What are demons?
What are demons?
The Bible mentions in several places the word "demons" (for example: Matthew 7:22, Mark 1:34, Luke 4:41, 1 Corinthians 10:20, James 2:19, Revelation 16:14).
The English word translated as "demons" can be found in ancient Greek manuscripts of the Bible as two Greek words:
- "δαιμόνιον" [strong number 1140] which can be transliterated in English as "daimonion".
- "δαίμων" [strong number 1142] which can be transliterated in English as "daimón".
Many characteristics related to demons are described in the Bible. For example these descriptions can include the following characteristics:
Demons can be distinct from humans:
Demons can be distinct from mental illnesses:
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Biblical descriptions of demons (in biblical order):
A demon can stand somewhere:
It is written: "Then there came out a spirit and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will deceive him.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘By what [or, How]?’ And he said, ‘I will go forth, and will be a false spirit in [the] mouth of all his prophets.’ And He said, ‘You will deceive [him], and will prevail. Go forth, and do so.’ And now, behold, the LORD put a false spirit in [the] mouth of all these your prophets, and the LORD spoke evil against you" (1 Kings 22:21-23).
A demon can say things while being inside of a man:
It is written: "two (men) being-demonized met Him" (Matthew 8:28) and "And the demons were-begging Him, saying, “If You-are-casting us out, send us out into the herd (of) pigs”" (Matthew 8:31).
A demon can be aware of time:
It is written: "two (men) being-demonized met Him" (Matthew 8:28) and "they-cried-out, saying, “What do we have to do with You, Son (of) God? Did-You-come here to-torment us before (the) time?”" (Matthew 8:29). Both the words "before" (Matthew 8:29) and "time" (Matthew 8:29) can indicate an awareness of time in some sense.
The "us" (Matthew 8:29) would have been referring to demons which would have been "saying" (Matthew 8:29) that, as also 2 verses later it is written that "the demons were-begging Him, saying, “If You-are-casting us out, send us out into the herd (of) pigs”." (Matthew 8:31). The demons would have previously entered the two men, which is why the two men would have been described as "being-demonized" (Matthew 8:28). Indeed, "being-demonized" (Matthew 8:28) can mean having demons (that can later come out).
For further information, click on the following article:
"Demonized" can mean having a demon (that can later come out)
A demon can say things while being outside of a man:
It is written: "the unclean spirit departs from the person, it-goes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find (it). Then it-says, ‘I-will-return to my house from-where I-came-out’. And having-come, it-finds (it) being-unoccupied, having-been-swept and put-in-order. Then it-proceeds and takes-along with itself seven other spirits more-evil (than) itself. And having-gone-in, they-dwell there, and the last (state of) that person becomes worse (than) the first" (Matthew 12:43-45).
A demon can go to some places while being outside of a man:
It is written: "the unclean spirit departs from the person, it-goes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find (it). Then it-says, ‘I-will-return to my house from-where I-came-out’. And having-come, it-finds (it) being-unoccupied, having-been-swept and put-in-order. Then it-proceeds and takes-along with itself seven other spirits more-evil (than) itself. And having-gone-in, they-dwell there, and the last (state of) that person becomes worse (than) the first" (Matthew 12:43-45).
A demon can take along other demons with itself to go somewhere while being outside of a man:
It is written: "the unclean spirit departs from the person, it-goes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find (it). Then it-says, ‘I-will-return to my house from-where I-came-out’. And having-come, it-finds (it) being-unoccupied, having-been-swept and put-in-order. Then it-proceeds and takes-along with itself seven other spirits more-evil (than) itself. And having-gone-in, they-dwell there, and the last (state of) that person becomes worse (than) the first" (Matthew 12:43-45).
A demon can be described as having a voice:
It is written: "And the unclean spirit, having-convulsed him and called-out (with a) loud voice, came-out of him" (Mark 1:26).
What is the subject described that "called-out (with a) loud voice" (Mark 1:26)? The Greek verb for "called-out" (Mark 1:26) is in the neuter gender, which is referring to the previous Greek noun for "spirit" (Mark 1:26) which is also in the neuter gender.
