1a: an evil spirit angels and demons b: a source or agent of evil, harm, distress, or ruin the demons of drug and alcohol addiction confronting the demons of his childhood 2usually daemon : an attendant power or spirit : GENIUS 3usually daemon, mythology : a supernatural being whose nature is intermediate between that of a god and that of a human being 4: one that has exceptional enthusiasm, drive, or effectiveness
demon (n.) "Demon" was brought into English around 1200 AD, "an evil spirit, malignant supernatural being, an incubus, a devil," from Latin daemon "spirit," from Greek daimōn "deity, divine power; lesser god; guiding spirit, tutelary deity" (sometimes including souls of the dead [--note: not in the Bible--gw]); "one's genius, lot, or fortune;" from PIE *dai-mon- "divider, provider" (of fortunes or destinies), from root *da- "to divide." The malignant sense is because the Greek word was used (with daimonion) in Christian Greek translations and the Vulgate for "god of the heathen, heathen idol" and also for "unclean spirit." Jewish authors earlier had employed the Greek word in this sense, using it to render shedim "lords, idols" in the Septuagint, and Matthew 8:31 has daimones, translated as deofol in Old English, feend or deuil in Middle English. Another Old English word for this was hellcniht, literally "hell-knight."
Regarding the Greek words daimon, and daimonion, which are translated as "devils" in the King James Bible, and as "demons" in the NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, several Greek lexicons give us the following definitions. Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon 17th edition 1878 says the verb daimonizomai means "to be possessed by a DEVIL." It then goes on to define daimonion as "an inferior race of divine beings". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says daimonion is 1. the Divine power, deity, divinity, and 2. a spirit, a being inferior to God, superior to man, in both a good and a bad sense. Bauer, Arndt & Gingrich likewise tell us daimonion is 1. a deity, a divinity, 2. a demon, an evil spirit. Kittel's says of both daimon and daimonion that they are first used to denote gods. They can also refer to lesser deities or a protective deity. They also are "messengers between gods and men". In Acts 17:18 we read: "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange GODS: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection." The word here translated as "gods" is daimonion [demon], the very same word translated elsewhere as "devils" in the KJV and as "demons" in the RSV, NASB, NKJV, ESV, and NIV. Demons = gods. In this same chapter (Acts 17:22) the apostle Paul walked around the city of Athens and observed their devotions and altars of pagan gods. Paul says to them: "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too SUPERSTITIOUS. [compound of daimonG1142]" Rotherham's Emphasized bible 1902 has "how reverent of the demons you are." The Emphatic Diaglott of 1865 translates the phrase as "worshippers of demons". Alexander Campbell's The Living Oracles of 1835 has "you are addicted to the worship of demons" and the Etheridge Translation of 1849 reads: "you exceed in the worship of demons." -- adapted from an article in defence of the KJV's use of "devil" for "demon": https://brandplucked.webs.com/devilsordemons.htm
Strong's Dictionary: δαίμωνG1142 daimōn From δαίω daiō (to distribute fortunes); a demon or super natural spirit (of a bad nature): - devil.
VINE'S Dictionary:
The noun DEMONS/devilsG1142 is in the plural 4 times in New Testament Matthew 8:31, KJV: “So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.” KJV & ROMAN CATHOLIC BIBLE (ASV, CEV, DARBY, EMTV, ERV, etc.) “And the demons besought him,” (BBE) “And the evil spirits made strong prayers to ...”
Mark 5:12, “And all the devils (demons) besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.” Revelation 16:14, “For they are the spirits of devils (demons), working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 18:2 “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils (demons), and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” singular devil (demon) G1142, 1 in New Testament Luke 8:29 “(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)” * devil/s (demon/s)G1142, IN LXX, Old Testament, 0, none.
G1140 NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES Total KJV TRANSLATION Occurrences AS: 60 times! devils, 41 Matthew 7:22 (2), Matthew 9:34 (2), Matthew 10:8, Matthew 12:24 (2), Matthew 12:27-28 (2), Mark 1:34 (2), Mark 1:39, Mark 3:15, Mark 3:22 (2), Mark 6:13, Mark 9:38, Mark 16:9, Mark 16:17, Luke 4:41, Luke 8:2, Luke 8:27, Luke 8:30, Luke 8:33, Luke 8:35, Luke 8:38, Luke 9:1, Luke 9:49, Luke 10:17, Luke 11:15 (2), Luke 11:18-20 (3), Luke 13:32, 1Corinthians 10:20-21 (4), 1Timothy 4:1, Revelation 9:19-20 (2) devil, 18 Matthew 9:33, Matthew 17:18 (2), Mark 7:26, Mark 7:29-30 (2), Luke 4:33, Luke 4:35, Luke 7:33, Luke 9:42, Luke 11:14 (2), John 7:20, John 8:48-49 (2), John 8:52, John 10:20-21 (2) gods, 1 Acts 17:18 G1140 LXX, OLD TESTAMENT, 8 Deuteronomy 32:17 “They sacrificed to demons,G1140 and not to God –“ Psalm 91:6 “nor from a thing [in darkness going], nor from an adverse incident, and the demonG1140 at midday.” Psalm 96:5 “For all the gods of the nations are demons;G1140 but the lord G2962 [ the heavens made].” Psalm 106:37 “And they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;G1140” Isaiah 13:21 “And[shall rest there wild beasts], and they shall fill up the houses with a sound; and [shall rest there sirens], and demonsG1140 will dance there.” Isaiah 34:14 “And [shall meet with demons]G1140 satyrs; and they shall yell another to the other; [there shall rest satyrs], for they found for themselves a place of rest.” Isaiah 65:3 ”This people, the one provoking me, [before me is always]. They sacrifice in the gardens, and they burn incense upon the bricks to the demonsG1140 which are not.” Isaiah 65:11 “But you are the ones having abandoned me, and having forgotten [ mountain my holy], and are preparing [ to the demonG1140 a table], and filling [to good luck a mixture].”
DOCTRINAL POINT: Demon in the Old Testament is speaking of false religions and does not refer to "demon possession."
G1139 NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES Total KJV TRANSLATION Occurrences: 25 times total possessed, 11 (Note: the word G1139 is translated into the possession phrase). Matthew 4:24, “...all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devilsG1139, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” Matthew 8:16, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devilsG1139: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:” Matthew 8:28, “there met him two possessed with devilsG1139“ Matthew 8:33, “ and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed with devilsG1139” Matthew 9:32, “ As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with devilsG1139.” Matthew 12:22, “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devilG1139, blind, and dumb: and he healed him,” Mark 1:32, “ … they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that werepossessed with devilsG1139.” Mark 5:15-16 (2), “And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devilG1139, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, G1139 and also concerning the swine.” Mark 5:18, “... he that had been possessed with the devilG1139...”
Luke
8:36 “he
that was possessed
of the devilsG1139
was
healed.”
The following passages with G1139's word are not quoted here but are provided for your information. devil, 7 Matthew 9:32, Matthew 15:22 (2), Mark 5:15-16 (2), Mark 5:18, John 10:21 devils, 6 Matthew 4:24, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 8:28, Matthew 8:33, Mark 1:32, Luke 8:36 vexed, 1 Matthew 15:22
Total Old Testament occurrences for this specific G1139: 0
DOCTRINAL POINT: Demon in the Old Testament does not mention"demon possession." Important point.
COMPARE TO THE GREEK WORD FOR "DEVIL":
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Gaylon West.
