δαίμων G1142
Demons, evil spirits, supernatural beings
Malevolent spiritual beings that serve Satan and oppose God's purposes, supernatural entities distinct from humans and angels. In Matthew 8:31, demons inhabiting two men beg Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs if he casts them out, revealing both their recognition of his authority and their desire to inhabit physical hosts. These spirits display personality, intelligence, and fear of divine judgment.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Designates evil supernatural beings under Satan's control. The classical Greek sense of 'divine power' or 'fate' shifts in biblical usage to consistently evil spirits. In Matthew 8:31, the demons demonstrate awareness of Jesus's authority to cast them out and negotiate for an alternative destination, showing they possess will, communication ability, and preference for embodiment, while their plea also reveals their subjection to Jesus's command despite their supernatural nature. 1×
AR["شَياطينُ"]·ben["ভূতেরা"]·DE["δαίμονες"]·EN["demons"]·FR["démon"]·heb["שֵׁדִים"]·HI["दुष्टात्माएँ"]·ID["setan-setan"]·IT["daimones"]·jav["dhemit"]·KO["귀신들"]·PT["demónios"]·RU["бесы"]·ES["demonios"]·SW["pepo"]·TR["cinler"]·urd["بدروحیں"]
Related Senses
G2316 1. God, the true God (1315×)H6635b 1. hosts, armies (of YHWH) (286×)H0410 1. God, the true God (223×)G0032 1. heavenly angel (170×)H4397 2. messenger, envoy, ambassador (102×)H3742 1. cherub, angelic guardian being (91×)H0430 2. gods (pagan deities) (81×)H0426 1. God, the true God (76×)G1140 1. demon, evil spirit (62×)H0433 1. God, the true God (54×)H5945b 1. Most High (30×)G4152 1. spiritual (21×)H0426 2. god(s), pagan deities (20×)H5943 1. [ketiv:Most High] (18×)G1139 1. be demon-possessed (13×)H1712 1. Dagon (13×)G2316 2. god, pagan deity (12×)G5310 1. Most High (9×)H0410 3. a god, deity (generic) (9×)H3645 1. Chemosh (9×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
δαίμων, ονος, vocative δαίμων Refs 5th c.BC+, ὁ, ἡ, god, goddess, of individual gods or goddesses, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐμίσγετο δαίμονι δαίμων, of Φιλίη and Νεῖκος, Refs 5th c.BC+:—but more frequently of the Divine power (while θεός denotes a God in person), the Deity,Refs 8th c.BC+; πρὸς δαίμονα against the Divine power, Refs 8th c.BC+; κατὰ δαίμονα, almost, ={τύχῃ}, by chance, Refs 5th c.BC+;…