The following excerpt is taken from What Every Christian Should Know About Satan. Order your copy in print, Kindle, or Audible versions here.

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Satan is called Belial (or Beliar) on only one occasion in the New Testament. As Paul instructs the Corinthians to separate themselves from unbelievers, he asks a series of rhetorical questions: “For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?” (2 Cor. 6:14-16, emphasis added).

The answer to all of these questions, of course, is “none whatsoever.” Paul contrasts the holiness of Christ with the wickedness of Satan. He also draws a sharp distinction between the expected behavior of Christians and followers of the evil one. But does Scripture provide us with other clues as to the identity of Belial?

The Hebrew word beliyya‘al occurs twenty-seven times in the Old Testament – never as a proper name for Satan, although there is an implied connection between beliyya‘al and the underworld. 

In Psalm 18:4-6, beliyya‘al (translated “torrents of destruction” in the CSB and “floods of ungodly men” in the KJV) is united with death and sheol to form three great enemies of God’s people. Perhaps that’s why some commentators refer to “sons of Belial,” like the rapists and murderers at Gibeah, as “hellions” or “a gang of local hell raisers” (Judg. 19:22). 

Meanwhile, the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient materials depict Belial as the leader of the forces of darkness. In fact, Belial is the most frequently used title of the leader of the sons of darkness in the Qumran manuscripts. He also graces the pages of many pseudepigraphal works. In the Testament of Judah, for example, Belial will be cast into the fire to burn forever (25:3; cf. Rev. 20:10).

Nothing profitable

Belial comes from the Hebrew word for “wickedness” (bly’l) and is associated with the concept of worthlessness. Beli means “without” and ya’al means “profit;” thus, the wicked produce nothing profitable. Some interpreters derive Belial from a Hebrew verb, bala, which means “to swallow up” or “engulf.” In this regard, the word is connected with sheol, the abode of the dead, which swallows up the departed. 

Throughout the Old Testament, beliyya‘al is used mostly to describe those engaging in serious crimes against Israel’s religious or social order. For example, beliyya‘al depicts the heart of those who refuse to lend money in a sabbatical year (Deut. 15:9), and those who counsel against Yahweh (Nah. 1:11). 

There’s more. “Children of Belial” entice the Israelites to serve other gods (Deut. 13:13 KJV). “Sons of Belial” demand homosexual sex from a house guest in Gibeah, then rape and murder his concubine (Judg. 19:22-28 KJV). “Men of Belial” refuse to share the spoils of battle with those who stayed behind (1 Sam. 30:22 KJV). When Eli’s sons abuse the sanctuary, they are considered “sons of Belial” who do not know the Lord (1 Sam. 2:12-25 KJV). Other English translations use “scoundrels,” “worthless men,” “wicked men,” “base men,” or “troublemakers” to describe those associated with Belial.

In a pledge of integrity, King David declares, “I will not let anything worthless (Heb. dbr bly’l) guide me” (Ps. 101:3). Specifically, he rejects deceit, slander, and lying – actions specifically associated with Satan elsewhere in Scripture.

In Psalm 41:8-9, David connects Belial with “a vile disease” (NIV) and betrayal. Jesus quotes verse 9 as a prophecy about Judas, whom the devil entices to raise his heel against the Messiah: “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me” (John 13:18). Even so, the Old Testament connection between Belial and Satan is mostly implied rather than explicit.

However, in pseudepigraphal literature and the Qumran texts, Belial is well attested as the proper name of the devil. Examples include Testament of Levi 18:4; War Scroll (1QM); and Thanksgiving Scroll (1QH). Peter Bolt explains: “Here an ongoing struggle between good and evil is represented mythically as a battle on high between the angel Michael and Belial. The present age is the time of Belial’s rule, and he is the leader of the people opposed to God. After a momentous struggle, God will bring about the permanent annihilation of Belial and all his forces of evil, human and angelic.”

Meet Mastemah

The pseudepigraphal and Qumran texts also introduce us to the name Mastemah for Satan/Belial. The Hebrew mstmh occurs twice in Hosea 9:7-8, meaning “hostility,” but nowhere else in the Old Testament. However, the pseudepigraphal Book of Jubilees depicts Mastemah as the prince of evil spirits sent to trouble human beings (Jub. 10:8, 11). New Testament writers never use Mastemah as a name for Satan, although “hostility” is associated with the evil one’s activities (e.g., John 8:39-44; 1 John 2:12-14, 3:10-12; cf. Rev. 12:12, 17). 

So, why does Paul use Belial in his warning to the Corinthians? It’s possible that he’s not making a personal reference to Satan, but expressing a concern that the Corinthians avoid false teachers. Clearly, he contrasts righteousness and lawlessness, light and darkness, and the temple of God and idols. The contrast between Christ and Belial could be understood as one between the holiness of Christ and the wickedness of false teachers.

However, if Paul does have Satan in mind, he connects Belial with lawlessness, darkness, unbelief, and idolatry – worthless traits the “super apostles,” who have infiltrated the church, exhibit. Paul exposes these “super apostles” as “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” They disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness because Satan “disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:5, 13-15).

So, Paul’s singular use of Belial may be a stern warning to the Corinthians to separate themselves from the crafty false teachers who, under the influence of Satan, proclaim “another Jesus,” “a different spirit,” and “a different gospel” (2 Cor. 11:4). 

Next: Ruler of this world