BaalZebub

Baalzebub, also rendered Beelzebub, is a figure originating in ancient Near Eastern and biblical texts. The name derives from the Hebrew Ba'al Zebub, traditionally translated as "lord of the flies." In its earliest attestation, Baal-zebub is described as a Philistine deity worshiped at Ekron, one of the major Philistine cities.

Biblical usage: In the Hebrew Bible, the deity is mentioned in 2 Kings 1 as the god of Ekron. King Ahaziah's sickness prompts a visit by messengers who consult Beelzebub; the prophet Elijah rebukes them, prophesying that Ahaziah would die, and the narrative uses the name Beelzebub as a byword for a pagan deity.

New Testament usage: In the Gospels, Beelzebub is invoked as the prince of demons by opponents of Jesus, who accuse him of exorcising by Beelzebul. Jesus counters that such an accusation would imply dissension in the demonic realm, and instead presents a moral critique. In Christian tradition, Beelzebub becomes associated with Satan’s chief demon; the figure appears in later apocryphal and liturgical contexts and in medieval demonology.

In modern usage, Beelzebub/Baalzebub has appeared in literature, art, film, and video games, often as a demon figure or as a symbol of corruption or decay. The name continues to be used in scholarly discussions of biblical demons and Near Eastern religion, with attention to its etymology and the transformation of the deity into a demon in later Christian thought.