Beelzebul
/ˌbiːlˈzɛb.jʊl/noun
A name used in Jewish and Christian tradition for a powerful demon or the devil.
Did you know?Beelzebul is a variant of a much older Semitic divine title, and later Jewish and Christian writers turned it into a demonic name, showing how sacred titles can be weaponized into curses.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Northwest Semitic
Semitic
baʿal zĕbûl
“A title meaning something like "lord of the lofty dwelling" or "exalted lord"”
Hebrew Bible
Hebrew
baʿal zĕvûv
“A polemical form meaning "lord of flies"”
Septuagint / Hellenistic Jewish tradition
Greek
Beelzeboul
“A demonized form of the name used for a prince of demons”
New Testament
Greek
Beelzeboul
“A name for the ruler of demons or an accusation of demonic power”
Latin Christianity
Latin
Beelzebub
“A standard form in Christian demonology”
Modern English
English
Beelzebul
“A name for a high-ranking demon or the devil”