Belial is a figure mentioned several times in the Bible, most prominently in the Old Testament. The name translates to “worthless” or “wicked” in Hebrew. Though not much is said about Belial directly, there are a few key things the Bible reveals about this enigmatic figure.
Belial is Associated with Evil and Rebellion
The first clear association made with Belial is that he represents evil and rebellion against God. In Deuteronomy 13:13, reference is made to “certain worthless fellows” who have arisen among the Israelites and led them astray after false gods. The Hebrew phrase used is “b’nei beliyaal” which literally means “sons of Belial.” This links the name Belial with those rebelling against God and promoting idolatry and falsehood.
A similar association occurs in Judges 19:22, where certain wicked men of Gibeah who assaulted and abused a Levite traveler are called “sons of Belial.” Here again are individuals promoting evil labeled with the Belial designation. In 1 Samuel 10:27, some “worthless fellows” scornful of Saul’s kingship are called “sons of Belial.” And in 2 Samuel 23:6, David refers to evil and violent men who deserve destruction as “sons of Belial.” Once more, Belial is connected to evil, violence, and rebellion.
The apocryphal book of Wisdom refers to those who make idols and false gods as being “in the snare of the devil” and then adds “for the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them was the corruption of life” (Wisdom 14:12). Fornication and idolatry were the prime sins Israel was warned to avoid as part of their covenant with God, so this further cements the link between Belial and rebellion against God by promoting falsehood and sin.
Belial is an Opponent of God
Building upon Belial’s association with evil and rebellion, he comes to be seen as an enemy and opponent of God Himself. Several verses color Belial not just as wickedness personified but as a spiritual force actively opposed to the holy power of God.
In the Dead Sea Scrolls unearthed at Qumran, Belial is explicitly identified as an opponent of God and His anointed one. Several scroll fragments describe a “spirit of perversity” or “of Belial” that will war against God’s people (1QM 13:4, 11, 14–15; 18:1). Here Belial has evolved from a descriptive term for evil into an embodiment of evil warring against the divine.
The New Testament continues this theme of Belial’s conflict with God in 2 Corinthians 6:15, which states: “What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” This verse sets up a sharp antithesis between following Christ and being associated with Belial who is linked to unbelievers and unrighteousness.
And in the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, believed to have been composed between 100 BCE to 100 CE, Belial is called “the spirit of lawlessness” and “the king of evil” who will attempt to oppress the world when salvation comes to humanity (T. Reuben 4:7–8; T. Simeon 5:3). The text portrays Belial as seeking to subvert God’s plans and oppress God’s people, furthering the adversarial relationship.
Belial May Be Associated with Satan
While the Bible does not explicitly equate Belial with Satan, some scholars believe the two later became closely identified and viewed as one and the same in Jewish thought. There is some textual support for associating the two figures.
In 2 Corinthians 6:15 mentioned earlier, Paul sets up an antithesis between Belial and Christ, similar to common theological contrasts between Satan and Christ. And in the War Scroll from Qumran, Belial is described as the “Prince of Darkness” (1QM 13:11), a title usually reserved for Satan. These potential connections laid the groundwork for direct equation of Belial with Satan down the road.
The later Ascension of Isaiah, dated by most to the 2nd century CE, refers to Belial as “the angel of lawlessness” (Asc. Is. 2:4), very similar to the “spirit of lawlessness” label given in the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs. Since the angel/spirit of lawlessness here seeks to corrupt God’s followers, undermine God’s law, and is ultimately defeated and bound, it aligns with typical characterizations of Satan’s rebellion and defeat. As such, this text likely identifies Belial and Satan together.
However, it should be noted the Equation of Belial with Satan was not uniform. In texts like the Testament of Solomon, a 1st–3rd century work, Belial and Satan are treated as separate entities working in conjunction with each other, not as one and the same.
But while the direct Satanic parallel continues to be debated, Belial clearly takes on an evil supernatural dimension in several texts as a rebellious force against God, whether identified with Satan or not. This moves his depiction beyond just a descriptive label for evil people and onto a more symbolic plane.
