Belial, also encountered as Beliar, requires attention to context. Biblical expressions translated with this word can describe wicked or worthless people, while 2 Corinthians uses Beliar as the opposing term to Christ. Treating every occurrence as the name of one fallen angel obscures that difference.
Expressions for wicked people
The historical Jewish Encyclopedia entry surveys uses associated with opposition, wickedness and worthlessness, including 1 Samuel 2:12. English translations can therefore differ between retaining a traditional expression such as sons of Belial and translating its sense.
The same article records competing explanations of the word’s derivation. Its discussion is useful evidence that a neat, universally accepted etymology should not be asserted. It is also a historical reference work whose interpretations need to be read in their period.
Beliar in 2 Corinthians
In 2 Corinthians 6:14–16, a sequence of contrasts includes righteousness and lawlessness, light and darkness, and Christ and Beliar. The name functions there as a personal adversarial counterpart, rather than an adjective applied to a particular group of people.
This passage supplies no physical portrait, detailed rank or catalogue of magical powers. Descriptions of Belial’s beauty or appearance belong to other portrayals and should be supported from those works rather than read back into this biblical contrast.
Belial also appears in apocalyptic and demonological literature. The portrayals of Mastema, Azazel and Samael belong to their own textual settings; a shared adversarial role alone does not make the figures interchangeable.
Explore related entries
Read Mastema, Azazel, Samael, the fallen-angel catalogue, or the guide to source traditions.