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 Matthew 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."

not a diminutive of daimon, No. 1, but the neuter of the adjective daimonios, pertaining to a demon, is also mistranslated "devil," "devils." In Acts 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, 1—Corinthians 10:20,21; Revelation 9:20; cp. Deuteronomy 32:17; Isaiah 13:21; 34:14; 65:3,11 . They disseminate errors among men, and seek to seduce believers, 1—Timothy 4:1 . As seducing spirits they deceive men into the supposition that through mediums (those who have "familiar spirits," Leviticus 20:6,27 , e.g.) they can converse with deceased human beings. Hence the destructive deception of spiritism, forbidden in Scripture, Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19 . "Demons" tremble before God, James 2:19; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41 . Christ cast them out of human beings by His own power. His disciples did so in His name, and by exercising faith, e.g., Matthew 17:20 .

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., Luke 8:28 . The verb is found chiefly in Matt. and Mark; Matthew 4:24; 8:16,28,33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15,16,18; elsewhere in Luke 8:36; John 10:21 , "him that hath a devil (demon)."

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