Belial Inhabits the Wicked and Seeks to Tempt People to Sin
Expanding on Belial’s role as evil personified, some later sources present Belial almost like a demonic force who inhabits and influences the wicked. Influenced by Greek and Roman cultural ideas, Belial came to be viewed as a spirit who encouraged sin, vice, and rebellion against God.
In the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, believed to have been composed between 100 BCE to 100 CE, Belial is depicted as an unclean spirit who tempts people and inhabits their souls:
“And now, my children, you know that the spirit of fornication is Beliar, and … [that] he dwelleth in the soul and in the body of a man.” (T. Reuben 4:7)
“For I have seen in a copy of the book of Enoch that your prince is Satan, and that all the spirits of fornication and pride shall be subject to Leviathan.” (T. Levi 18:12)
Here, Belial tempts and even possesses individuals, provoking immoral behavior and evil deeds. Other texts such as the Ascension of Isaiah also describe angels and spirits “dwelling in” people with Beliar identified as one such spirit (Asc. Is. 3:15-16). This characterization of Belial’s intimate indwelling influence over people emphasizes evil’s internal corruption of human souls and not just external temptation.
Along with inhabitation, Belial is also associated with direct tempting of people towards wickedness in texts like the Ascension of Isaiah:
“Beliar … will descend in the form of a man, of the king of wickedness, of the matricide … and there will come upon him the spirit of error, and he will overthrow them and destroy them. And he will cast down the height of the apostles and of the believers.” (Asc. Is. 2:4)
“Because Beliar will arise in the form of a man and will perform signs and wonders and the earth will be delivered into his hands and he will work such things as have never happened.” (Asc. Is. 3:21)
In this text, Belial is clearly identified as a deceiver who leads people into deception through false signs, wonders, and supernatural acts. He tempts people towards evil paths and apostasy from God.
So in later Jewish thought, Belial evolved from a descriptive noun for evil and rebellion into a more embodied demonic entity who provokes evil in people, inhabits them, and tempts them away from righteousness. He acts in direct spiritual opposition to God, seeking to undermine godliness and promote wickedness.
Belial is Associated with a Place of Destruction or Apostasy
Growing out of Belial’s identity as a source of immense evil and deception, some Jewish texts link him to a location or realm of destruction and error into which he tries to drag people. This builds upon the inhabitation theme of Belial indwelling the wicked by connecting him with an actual geographical domain of wickedness.
In the Dead Sea Scrolls, Belial is explicitly paired with “the pit” in a fragment surviving from the Rule of the Community (1QS 16:13–15). “The pit” was a term for the underworld or realm of death. So Belial is directly associated with this place of decay and destruction, likely as a source of its evil and darkness.
Likewise, in the Testament of Reuben quoted earlier, Belial is called “the spirit of apostasy” (T. Reuben 4:7). Combining this title with the verse from 2 Corinthians asking what Christ has in common with Belial the apostate, returns the idea of Belial trying to get people to depart or apostatize from God’s holy standard into evil and deception.
The Ascension of Isaiah takes a similar approach linking Belial to erroneous spiritual realm or pit:
“And Manasseh turned and served Beliar … and he burned the scriptures … and turned many from the words of truth. And he removed the house of God … And by his deeds he led astray Jerusalem and Samaria, and the Gentiles dwelling in error in the deception of Beliar” (Asc. Is. 2:1,7-8).
This passage speaks of those who follow Belial as “dwelling in error” and being led astray into “deception.” Serving Belial leads people away from the true spiritual path. So Belial inhabits a realm of error and apostasy counterposed to the holy truths of God.
Through these motifs of inhabitation, temptation, and association with pits or domains of destruction, Belial evolved into a more active spiritual force drawing people into evil and falsehood. He embodies wickedness and leads people towards rebellion against God and apostasy from the divine truth.
Belial Will Be Defeated and Destroyed
Despite Belial’s attempts to corrupt God’s people and oppose divine purposes, several texts make clear that Belial will ultimately face defeat and destruction at the hands of God’s anointed liberator.
