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/ylt'>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
Men, sons of worthlessness, have gone out of thy midst, and they force away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known --
Take heed to thee lest there be a word in thy heart -- worthless, saying, Near is the seventh year, the year of release; and thine eye is evil against thy needy brother, and thou dost not give to him, and he hath called concerning thee unto Jehovah, and it hath been in thee sin;
And now, give up the men -- sons of worthlessness -- which are in Gibeah, and we put them to death, and we put away evil from Israel.' And the sons of Benjamin have not been willing to hearken to the voice of their brethren, the sons of Israel;
put not thy handmaid before a daughter of worthlessness, for from the abundance of my meditation, and of my provocation, I have spoken hitherto.'
When the breakers of death compassed me, The streams of the worthless terrify me,
A thing of Belial is poured out on him, And because he lay down he riseth not again.
A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips -- as a burning fire.
A worthless witness scorneth judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
From thee hath come forth a deviser of evil Against Jehovah -- a worthless counsellor.
Lo, on the mountains the feet of one proclaiming tidings, sounding peace! Celebrate, O Judah, thy festivals, complete thy vows, For add no more to pass over into thee doth the worthless, He hath been completely cut off!
Lo, on the mountains the feet of one proclaiming tidings, sounding peace! Celebrate, O Judah, thy festivals, complete thy vows, For add no more to pass over into thee doth the worthless, He hath been completely cut off!
and what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever?