Beelzebub
“Likely from Baal-zebub 'lord of flies' or Baal-zebul 'lord of the dwelling/dung'”
Summary
A name for Satan as the 'prince of demons,' derived from the Philistine god Baal-zebub, by which the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons through demonic power.
☩Origin of the Name
Beelzebub (more accurately Beelzebul in the Greek manuscripts) appears to derive from Baal-zebub, 'lord of flies,' the god of the Philistine city of Ekron whom King Ahaziah consulted. Some scholars suggest 'Beelzebul' means 'lord of dung'—a deliberate Jewish corruption to express contempt. Others connect it with 'zebul' meaning 'dwelling,' thus 'lord of the house,' which may explain Jesus's wordplay about the 'master of the house.'
☩The Prince of Demons
By New Testament times, Beelzebub had become synonymous with Satan, the chief of all evil spirits. This transformation illustrates a common pattern: the gods of hostile nations become demons in the religion of their enemies. The Pharisees used this name when accusing Jesus of casting out demons through demonic power rather than divine authority.
☩Jesus's Refutation
When accused of operating by Beelzebub's power, Jesus exposed the absurdity of their charge: a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan casts out Satan, his kingdom is self-destructing. Moreover, by whose power did the Pharisees' own disciples cast out demons? Jesus offered the true explanation: 'If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.'
☩The Unforgivable Blasphemy
Jesus's response to this accusation included the solemn warning about the unpardonable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. To attribute the manifest work of God's Spirit to the power of Satan represented a hardening of heart beyond remedy. The religious leaders had witnessed undeniable divine power yet deliberately called it demonic—a perversion of moral judgment that cut them off from the only source of forgiveness.
Related Verses8 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Beelzebub," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Beelzebub," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Beelzebub," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).