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Journey of a Passage

2 Kings 1:2

Baal-zebub, "lord of flies"

All witnesses name the god of Ekron. The Hebrew says Baal-zebub, "lord of flies"; the library's Greek "Baal-Mouche" (Baal-fly); the Vulgate "Beelzebub." Many scholars think the original title was Baal-zebul, "Baal the prince," deliberately mocked.

Same letters, different readings: the consonants agree, but ancient readers vocalized or interpreted them differently

The family tree

Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.

✓ contains it · ✕ does not · ❝ quotes part of it · ⓘ reports on manuscripts · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives

  • Same line, through lost copies
  • Translation
  • Uncertain connection
Hebrew
  1. Original KingsUnknown (debated)
  2. Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from Original Kings
Greek
  1. Septuagint, 4 Kingdoms (library text: Giguet's French)Translated c. 2nd century BC; kaige revision 1st c. BC–1st c. ADTranslated from a Hebrew text of the period
  2. Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:221st century ADUncertain relationship to a later use of the name
Latin
  1. Jerome's Vulgatec. AD 400Translated from Hebrew texts of Jerome's day
English
  1. King James Bible1611Translated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

Every witness, in order

  1. Unknown (debated)

    Original Kings

    – No copy survives

    No original survives.

  2. Translated c. 2nd century BC; kaige revision 1st c. BC–1st c. AD

    Septuagint, 4 Kingdoms (library text: Giguet's French)

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from a Hebrew text of the period

    How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

    Allez demander à Baal-Mouche, dieu d'Accaron

    Go ask Baal-Fly, god of Ekron

    One Greek text (Vaticanus type, kaige revision) via Giguet's French; not checked against a critical Greek edition.

  3. 1st century AD

    Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22

    ❝ Quotes or alludes to part of itUncertain relationship to a later use of the name

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).

    Βεελζεβοὺλ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων

    Beelzebul, prince of the demons

    Most Greek manuscripts have Beelzebul (with l); the KJV, following the Vulgate, prints Beelzebub.

  4. c. AD 400

    Jerome's Vulgate

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from Hebrew texts of Jerome's day

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

    consulite Beelzebub deum Accaron

  5. AD 1008

    Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

    ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from Original Kings

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

    דִרְשׁוּ בְּבַעַל זְבוּב אֱלֹהֵי עֶקְרוֹן

    inquire of Baal-zebub, god of Ekron

    zevuv = fly.

  6. 1611

    King James Bible

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

    enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron

What changed, and why

Ugaritic texts call Baal zbl b'l ars, "prince, lord of the earth." Changing zebul to zebub would turn a title of honor into an insult. This is a widely held hypothesis, not proven.

What the evidence shows

  • Independently documentedAll checked witnesses name a Baal of Ekron.
  • Plausible, not confirmedBaal-zebub is a deliberate mockery of Baal-zebul.

Sources

  • E. Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible, 3rd ed. (2012)

Related lessons

  • Ahaziah and Elijah's Last Prophecy →Moab rebels after Ahab's death. King Ahaziah falls through a lattice in Samaria and sends to ask Baal-zebub, god of Ekron, whether he will recover. Elijah meets the messengers: he will die. Two captains with fifty men each come to arrest Elijah and are consumed by fire; the third begs for his life and Elijah goes with him to the king. Ahaziah dies, and his brother Jehoram reigns.