A demon can be commanded by someone:
It is written: "Based-on authority He-commands even the unclean spirits and they-obey Him!" (Mark 1:26).
A demon can obey someone:
It is written: "Based-on authority He-commands even the unclean spirits and they-obey Him!" (Mark 1:26).
A demon can know things, even specific things that almost no one may yet know:
It is written: "He-cast-out many demons, and was not permitting the demons to-speak, because THEY-KNEW HIM" (Mark 1:34).
It is written: "there-was (a) man in their synagogue with (an) unclean spirit. And (he) cried-out, saying “What do we have to do with You, Jesus (from) Nazareth? Did-You-come to-destroy us? I-KNOW YOU, WHO YOU ARE, THE HOLY (ONE OF) GOD!”" (Mark 1:24). Almost no one at this time would not have known yet that Jesus was "THE HOLY (ONE OF) GOD" (Mark 1:24).
A demon can see things:
It is written: "And the unclean spirits, whenever they-were-seeing Him, were-falling-before Him and crying-out, saying that “You are the Son (of) God”." (Mark 3:11).
A demon can fall before someone:
It is written: "And the unclean spirits, whenever they-were-seeing Him, were-falling-before Him and crying-out, saying that “You are the Son (of) God”." (Mark 3:11).
The expression "demon" can be used interchangeably with the expression "unclean spirit":
It is written: "But immediately, (a) woman having-heard about Him — (of) whom her little daughter was-having (an) unclean spirit — having-come, fell at His feet. Now the woman was (a) Greek, (a) Syro-Phoenician (by) nationality. And she-was-asking Him that He-cast-out the demon from her daughter" (Mark 7:25-26).
The expression "demon" can be used interchangeably with the expression "spirit of an unclean demon":
It is written: "And in the synagogue there-was (a) man having (a) spirit (of an) unclean demon. And he-cried-out (with a) loud voice" (Luke 4:33) and then "Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be-silenced and come-out from him”. And the demon, having-thrown him down into (their) midst, came-out from him, not having-hurt him at all" (Luke 4:35).
The expression "demon" can be used interchangeably with the expression "evil spirit" (Luke 8:2).
It is written: "the twelve (were) with Him, and some women who had-been cured from evil spirits and infirmities — Mary, the (one) being-called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had-come-out" (Luke 8:1-2).
A demon can enter into a man and later can come out of that man:
It is written: "(a) certain man from the city met (Him), having demons" (Luke 8:27), and it was said of him that "many demons entered into him" (Luke 8:30). Later, "the demons, having-come-out from the man, entered into the pigs" (Luke 8:33).
A demon can come out of a man and then after that enter into an animal:
It is written: "the demons, having-come-out from the man, entered into the pigs" (Luke 8:33).
The expression "demon" can be used interchangeably with the expression "spirit":
It is written: "the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even THE DEMONS are-subject (to) us in Your name”." (Luke 10:17), "Nevertheless, do not be-rejoicing in this, that THE SPIRITS are-subject (to) you" (Luke 10:20).
The expression "demon" can be used interchangeably with the expression "spirit" in Matthew, as it is written: "they-brought to Him many being-demonized. And He-cast-out the spirits (with a) word" (Matthew 8:16). The Greek word for "being-demonized" (daimonizomai, strong 1139 in Greek, verb) in Matthew 8:16 comes from the middle voice of the Greek word for "demon" (daimón, strong 1142 in Greek, noun).
A spirit does not have flesh and bones:
It is written: "(a) spirit does not have flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39).
A demon can be sacrificed to by a human:
It is written: "(the things) which they-are-sacrificing, they-are-sacrificing (to) demons, and not (to) God. And I-do not want you to-be sharers (of) the demons" (1 Corinthians 10:20).
A demon can have teachings:
It is written about "paying-attention-to deceitful spirits and teachings (of) demons" (1 Timothy 4:1), "forbidding to-marry, (commanding) to-abstain (from) foods which God created for (a) receiving with thanksgiving (by) the (ones who are) believers and know the truth" (1 Timothy 4:3).
A demon can believe things:
It is written: "You believe that God is one? You-do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!" (James 2:19).
A demon can shudder:
It is written: "You believe that God is one? You-do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!" (James 2:19).
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