Bible Dictionaries
Demon, Demoniac

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"a demon," signified, among pagan Greeks, an inferior deity, whether good or bad. In the NT it denotes "an evil spirit." It is used in Matthew 8:31 , mistranslated "devils." Some would derive the word from a root da---, meaning "to distribute." More probably it is from a similar root da---, meaning "to know," and hence means "a knowing one."

not a diminutive of daimon, No. 1, but the neuter of the adjective daimonios, pertaining to a demon, is also mistranslated "devil," "devils." In Acts 17:18 , it denotes an inferior pagan deity. "Demons" are the spiritual agents acting in all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a "demon" associated with it who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices, 1 Corinthians 10:20,21; Revelation 9:20; cp. Deuteronomy 32:17; Isaiah 13:21; 34:14; 65:3,11 . They disseminate errors among men, and seek to seduce believers, 1 Timothy 4:1 . As seducing spirits they deceive men into the supposition that through mediums (those who have "familiar spirits," Leviticus 20:6,27 , e.g.) they can converse with deceased human beings. Hence the destructive deception of spiritism, forbidden in Scripture, Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19 . "Demons" tremble before God, James 2:19; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41 . Christ cast them out of human beings by His own power. His disciples did so in His name, and by exercising faith, e.g., Matthew 17:20 .

Acting under Satan (cp. Revelation 16:13,14 ), "demons" are permitted to afflict with bodily disease, Luke 13:16 . Being unclean they tempt human beings with unclean thoughts, Matthew 10:1; Mark 5:2; 7:25; Luke 8:27-29; Revelation 16:13; 18:2 , e.g. They differ in degrees of wickedness, Matthew 12:45 . They will instigate the rulers of the nations at the end of this age to make war against God and His Christ, Revelation 16:14 . See DEVIL.

signifies "to be possessed of a demon, to act under the control of a demon." Those who were thus afflicted expressed the mind and consciousness of the "demon" or "demons" indwelling them, e.g., Luke 8:28 . The verb is found chiefly in Matt. and Mark; Matthew 4:24; 8:16,28,33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15,16,18; elsewhere in Luke 8:36; John 10:21 , "him that hath a devil (demon)."

signifies "proceeding from, or resembling, a demon, demoniacal;" see marg. of James 3:15 , RV (text, "devilish").