Beliya‘al (Belial) in Old Hebrew: Meaning and Usage
In pre-1 BC Old Hebrew, בְּלִיַּעַל (Beliya‘al) is a compound word:
בְּלִי (beli) – “without” or “lacking.”
יַעַל (ya‘al) – “usefulness” or “worth.”
Thus, Beliya‘al means “without worth” or “worthlessness” and was used to describe corrupt, rebellious, or wicked individuals—not a supernatural being.
Biblical Usage Before Greek Influence:
Moral Corruption – "Sons of Belial" (בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל) in Deuteronomy 13:13 refers to worthless men leading others into idolatry.
Lawlessness – Used for Eli’s corrupt sons in 1 Samuel 2:12 and wicked men in Judges 19:22 and 1 Kings 21:10.
Opposition to God – Metaphorically linked to the wicked in Nahum 1:11 and 2 Samuel 23:6.
Key Takeaways:
Not a Proper Name – Unlike later Christian texts, it was not a demonic figure.
Describes Wicked People – A term for corrupt, lawless individuals.
Symbol of Corruption – Represents those who act against God's ways.
Before Greek influence, Beliya‘al was simply a descriptor of moral corruption, later evolving into a personified evil being in Second Temple Judaism and Christian writings.