“He casts out demons by Beelzebul”
Luke 11:15
Foreign wordWell-supportedSome in the crowd
It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons. (Luke 11:15 BSB)
What it sounds like today
A random demon name.
The cultural key
A stack of insults with history. Baal-zebul, 'Baal the Prince / lord of the lofty dwelling,' was a Canaanite deity title; Hebrew scripture mocked it as Baal-zebub, 'lord of the flies' (2 Kings 1:2). By Jesus' day it named the prince of demons. Jesus' wordplay: zebul echoes 'house/lofty abode,' so when his enemies call him Beelzebul they are literally calling the 'master of the house' (oikodespotēs) by a demonic 'lord of the house' title, and his household should expect the same slur.
Recovered meaning
'They've branded the head of the family a demon lord; you, the household, won't be treated better.' Expect your teacher's reputation, not above it.