Dictionaries :: Belial

Belial:

worthlessness, frequently used in the Old Testament as a proper name. It is first used in Deu 13:13. In the New Testament it is found only in 2Cr 6:15, where it is used as a name of Satan, the personification of all that is evil. It is translated "wicked" in Deu 15:9; Psa 41:8 (R.V. marg.); 101:3; Prov. 6:12, etc. The expression "son" or "man of Belial" means simply a worthless, lawless person (Jdg 19:22; 20:13; 1Sa 1:16; 2:12).

Belial:

wicked, worthless

Belial:

be'-li-al, bel'-yal (beliya‘al; Beliar): This name, occurring very frequently in the Old Testament, has the sense of "worthlessness" (compare 2Sa 23:6 margin); accordingly in such phrases as "sons of Belial" (Jud 20:13; 1Sa 10:27, etc.), "men of Belial" (1Sa 30:22; 1Ki 21:13, etc.), which the English Revised Version usually retains, the American Standard Revised Version more correctly renders, "base fellows" (so "daughter of Belial" 1Sa 1:16, "wicked woman"). There is here no suggestion a proper name. Afterward, however, "Belial" became a proper name for Satan, or for Antichrist (thus frequently in the Jewish Apocalyptic writings, e.g. in XII the Priestly Code (P), Book Jubilees, Asc Isa, Sib Or). In this sense Paul used the word in 2Co 6:15, "What concord hath Christ with Belial?" (Beliar). Bousset thinks that Paul's "man of sin" in 2Th 2:3, where some authorities read "man of lawlessness," is a translation of this term. The sense at least is similar.

Written by James Orr

See ANTICHRIST

See MAN OF SIN

Belial: Lawlessness

Deu 13:13; 2Cr 6:15

Belial:

is a word frequently used in the Old Testament, with various meanings, especially in the books of Samuel, where it is found nine times. See also Deu 13:13; Jdg 19:22; 20:13; 1Ki 21:10, 13; 2Ch 13:7. Its original meaning was either "worthlessness" or "hopeless ruin" (see the RV, margin). It also had the meanings of "extreme wickedness and destruction," the latter indicating the destiny of the former. In the period between the OT and the NT it came to be a proper name for Satan. There may be an indication of this in Nah 1:15, where the word translated "the wicked one" is Belial.

The oldest form of the word is "Beliar," possibly from a phrase signifying "Lord of the forest," or perhaps simply a corruption of the form "Belial," due to harsh Syriac pronunciation. In the NT, in 2Cr 6:15, it is set in contrast to Christ and represents a personification of the system of impure worship connected especially with the cult of Aphrodite.

Belial:

The meaning of this word as found in the Scriptures is worthlessness, and hence reckless, lawlessness. The expression "son or man of Belial" must be understood as meaning simply a worthless, lawless fellow. The term as used in 2 Corinthians 6:15 is generally understood as an appellative of Satan, as the personification of all that was bad.