δαιμονίζομαι
daimonizomai
be demonised
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word δαιμονίζομαι (daimonizomai) is translated as "be demonized." It is used 13 times in the Bible, indicating a phenomenon where an individual is believed to be under the influence or control of a malevolent spirit. The word's meaning is closely tied to the concept of demonic possession, where a person's behavior, thoughts, or actions are attributed to the actions of a demon. The range of usage for δαιμονίζομαι is found primarily in the New Testament, with the majority of occurrences in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. This suggests that the concept of demonic possession was a significant concern for the early Christian community. The word is often used in conjunction with other terms, such as "unclean spirit" or "evil spirit," emphasizing the malevolent nature of the entity involved. The significance of δαιμονίζομαι lies in its representation of a perceived reality in the ancient world, where supernatural forces were believed to play a significant role in human affairs. As a term, it highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of human experience, where physical, emotional, and spiritual factors intersect.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
13 total occurrences across the text
The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
Matthew 8:16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;
Matthew 8:28When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
Matthew 8:33Those who fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons.
Matthew 9:32As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.
Matthew 12:22Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Matthew 15:22Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”
Mark 1:32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons.
Mark 5:15They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid.
Mark 5:16Those who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
Mark 5:18As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.
Luke 8:36Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed.
John 10:21Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”