Belial originates from ancient Hebrew as beli ya’al, which translates to “worthless” and within the Abrahamic mythology seen as a demon of manipulation, lies, and lust. Within demonolatry he is believed to have been created only second to Lucifer and the one to instigate the rebellion against Yaweh. This wiki will be going into more detail on these topics as well as my personal upg and experience with working with him. All UPG will be marked with asterisks.
First let us begin with understanding the name Belial and how it was used in ancient times. It’s most commonly connected with beli ya’al which is usually translated to “worthless”, implying that Belial the demon is a demon of sloth, and we can see this representation in Paradise Lost where Belial is the first to say the war against heaven should be rescinded and the fallen should accept their new place in hell.
This definition of it however is argued against by Ruth Rosenberg, who states that simply saying it means “worthless” demotes the importance of it, and the true meaning behind it stands for the breaking of a treaty of the highest regard. A crime so severe that the punishment for it was death. She goes on to explain this connects directly to offending the divine, or God, as committing Belial was seen as breaking the covenant with God, and breaking a treaty or offending the rulers of Israel:
“In Israel kingship was seen as a covenant between King and the people, but also a covenant between God and King. Accordingly, unwillingness to accept the King as savior designated by God constituted an act of Belial.”
Essentially, in Israel to commity Belial was a violation of the covenantal relationship between the individual, community, and God. Giving the definition of Belial a much more important meaning than simply being “worthless.”
From the above we can conclude that Belial was a noun and a verb, a being and an action, used within the bible and ancient hebrew texts as both, but there is one more theory for it’s meaning.
J.A. Emerton writes about the theory that Belial could also be Sumerian underworld, Sheol. When comparing its original spelling beliyya’al to having connections to Belili, a goddess of the underworld, and explaining that while Sheol was a place of death it was not “hell” as we know it today. Through his paper he gives various examples of Belial being connected to being worthy of death, or premature death, and a person inevitably ending up in Sheol.
His final conclusion however is that it more than likely means “destruction”, though it’s not impossible to mean Sheol as well.
From these three examples we’re given various meanings and definitions for the word Belial, and it’s possible connections. It should also be remembered that Belial would eventually become another name for Satan, along with other various “demonic” entities within the bible, such as Samael. From a modern practitioners perspective, I consider all of these to be under Belial’s domain. Making him chthonic, a force of destruction, a deceiver, and a liar. While I don’t believe these are the only connections to Belial, I’ll explain this in the following section which further explores who Belial is.
I’ll start off with explaining his origins in an Abrahamic context and origins, possible outside influences, and why some of these views of him could have originated. As with all things, you should do your own research and form your own opinions on all things, and not solely rely on the words of others.
He’s mentioned in the Key of Solomon amongst the Ars Goetia as the 68th demon that Solomon summoned and commanded, placing him in a jar with 71 other demons. Solomons encounter and description is as follows:
The Sixty-eighth Spirit is Belial. He is a Mighty and a Powerful King, and was created next after LUCIFER. He appeareth in the Form of Two Beautiful Angels sitting in a Chariot of Fire. He speaketh with a Comely Voice, and declareth that he fell first from among the worthier sort, that were before Michael, and other Heavenly Angels. His Office is to distribute Presentations and Senatorships, etc.; and to cause favour of Friends and of Foes. He giveth excellent Familiars, and governeth 50 Legions of Spirits. Note well that this King Belial must have Offerings, Sacrifices and Gifts presented unto him by the Exorcist, or else he will not give True Answers unto his Demands. But then he tarrieth not one hour in the Truth, unless he be constrained by Divine Power. And his Seal is this, which is to be worn as aforesaid, etc.
From here it is learned that he is second only to Lucifer, and the first to fall from Heaven and betray God. He’s believed to have been the one to truly instigate the rebellion in heaven, which is where he earns his associations with being a manipulator and liar. From this he has gained two perceptions about him:
That he is a deceiver and a god of lies that manipulates and uses people's emotions to gain what he wants.
