Bible Dictionaries
Belial

Holman Bible Dictionary

(bee' lih uhl) The transliteration of a Hebrew common noun meaning, “useless” or “worthless.” KJV interprets it as a proper name sixteen times, but modern translations translate it as a common noun, “worthless” or “wicked.” It is a term of derision (Deuteronomy 13:13 ). In Nahum 1:15 , where the King James Version translates it as “the wicked,” Belial appears to be the name of some specific malevolent power.

In the New Testament the word occurs one time (2 Corinthians 6:15 ). There Paul the apostle declared the mutual irreconcilability of Christ and Belial, who thus appears to be equated with Satan. See Satan; Antichrist .