Belial*, Beliar* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Common Hebrew noun meaning “baseness,” “worthlessness,” “wickedness,” or “lawlessness.” Belial, however, is often rendered as a proper noun. Thus, such translations as “sons of Belial” appear (Jgs 19:22; 1 Sm 2:12, KJB), “daughter of Belial” (1 Sm 1:16), or “children of Belial” (Dt 13:13; Jgs 20:13). Newer translations generally prefer the common noun form and give such readings as “worthless rabble” or simply “worthless” and the like (Dt 13:13; Jgs 19:22; 20:13; 1 Sm 1:16; 2:12; 10:27; Prv 6:12). One possible exception to this rule is found in Nahum 1:15, which some scholars think should be rendered as “Belial,” a personalized designation of the Assyrian conqueror who had been a threat to the southern kingdom of Judah.

Show passage in OET: JDG 19:22

OET-RV JDG 19:22

22 They were having a good time, but suddenly the men of the city—wicked men—had surrounded the house—pounding repeatedly on the door. They called out to the old man who owned the house, “Hey, bring out the man who came to your place, so we can have fun with him.”

OET-LV JDG 19:22

22 They were_making _good DOM heart _of_their and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE the _men _of the_city men _of sons _of worthlessness they _surrounded DOM the_house beating _violently on the_door and_they _said to the_man the _master _of the _house (the)_old to_say bring _out DOM the_man who he _came to house _of_your so_that_we _may _know _him.

Show passage in OET: SA1 2:12

OET-RV SA1 2:12

12 Now Eli’s sons were worthless scoundrels who didn’t obey Yahweh.

OET-LV SA1 2:12

12 And_the _sons of _ˊĒlī were_sons _of worthlessness not they _knew DOM YHWH.

Show passage in OET: SA1 1:16

OET-RV SA1 1:16

16 Don’t think that your female servant is just a worthless woman, because just now I was praying as a result of my terrible anguish and frustration.”

OET-LV SA1 1:16

16 Do _not give DOM maidservant _of_your to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before a _daughter _of worthlessness if/because from_the _greatness _of my _complaint _of_my and_provocation _of_my I _have _spoken until now.

Show passage in OET: DEU 13:13

OET-RV DEU 13:13

13 some wicked people have enticed those in the city to go and serve other ‘new’ gods,

OET-LV DEU 13:14

14  Men sons _of worthlessness they _have _gone _out from_midst _of_your and_they _have _thrust _aside DOM the _inhabitants _of their _city _of_their to_say let _us _go and_let _us _serve gods other which not you(pl)_have _known.

Show passage in OET: JDG 20:13

OET-RV JDG 20:13

13 So now, hand over those worthless men from the Giveah region so that we can put them to death and purge Yisrael of that evil.” But the Benyamites weren’t willing to take the advice of their Israeli relatives.

OET-LV JDG 20:13

13 And_now give _up DOM the_men sons _of worthlessness who are_in_Giⱱˊāh so_that_we _may _put _them _to _death and_so _that _we _may _remove evil from_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_not they _were _willing of _Binyāmīn to_listen to_the _voice _of their _brothers _of_their the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: SA1 10:27

OET-RV SA1 10:27

27 But some worthless men asked, “How can that one save us?” and they despised Sha’ul (Saul) and didn’t bring him any gifts, but he made no comment.

OET-LV SA1 10:27

27 And_the _sons worthlessness they _said what will_he _deliver _us this _one and_they_despised _him and_not they _brought to_him/it a _gift and_he/it _was like_one _who_kept _silent.

Show passage in OET: PRO 6:12

OET-RV PRO 6:12

⇔  12 The wicked and worthless man
⇔ walks around with a crooked mouth,

OET-LV PRO 6:12

12 A _person _of worthlessness a _person _of wickedness is_walking crookedness _of mouth.

Show passage in OET: NAH 1:15

OET-RV NAH 1:15

⇔  15 My people, look, a messenger is running across the hills.
⇔ He’ll be bringing good news—announcing peace.
⇔ So celebrate your festivals Yehudah (Judah), and keep your promises,
⇔ because that wicked country won’t invade you again—it’ll be destroyed.

OET-LV NAH 2:1

2  THERE on the_mountains the_feet _of one _who_bears _news one _who_proclaims peace celebrate _a _festival Oh _Yəhūdāh/(Judah) festivals _of_your pay vows _of_your if/because not he _will _repeat again mmm on/over_you(fs) a _worthless _person of _him _of_all it _will _be _cut _off.

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Jump to OET SA1 2:12 section.

Jump to OET SA1 1:16 section.

Jump to OET DEU 13:13 section.

Jump to OET JDG 20:13 section.

Jump to OET SA1 10:27 section.

Jump to OET PRO 6:12 section.

Jump to OET NAH 1:15 section.

Intertestamental literature often used “Belial” as a proper noun and thus prepared the way for its NT usage. In the NT the term appears once as “Belial” (or Beliar in 2 Cor 6:15) and is identified with Satan, the personification of all that is evil. Noncanonical writings of the NT period commonly used it as a name for Satan or the Antichrist.