He is against tyranny, and the enforcement of subservient and oppressive behavior. He fights against those that wish to stand above others for their own selfish empowerment.
These two interpretations obviously depend on what your personal views of the bible and god are. Personally, I identify him with the latter and see it as a good reminder that history is written by the victor.
There is also a suggestion that Belial could be connected to the Sumerian goddess Belili - a minor goddess and subordinate to Erishikegal, as well as a goddess of the moon and love. It’s believed her name was converted to Belial as an insult for being “worthless.” This wouldn’t be completely impossible as many demons are connected to the Sumerian gods of the ancient Mesopatiamians, such as Beelzebub who was original Ba’al Zebub meaning Lord of the Skies, whose original names were altered to be an insult to the god and those who follow them. However as of right now, this explanation isn’t fully supported by historians and is just a loose hypothesis.
In ancient Hebrew texts he is connected to both Satan and Samael, and is deemed the “ruler of idolaters” and will eventually lead all of the world into sin until it’s burned by the messiah upon his return. He’s seen as a source of impurity and lawlessness. This is shown when Moses leads the Isralites out of Egypt in the light of God, and it’s stated that Egypt will be ruled in the shadow of Beliar (this is in direct reference to the religious practice of the ancient Egyptians creating statues for their gods, so that the spirit or energy of the gods can be welcomed into the statue).
Within the Damascus Documents, which make up a small section of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Belial is also the one who inspired the Egyptian sorcerers, Jochaneh and his brother, to oppose Moses and Aaron. These documents also mention his connection to his three major sins, or “three nets of Belial” - fornication, wealth, and pollution of the sanctuary. The Fragments go on to condemn anyone who is ruled by Belial and speaks of rebellion is seen as a necromancer and wizard - ironic as the Israelites rebelled against the Egyptians when they left Egypt. One could say that at times rebellion is necessary and good.
Based on the above it could be believed that Belial was an ancient god of Egypt or at least within Canaanite or Sumerian mythos, but as of currently there are no surviving texts indicating this other than the previously mentioned possibility of Belial being a butchered name of Belili.
It should also be noted that Belial is mentioned in the fiction piece, Paradise Lost written by John Milton. Within this piece he’s described as a Prince of Hell who tries to persuade his brethren to be more discreet about their rebellion, and accept their new role and lives within hell and end the war against heaven.
Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd
Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love,
Vice for itself. To him no temple stood
Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he
In temples and at altars, when the priest
Turns atheist, as did Eli’s sons, who filled
With lust and violence the house of God?
In courts and palaces he also reigns,
And in luxurious cities, where the noise
Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers,
And injury and outrage; and, when night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.
Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night
In Gibeah, when the hospitable door
Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape.
-Paradise Lost, i. 490-504
This piece is another example of the demonization and Christain perspective of demons, fallen angels, and Belial specifically. We can find this view of hell in other works such as Dantes’ Inferno. Within Paradise Lost, Belial is listed as one of the members of the Stygian Council, or Infernal Council, who rules hell with various other demons. In this council he’s listed as a Vassal King of Hell, as well as a Prince of Sloth and Wrath.
Now that we have a basic understanding of who Belial was within a Abrahamic perspective and his various possible origins, I’ll now explain his role within demonolatry and demonology.
Belial is mentioned within multiple hierarchies, with strong alignments to earth energy and connections. He is usually seen as a demon to look upon when needing enlightenment, standing up against those who enforce oppression, situations that require lies and or mapilation, and sexuality, as he is also a demon of lust, as well nature, and life healing energy.
Dukante describes him as an earth elemental who typically appears with black hair peppered with white and grey, or blonde and his eyes shift from brown to green, and is of medium stature. His voice is described as a normal tone, though echoes with resolute confidence. He typically seems confused or perplexed by some great mystery. He is listed in Dukantes first family.
