Reference: Belial (Beliar
Hastings
This word, rendered by AV and RV as a proper noun in the majority of the OT passages, is in reality a compound, meaning 'worthlessness,' whence 'wickedness,' 'destruction,' and as such is construed with another noun. In the sense of' wickedness,' it occurs in 1Sa 1:16 'daughter of wickedness,' i.e. 'a wicked woman' (cf. De 13:13; 15:9; Jg 9:22; 20:13; 1Sa 2:12; 10:27; 25/17/type/kj2000'>25:17,25; 2Sa 16:7; 20:1; 23:6; 1Ki 21:10,13; 2Ch 13:7; Pr 6:12; 16:27; 19:28, for similar usage). As 'destruction,' it is found in Ps 17:5 (cf. 2Sa 22:5) Ps 41:8 and Na 1:11,15 (note in Na 1:15 independent use, 'man' understood; RV 'wicked one'; others, 'destroyer'). Having such a meaning, it is used by St. Paul as a name for Satan (personification of unclean heathenism, 2Co 6:15), the Greek text spelling it 'Beliar' (AV and RV 'Belial'), a variation due to the harsh pronunciation of 'l' in Syriac.
N. Koenig.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Certain men, worthless fellows, are gone out from among you, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known;
Beware that there be not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cries unto the LORD against you, and it be sin in you.
Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
Count not your handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I been speaking.
When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
Hold up my steps in your paths, that my feet slip not.
An evil disease, say they, clings close unto him: and now that he lies down he shall rise up no more.
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth.
An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
An ungodly witness scorns judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
There has one come out of you, that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor.
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace! O Judah, keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace! O Judah, keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.
And what harmony has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel?