Difference between revisions of "Belial"

<div> '''1: '''''Βελίαλ''''' ''' (Strong'S #955 — Noun Masculine — belial — bel-ee'-al ) </div> <p> 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 &nbsp;Deuteronomy 13:13; &nbsp;Judges 19:22; &nbsp;20:13; &nbsp;1 Kings 21:10,13; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 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 &nbsp;Nahum 1:15 , where the word translated "the wicked one" is Belial. </p> &nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:15

<p> ("worthlessness": or "recklessness, lawlessness".) Not strictly a proper name, but used so by personification. '''''Βeli''''' means "without" and '''''Ya'Al''''' means "usefulness," i.e. "good for nothing". "A man of Belial" is a worthless, lawless fellow (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 13:13; &nbsp;Judges 19:22; &nbsp;1 Samuel 2:12). Latterly "Rake" ("vain fellows" (&nbsp;2 Samuel 6:20, '''''Harekim''''' ), and "Fool" were used instead: &nbsp;Matthew 5:22. '''''Νabal''''' ("fool") is called "man of Belial" (&nbsp;1 Samuel 25:25.) In the New Testament, "Beliar" is the form in some oldest manuscripts (&nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:15.) As Satan is opposed to God, [[Antichrist]] to Christ, so [[Belial]] standing here in contrast to Christ must denote all anti-Christian pollutions personified. </p>

<p> [[Belial]] ( ''Bç'Li-Al'' ), ''Worthlessness,'' hence ''Lawlessness, Wickedness.'' This word is properly applied by the sacred writers to such lewd, profligate, and vile persons, as seem to regard neither God nor man. &nbsp;Deuteronomy 13:13, [[A. V]]  but "base fellows," [[R. V]]  &nbsp;Judges 19:22; &nbsp;1 Samuel 2:12. In the New Testament, "Belial" is used as an appellation of Satan, the power or lord of evil: "What concord hath Christ with Belial," the prince of licentiousness and corruption? &nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:15. </p>

<p> ''''' bē´li ''''' - ''''' al ''''' , ''''' bēl´yal ''''' ( בּליּעל , <i> ''''' belı̄ya‛al ''''' </i> ; Βελίαρ , <i> ''''' Belı́ar ''''' </i> ): This name, occurring very frequently in the Old Testament, has the sense of "worthlessness" (compare &nbsp;2 Samuel 23:6 margin); accordingly in such phrases as "sons of Belial" (&nbsp; Judges 20:13; &nbsp;1 Samuel 10:27 , etc.), "men of Belial" (&nbsp;1 Samuel 30:22; &nbsp;1 Kings 21:13 , etc.), which the English Revised Version usually retains, the American Standard Revised Version more correctly renders, "base fellows" (so "daughter of Belial" &nbsp;1 Samuel 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 &nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:15 , "What concord hath Christ with Belial?" ( <i> ''''' Beliar ''''' </i> ). Bousset thinks that Paul's "man of sin" in &nbsp;2 Thessalonians 2:3 , where some authorities read "man of lawlessness," is a translation of this term. The sense at least is similar. See Antichrist; [[Man Of Sin]] . </p>