Beelzebub (βεελζεβύλ)

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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The meaning of this word is much disputed, some associate it with BAAL-ZEBUB, “lord of the fly,” in the Old Testament, but others believe it to be a term of contempt, signifying “lord of dung.” The Jews, who blasphemously charged the Lord with casting out demons by Beelzebul (as it should be spelled), call him “the prince of the demons,”‘ which sufficiently explains their meaning to be that the one who was the head of those demons enabled the Lord to cast them out (Matt. 10:2525It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matthew 10:25); Matt. 12:24, 2724But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (Matthew 12:24)
27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. (Matthew 12:27); Mark 3:2222And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. (Mark 3:22); Luke 11:15, 18-1915But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. (Luke 11:15)
18If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. (Luke 11:18‑19)). The Lord shows the folly of supposing that the same evil one who was seeking to build up a kingdom should be at the same time the means of pulling it down. He also denounces the dreadful blasphemy of saying that the work done by the Holy Spirit was accomplished by the influence of Satan: this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was the sin that should never be forgiven. (Compare also 2 Kings 1:22And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. (2 Kings 1:2)).