In the Dead Sea Scrolls, God will empower a prophetic leader referred to as the Righteous Teacher or Man of Holiness to wage war against Belial and utterly defeat him:
“During the time of testing—the time appointed for Atonement for the destruction of the guards of the pit … [God’s] chosen ones … will be delivered from the power of Belial and from the hands of all the spirits of his lot.” (1QM 13:10–13)
“… according to all which God has commanded, they shall wage war against the ones who hold to the spirit of perversity, against all who hold to the spirit of Belial” (1QM 14:9).
This deliverer defeats Belial on behalf of God’s elect using the power granted him from on high. He liberates people from Belial’s grip and oppression.
Likewise, in the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, at the coming Day of Judgment, Belial will be condemned along with all who follow him:
“And then shall the Lord come to dwell among you; and the light of the Lord shall shine unto the dwelling of Jerusalem; and there shall be no more the spirit of Belial, for he shall be cast into the fire” (T. Levi 18:12)
Here Belial receives direct punishment and destruction from God’s hands as the final culmination of the struggle between Belial’s disobedience and God’s righteousness.
And in the Ascension of Isaiah, Belial will similarly be defeated and bound by God’s appointed deliverer, removing his presence and influence from the earth:
“Beliar will come in the form of a man and of the king of wickedness … And they will come and serve him … and he will chain Beliar and will cast him into the fire; and whosoever worships him will be cast into Gehenna” (Asc. Is. 2:4; 3:15-16).
Once again, Belial is directly punished and destroyed while his followers perish with him. These texts promise a prophetic figure guided by God will arise and conquer Belial, ending his deception and domination over humankind. God’s kingdom defeats the domain of rebellion and wickedness.
Associations with Greek and Roman Mythological Figures
As Belial evolved in Jewish thought, he came to share similarities and became associated with certain Greek and Roman spiritual beings and legends.
One prominent crossover can be seen with Mastema, an angelic figure in the Book of Jubilees who provokes evil by leading people and spirits astray, similar to characterizations of Belial. Mastema’s name matches the Greek Titan Mastus, an evil supernatural being. So Mastema appears to have evolved out of the fusion of Belial in Jewish thought with Mastus from Greek mythology.
Belial also gained comparisons to the Greek Titan Prometheus who similarly rebelled against divine authority and engaged in deception. Just as Prometheus deceived Zeus and stole fire from Olympus, Belial seeks to deceive humankind and draw people into wickedness in rebellion against God.
The Jewish text Sibylline Oracles identifies Belial with the Greek goddess Hecate, further merging Jewish and Greek mythological concepts. Hecate promoted sorcery and magic, aligning with Belial’s association with deception and false signs.
And Belial became equated in some texts with the Roman gods Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn was a god of dissolution and rebellion frequently identified with the Greek Cronus, known for overthrowing his father Uranus. Belial as the rebellious force seeking to overturn God thus aligned with comparisons to Saturn and Cronus.
These mythological mergers reflected how Jewish thinking engaged ideas from surrounding cultures while reorienting them into its monotheistic paradigm. Belial absorbed elements from Greek and Roman myth but reinterpreted them as embodying the qualities of rebellion, deception, and spiritual perversion in opposition to the one true God of Israel.
Conclusion
While details about Belial’s character and background remain limited in the biblical text, post-biblical sources expand this mysterious figure into a spiritual embodiment of evil and rebellion against the holy purposes of God. He inhabits and influences the wicked, tempting people toward sin and unbelief. But despite his corrupted machinations, Belial will ultimately face defeat and destruction at the hand of God’s appointed representative.
This adversarial view of Belial evolved from earlier biblical associations linking him with worthless and wicked men. But later Jewish thought transitioned Belial into a more personified cosmic opponent of righteousness and truth, something akin to Satan. He represents the inner depravity in humanity that spurs people toward sin and error. But God’s eternal purposes will triumph, vanquishing this shadowy spirit of rebellion and ushering in an age of peace and godly devotion.
