal how the name Beelzebub evolved from a pagan god to an epithet for a powerful demonic entity opposed to God’s kingdom and Christ’s ministry.
Lessons Christians can learn about spiritual warfare
The biblical figure of Beelzebub holds some important lessons for Christians in understanding spiritual warfare:
- No idol or false god compares to the power and glory of the one true God. Pagan gods like Beelzebub have no real spiritual authority.
- Satan and demons actively work in the world to deceive people and turn them away from God.
- Followers of Christ have authority from God to resist and overcome the influence of Satan and demons in their lives.
- Accusing something good (like Jesus’s miracles) as the work of Satan is a complete falsehood. Satan does not undermine his own evil purposes.
- Christians must be sober-minded and alert, resisting temptation from the demonic realm.
- Believers must unequivocally reject all pagan spiritual influences and cling to God through faith in Christ.
- God will ultimately triumph over Satan and all demonic powers when Christ returns to establish His perfect kingdom.
Though shrouded in some mystery, the figure of Beelzebub points clearly to the ongoing spiritual struggle between God’s kingdom and the forces of darkness. By trusting fully in Christ’s authority and God’s Word, Christians can resist the Devil and stand firm for what is right.
This covers the key information that the Bible provides about the figure of Beelzebub – his origins as a pagan god, his identification as a demonic entity opposed to God’s purposes, and the lessons Christians can learn from this enigmatic biblical figure about spiritual warfare against dark powers and principalities. The lengthy exploration shows how even an obscure name like Beelzebub can illuminate important themes of idolatry, evil influence, and reliance on God’s sovereign authority over all spiritual powers.
