Belial is a potent theological concept in the King James Version of the Bible, derived from the Hebrew term bĕliyya’al (בְלִיַּעַל). While not the name of a person, it functions as a personification of worthlessness, wickedness, and utter lawlessness. Its usage in scripture consistently contrasts the profane with the righteous, the darkness with the light, and ultimately, the wicked spirit of the world with Christ.
The Meaning of the Name
The Hebrew root of the word bĕliyya’al combines two elements: bĕli (“without”) and ya’al (“profit” or “worth”). Therefore, Belial means “worthlessness,” “profitlessness,” or “wickedness.” It describes those who are entirely devoid of moral and spiritual value, often manifesting as extreme lawlessness or defiant rebellion against God’s authority.
I. Belial in the Old Testament: The Lawless Man
In the Old Testament, the term is repeatedly used to describe a certain type of person—the wicked, rebellious, or lawless individual, contrasting them sharply with the faithful.
- The Sons of Belial: This phrase is a common KJV identifier for the vile, the vicious, and the profane.
- The wicked men of Gibeah who committed heinous acts are called “men, the children of Belial” (Judges 19:22, KJV).
- Nabal, whose churlishness insulted David, was scornfully dismissed as a “man of Belial” (1 Samuel 25:25, KJV).
- King David prayed for deliverance from his enemies, referring to them as “floods of ungodly men” or “the floods of Belial” (Psalm 18:4, KJV).
II. Belial in the New Testament: The Ultimate Antagonist
In the New Testament, the term transitions from describing wicked men to naming the ultimate spiritual antagonist, effectively making Belial a title for Satan himself. This usage directly sets up the ultimate contrast between the two spiritual kingdoms.
The Apostle Paul uses the rhetorical question of fellowship to dramatically highlight the absolute distinction between the truth of Christ and the deception of the world:
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:15, KJV).
- Prophetic Significance: This verse confirms that Belial is the supreme opposing force to Christ. For a ministry dedicated to the Lord’s Return, this contrast is foundational. Belial represents the spirit of lawlessness and rebellion that will culminate in the final Antichrist figure, who is characterized as “the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, KJV)—the ultimate man of worthlessness and ruin.
Thus, Belial is the biblical designation for the principle of ungodly rebellion that began with the Devil and manifests in all those who reject God’s law for worthless wickedness.