Βεελζεβούλ and, as written by some [yet no Greek] authorities,
Βεελζεβούβ [cod.
B Βεεζεβούλ, so manuscript
א except in
Mark 3:22; adopted by WH, see their Appendix, p. 159; cf. Buttmann, 6],
ὁ, indeclinable,
Beelzebul or
Beelzebub, a name of Satan, the prince of evil spirits:
Matthew 10:25;
Matthew 12:24,
27;
Mark 3:22;
Luke 11:15,
18,
19.
The form
Βεελζεβούλ is composed of
זְבוּל (rabbinical Hebrew for
זֶבֶל dung) and
בַּעַל,
lord of dung or
of filth, i. e. of idolatry; cf. Lightfoot on
Matthew 12:21. The few who follow Jerome in preferring the form
Βεελζεβούβ derive the name from
זְבוּב בַּעַל,
lord of flies, a false god of the Ekronites (
2 Kings 1:2) having the power to drive away troublesome flies, and think the Jews transferred the name to Satan in contempt. Cf.
Winers RWB under the word Beelzebub: and
J. G. M(üller) in Herzog vol. i., p. 768ff; [
BB. DD.; cf. also Meyer and Dr. James Morison on
Matthew 10:25; some, as Weiss (on Mark, the passage cited; Biblical Theol. § 23 a.), doubt alike whether the true derivation of the name has yet been hit upon, and whether it denotes Satan or only some subordinate 'Prince of demons'. But see
Baudissin in Herzog ed. 2, vol. ii. p. 209f.;
Kautzsch, Gram. d. Bibl.-Aram. p. 9].
(Besides only in ecclesiastical writings, as Evang. Nicod. c. 1f.)