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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Belial
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("worthlessness": or "recklessness, lawlessness".) Not strictly a proper name, but used so by personification. Beli means "without" and ya'al means "usefulness," i.e. "good for nothing". "A man of Belial" is a worthless, lawless fellow (; ; ). Latterly "Rake" ("vain fellows" (, harekim), and "Fool" were used instead: . Nabal ("fool") is called "man of Belial" (.) In the New Testament, "Beliar" is the form in some oldest manuscripts (.) As Satan is opposed to God, Antichrist to Christ, so Belial standing here in contrast to Christ must denote all anti-Christian pollutions personified.