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> The Hebrew word signifies 'worthless, lawless,' and is not a proper name, but is used as a personification of evil; thus we have 'son of Belial, daughter of Belial,' etc. &nbsp;Deuteronomy 13:13; &nbsp;Judges 19:22; &nbsp;1 Samuel 1:16; &nbsp;1 Samuel 25:17,25; etc. In the N.T. it is put in contradistinction to Christ as if it meant Satan, &nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:15 : it is there βελίαρ. </p>

<p> '''Be'lial.''' 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 &nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:15, is generally understood as an appellative of Satan, as the personification of all that was bad. </p>

&nbsp;Deuteronomy 13:13&nbsp;Nahum 1:15 <p> In the New [[Testament]] the word occurs one time (&nbsp;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 . </p>

<p> Worthlessness, always so used in a moral sense. A man or son of Belial is a wicked, worthless man; one resolved to endure no subjection; a rebel; a disobedient, uncontrollable fellow, &nbsp;Judges 19:22 &nbsp; 1 Samuel 2:12 . In later writings, Belial is put for the power or lord of evil, Satan, &nbsp;2 Corinthians 6:15 . </p>

<p> BE'LIAL, n. As a noun, unprofitableness wickedness. As an adjective, worthless wicked. In a collective sense, wicked men. </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>