Beelzebul in the Bible: Baal Zebub and the Lord of the Flies
1. Baal Zebub in the Old Testament
Baal Zebub appears only in 2 Kings 1:2–3, 6, 16, in the account of King Ahaziah of Israel. After falling through his upper chamber lattice, Ahaziah sent messengers to inquire of “Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron,” whether he would recover. Elijah confronted them, declaring that Ahaziah’s appeal to a foreign deity insulted the God of Israel.
This brief narrative makes several points clear:
Local cult: Baal Zebub was tied to Ekron, a Philistine city.
Polemic: Consulting Baal Zebub was cast as rebellion against Yahweh.
Judgment: Elijah prophesied that Ahaziah would not leave his sickbed, and he died according to the word of the LORD.
Here, Baal Zebub functions not only as a rival deity but also as a symbol of misplaced trust in idols.
2. The Meaning of the Name
The name zebub means “flies” in Hebrew and other Semitic languages. Several explanations have been offered:
“Lord of the Flies” – the straightforward reading; perhaps a god thought to send or ward off plagues of flies.
Solar and disease connections – flies as symbols of heat, decay, or pestilence.
Satirical renaming – Israelite scribes may have altered the name from Baal Zebul (“Baal the Prince” or “Lord of the High House”) into Baal Zebub to mock him as “Lord of the Flies.”
This last explanation is the most widely accepted. The Masoretic text preserves “Zebub,” but Ugaritic parallels (zbl bʿl ʾarṣ, “prince, lord of the earth”) suggest “Zebul” was the original. Thus the biblical form may be deliberate ridicule of a once-respected Canaanite title.
3. Beelzebul in the New Testament
The New Testament preserves a memory of this figure under the name Beelzebul or Beelzebub. The Gospels describe opponents of Jesus accusing Him of casting out demons by “Beelzebul, the prince of demons” (Matt 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15).
Key features in these passages:
Title of power – Beelzebul is called “ruler of demons,” a spiritual authority figure over unclean spirits.
Conflict with Jesus – The charge that Jesus worked by Beelzebul’s power is turned back; Jesus insists that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
Identification with Satan – Over time Beelzebul became interchangeable with the devil, representing ultimate opposition to God.
In contrast to Elijah’s confrontation in 2 Kings, the Gospels show Jesus directly overpowering the demonic realm that Beelzebul supposedly ruled.
4. Ancient Parallels and Interpretations
The figure of Baal Zebub/Beelzebul can be understood in light of wider Near Eastern religion:
Ugaritic texts – Titles like zbl bʿl (“Baal the Prince”) or zbl bʿl ʾarṣ (“Baal, lord of the underworld”) show how “Zebul” denoted status and power.
Greek parallels – Zeus was invoked as Apomyios (“fly-driving”), protector against swarms and disease. Similar roles may have shaped Zebub’s reputation.
Mocking transformations – Just as prophets ridiculed idols by calling them “worthless” or “shameful,” so Zebub (“flies”) may have been a deliberate downgrade of Zebul (“prince”).
Thus, the name shifts from local Philistine god, to satirical polemic, to symbol of demonic power.
5. Theological Significance
The biblical treatment of Beelzebul highlights three truths:
God’s exclusivity – To seek Baal Zebub’s oracle was to deny Yahweh’s sufficiency. Ahaziah’s death sealed the warning (2 Kgs 1:16–17).
Idols as powerless – A “lord of the flies” is a fitting emblem of futility. As Isaiah wrote, “all who fashion idols are nothing” (Isa 44:9).
Christ’s authority – In the New Testament, Beelzebul becomes shorthand for Satan, yet Jesus demonstrates His power to bind “the strong man” (Matt 12:29). The confrontation shows the superiority of the kingdom of God.
Baal Zebub’s name may fade, but the biblical story emphasizes the enduring contrast: idols and demons fall before the living God.
Bible Verses on Beelzebul, Idols, and God’s Power
2 Kings 1:2 – “Ahaziah… sent messengers, saying to them, ‘Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover.’”
2 Kings 1:16 – “Is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed… you shall surely die.”
Isaiah 7:18 – “The LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt.”
Ecclesiastes 10:1 – “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench.”
Matthew 10:25 – “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”
Matthew 12:24 – “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.”
Mark 3:22 – “He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out demons.”
Luke 11:15 – “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.”
Luke 11:18 – “If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”
Psalm 18:2 – “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge.”
