the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Dictionaries
Beelzebul
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Jews of New Testament times used ‘Beelzebul’ as a name for Satan, the prince of demons (Matthew 10:25; Matthew 12:24-27). It was a variation of the name Baal-zebub, a Baal god whose home (according to an ancient Canaanite belief) was in the Philistine town of Ekron (2 Kings 1:2). The name meant ‘lord of flies’, probably because the local people believed this god gave the citizens of Ekron protection against disease-carrying flies that plagued the area.
By contrast other people interpreted the name in a bad sense – lord of flies, and therefore lord of filth. This was the meaning the Jews had in mind when they used the name as a title for Satan. Satan was Beelzebul, for he was lord of all things unclean, in particular unclean spirits, or demons (Mark 3:21-22; Luke 11:14-15). (Concerning the Jews’ accusation that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebul, see BLASPHEMY.)
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Fleming, Don. Entry for 'Beelzebul'. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​bbd/​b/beelzebul.html. 2004.