Within the Goetic hierarchy he is listed as the 68th demon whose element is fire and his domain rules over mastery, political power, diginities, and favors. Within Faust’s Hierarchy of the Kingdoms, he’s listed as associated with the south, and in Sebastien Michaelis’s Histoire de la Possession et conversion d’une pénitente Belial is listed under the third hierarchy and connected to arrogance. Finally Sir William Fletcher Barrett’s The Magus has him listed as a Prince of iniquity, and in the Purswell Grimoires he’s listed as an elemental who is connected to the earth and enlightenment.
S. Connolly has him listed as a demon related to life healing and nature, as well as a demon of trickery - this is possibly connected to his description within the Ars Goetia. She has also gone to explain his role within demonolatry and how he is viewed within the Tree of Life. Belial is considered to be one of the Nine Demonic Divinities that make the very foundation of demonolatry. Within the Tree of Life, Belial is the very center and is connected to “beauty of the physical and mental” and along with Leviathan and Verrine “constitute the mental consciousness.”
From this we have a better view and understanding of the history of Belial, and his role within modern demonolatry. In the next section I’ll go on to share my personal view of and experience with him.
This is just a reminder that all experiences with an entity can vary person to person, especially within demonolatry. It all depends on what mask the demon has chosen to show to you and how they want the relationship to be.
That aside, my first introduction and sign from him was complete chaos, literally. I received a dream from Lucifer to reach out to him but was hesitant to do so since my relationship with demons outside of Lucifer and Lilith, was completely based on research alone. King Belial decided I was dragging my feet a bit too slowly and decided to let me know personally that it was time to step over that threshold. He did this by creating chaotic events literally happening from the moment I woke up until I was finally home for the day and decided to reach out. He was also a fan of sending spiders.
When connecting to his energy I usually visualize it as a dense fog with a heavy presence. This was also how it was described when a friend did a reading and they described the energy as heavy and almost hard to wade through.
My relationship with King Belial has mostly been one of support and kindness. He does require offerings almost any time I seek to do divination with him, and my advice to anyone looking to reach out to him, is to keep this in mind. He’s most likely not going to be a demon you can give offerings whenever you feel like it, and will either require them anytime you seek proper communication with and or on a regularly scheduled basis.
He’s also a demon that will require you to do work and focus on your path, along with whatever lessons he is currently in your practice to teach you. Like with all demons, it's imperative to remember that working relationships with them can be vastly different than working with a deity. They will require more of you and expect you to meet those requirements and expectations.
This isn’t to say if you are unable to meet certain requirements you’ll receive some sort of punishment, but communication is key. You must communicate with them and let them know what's going on or why you're unable to do something. If they feel you are simply making excuses, they will call you out on that.
Direction: North, and sometimes South
Zodiac: Capricorn, Aries*
Holiday: Rite of Belial, December 21st, Winter Solstice
Enns: Lirach Tasa Vefa Wehlc Belial
Colors: Green, Brown, Black
Domains: Enlightenment, Social injustice*, Trickery, Manipulation, Lies, Nature, Healing, Confidence / Arrogance, Politics, Sexuality, Sloth, and Wrath
Sacred animal: Ram*, Goat, Wolf*, Pigeon*
*are personal associations and upg.
These are mostly based on upg and intuition. Some may work for you, and some may not.
Devotional acts: meditation, seeking education, joining social movements, learning politics and participating in your local politics, defending those who can’t defend themselves, self-care days, enjoying days of laziness, reading of any kind, self improvement, nature walks, helping the environment.
Edible: hard alcohol, roasted marshmallows, red wine, black coffee (preferably cold brew), cherries, goat, lamb, chocolate, black licorice.
Other: roses, imagery of his sacred animals, wolf pelts, ram and goat horns, playlists, smoked teakwood incense, whiskey & oak incense / candles, black crystals, skulls, bones in general, anything that connects to nature and the earth.
S. Connolly, Complete Book of Demonolatry
Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses
Two Papers on Belial - William B. Hunter
Paradise Lost - SparkNotes
The Concept of Biblical Belial - Ruth Rosenberg
Sheol and the Sons of Belial - J. A. Emerton
