Dictionaries :: Demon, Demoniac

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Demon, Demoniac:

"a demon," signified, among pagan Greeks, an inferior deity, whether good or bad. In the NT it denotes "an evil spirit." It is used in Mat 8:31, mistranslated "devils."

Some would derive the word from a root da--, meaning "to distribute." More probably it is from a similar root da--, meaning "to know," and hence means "a knowing one."

Demon, Demoniac:

not a diminutive of daimon, No. 1, but the neuter of the adjective daimonios, pertaining to a demon, is also mistranslated "devil," "devils." In Act 17:18, it denotes an inferior pagan deity. "Demons" are the spiritual agents acting in all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a "demon" associated with it who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices, 1Cr 10:20, 21; Rev 9:20; cp. Deu 32:17; Isa 13:21; 34:14; 65:3, 11. Theydisseminate errors among men, and seek to seduce believers, 1Ti 4:1. As seducing spirits they deceive men into the supposition that through mediums (those who have "familiar spirits," Lev 20:6, 27, e.g.) they can converse with deceased human beings. Hence the destructive deception of Spiritism, forbidden in Scripture, Lev 19:31; Deu 18:11; Isa 8:19. "Demons" tremble before God, Jam 2:19; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Mat 8:29; Luk 4:41. Christ cast them out of human beings byHis own power. His disciples did so in His Name, and by exercising faith, e.g., Mat 17:20.

Acting under Satan (cp. Rev 16:13, 14), "demons" are permitted to afflict with bodily disease, Luk 13:16. Being unclean they tempt human beings with unclean thoughts, Mat 10:1; Mar 5:2; 7:25; Luk 8:27-29; Rev 16:13; 18:2, e.g. They differ in degrees of wickedness, Mat 12:45. They will instigate the rulers of the nations at the end of this age to make war against God and His Christ, Rev 16:14.
See DEVIL.

Demon, Demoniac:

signifies "to be possessed of a demon, to act under the control of a demon." Those who were thus afflicted expressed the mind and consciousness of the "demon" or "demons" indwelling them, e.g., Luk 8:28. The verb is found chiefly in Matt. and Mark; Mat 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mar 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18; elsewhere in Luk 8:36; and Jhn 10:21, "him that hath a devil (demon)."

Demon, Demoniac:

signifies proceeding from, or resembling, a demon, "demoniacal;" see marg. of Jam 3:15, RV (text, "devilish").