Metaphysical meaning of Baal-zebub (mbd)
Baal-zebub, ba'-al-ze'-bub (Heb.)--lord of flies; place infested with flies; possessed of flies.
The god of Ekron, one of the five principal cities of the Philistines. Ahaziah, king of Israel, sent to inquire of this god whether he would recover from his sickness (II Kings 1:2-16). Baal-zebub was supposed to be prince of all moral impurities, or of evil spirits. (See BEELZEBUB, the New Testament form of Baal-zebub.)
Meta. Man's belief in a personal devil. Baal-zebub, or Beelzebub, prince of demons, is not an adversary with outer form; evil is not originated by a personal devil, nor are evils thrust upon man from without, as so many people seem to think; Baal-zebub signifies the adverse belief in man that man has built up himself because of his mistaken idea that he is separate from God, a belief that gives rise to multitudes of thoughts in opposition to Truth. These rebellious, opposing thoughts are the demons or the evil spirits over which Baal-zebub is prince, or the central, controlling thought.
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Preceding Entry: Baal-tamar
Following Entry: Baal-zephon
