The meaning of the name Beelzebul, most likely a corruption of the name Beelzebub, which appears in many Syrian and Latin translations of the Bible, has been explained in three ways. First, the Hebrew Baʿal zĕvuv means Lord of the Flies,
the name of the eastern deity tasked with protecting people from flies, although he was also believed to have the power to summon these pests (see 2 Kings 1:2). Second, it could come from the Hebrew baʿal zibbul, which literally means god of dung,
and by extension, lord of heathen sacrificial cults. Third, it may also be traced to the Hebrew baʿal zevul, meaning Lord of the House,
with the house here being the realm of demons. Both the analogy of Jesus as the Lord of the house, as well as Matthew 12:24, where Beelzebul is called the prince of demons, support this third view.
Who is Beelzebul?
The origin of the name Beelzebul, most likely a corruption of the name Beelzebub, which appears in many Syrian and Latin translations of the Bible, has been explained in three distinct ways. Firstly, the Hebrew Baʿal zĕvuv means Lord of the Flies,
and this is how the eastern deity tasked with protecting people from flies was known. Interestingly, he was also believed to have the power to summon these pests (see 2 Kings 1:2). Secondly, it could also be derived from the Hebrew baʿal zibbul, which literally means god of dung,
and by extension, lord of heathen sacrificial cults. Third, it may also be traced to the Hebrew baʿal zevul, which means Lord of the House,
with the house here referring to the realm of demons. Both the analogy of Jesus as the Lord of the house, as well as Matthew 12:24, where Beelzebul is called the prince of demons, argue in favor of this third interpretation.1
24 Le disciple n'est pas plus que le maître, ni le serviteur plus que son seigneur.