Does the Bible Teach About a “Spirit of Jezebel” or Similar Spirits?

Subtitle: Some Christians believe specific evil spirits are named after biblical figures like Jezebel, Ahab, or Moloch, but Scripture does not present a doctrine of “spirit types” in this way.

Synopsis:

In some some Christian circles it is taught that there are a number of evil spirits that have certain behaviors (Spirit of Jezebel, Ahab. Etc.). These spirits and their behaviors have been identified through personalities found in scripture and it is believed that they can be cast out by using their names. Not only is this belief not found in scripture, but it has only been in very recent times that people have come to believe in these “spirits”. Many of the beliefs associated with this teaching have only been around since the 1990s.

Key Takeways:

Some Christians believe that there is a list of common spiritual beings that are thought to regularly influence or even possess Christians (e.g., Spirit of Jezebel, Ahab, etc.).
Many of these “spirits” are very new to Christian teaching and were never recognized until very recently.

Many of these “spirits” are identified and diagnosed by human behaviors, not by Biblical doctrine.
It is believed these “spirits” can be controlled by accurately naming them.
Some newer beliefs about these spirits are contrary to what is found in the Bible.

The Deep Details For Those That Want To Know:

What follows is serious research and an examination into several interrelated teachings that many Christians have accepted as a major part of their theology without understanding where the ideas come from. Some of these ideas are very new and have never been taught among Christians until recent times. Some of the other ideas are much older, but have been modified to fit the newer beliefs. These interrelated teachings are about influencing and controlling the spiritual realm and come from three main concepts:

Concept 1: There is a list of known common spiritual beings that regularly influence or even possess Christians. These evil spirits are known as the Spirit of Jezebel, the Spirit of Ahab, and similar names.

Concept 2: These beings can be identified or diagnosed by human behavior.

Concept 3: These spiritual beings can be controlled if they are properly identified and their name is known.

We want to make it clear up front that we truly believe that as Christians, we are in a state of spiritual warfare with evil. That is not in question. What we are researching here are several relatively new teachings that have made their way into Christian circles. We want to know where these new teachings came from, if they line up with scripture, and what they may mean for our Christian beliefs. Before going further, it is worth our time to take a moment and verify that the influence of evil spirits is something supported by scripture.

Does Possession Occur?

According to scripture, possession definitely occurs and it is definitely a part of Christian doctrine. Nowhere in this research is that denied. Instead, we will be examining newer teachings about possession and the influence of evil spirits that have become a part of some Christian’s theology. What follows are a few instances of verses on possession that are found in the Bible:

“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.” (Luke 22:3 ESV)

“… And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.” (Mark 5:13 ESV)

“And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.” (Matt. 17:18 ESV)

What Are These Spirits?

In some Christian circles it is common to hear things like “That woman has a Spirit of Jezebel.” or “There is a Spirit of Moloch over the nation.” In some cases, a statement like this might be simply used to describe an attitude or behavior. This is no different from a person saying, “That man has a Napoleon complex” to describe someone with domineering or ambitious traits. Unfortunately, in most instances this is not what is meant at all when Christians use these terms. Instead, people believe that an actual evil spiritual entity is manipulating that person. Christians have been taught that the person is demonically possessed or at least influenced by a supernatural being known as the “Spirit Of Jezebel”. Or, in the case of Moloch, many believe that an ancient evil power, the same being that masqueraded as the Canaanite deity Moloch, has taken control over a geographical area and is influencing the people that reside in that area. Those that teach these sorts of things often also believe that by accurately naming these evil spirits they can then control or remove them. Some teachers even prescribe certain prayers or rituals for commanding and casting out these evil entities.

Why This is Important

For many, this might not seem that big of a deal. After all, in Mark 16:17 Jesus said:

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (Mark 16:17 ESV )

According to scripture believers have the ability to cast out demons, but when it comes to this kind of spiritual warfare, making assumptions about diagnosing demon possession, what to do, and what will happen can be very dangerous. The risk is made clear in Acts 19: 13- 16:

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.(Acts 19: 13-16 ESV)

Keep in mind that these were professional exorcists following the traditional Jewish practice. Further more, they were trying to free someone from an evil spirit in a way that they had either heard or seen work. From what is told in scripture, we do not know if they were charlatans or if they were truly trying to help people. It would be easy for us to assume that the reason their attempt to remove the evil spirit failed was because they were not true followers of Jesus, but the Lord Himself contradicts this idea.

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.(Mark 9: 38-41 ESV)

Given what Jesus told John and what is said in the book of Acts, we cannot make any assumptions other than trying to cast out evil spirits without correct understanding can be risky. This is what makes knowing what we are doing so important.

In order to look at all of this more closely we will use what is commonly referred to as a “Spirit of Jezebel” as an example.

The example:

Imagine that a group of believers have gathered to pray for a person. The person they are praying for seems to struggle with being a bit self-centered and sometimes manipulative. Someone in the group has decided that the person’s issue is that they have a “Jezebel Spirit”. As a part of the prayer the group will rebuke the spirit by name in an effort to free the person from the evil influence. Here are the questions we must ask:

How do we know that there is truly an evil entity involved and not just a bad attitude or behavior?
Why do we think that calling that spirit by name gives us power over it?
If calling the spirit by its name gives us more power over it, how do we know Jezebel is the true name of that spirit?

Is It an Evil Spirit Involved?

One of the problems that is caused by following these teachings too obsessively is that it becomes too easy to diagnose and blame all sorts of human bad behavior on the influence of evil spirits. The old adage “If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” comes into play here. If the only thing a person knows about the influence of the spiritual realm on humans is possession or oppression, everything looks like an evil spirit. While the Bible gives us many examples of casting out evil spirits, Jesus also said this in Mark 7:21-23:

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.(Mark 7:21-23 ESV)

As we explore evil spiritual influences further these verses will become very relevant. We will look at many human behaviors that some people claim are caused by “having an evil spirit”. Yet Jesus points out that many of these behaviors are merely symptoms of our fallen nature, not caused by evil entities. The question for us to ask and answer is which beliefs on this topic are based on the writings found in the Bible and which are not. And if any or these believes do not come from the Bible, where do they come from?

Did the Devil Make Me Do It?

The first thing to consider is if the behavior is actually because of an evil entity influencing the person or just an attitude problem. In other words, is there an actual demon involved or is this just another case of our imperfect human nature? It is easy to see where people can get the idea that bad behavior can be caused by evil entities because the New Testament gives specific examples of demon possession. But we should also be aware that the Bible sometimes also uses the word spirit as an idiom to better describe a person’s behavior or abilities (an idiom is a common phrase that people use to convey and idea. Examples would be saying he is under the weather when we mean a person is feeling ill, or its a piece of cake when we mean something is easy). As you can imagine, there can be problems with misinterpreting idioms when we take them to mean something literal.

The reason we bring this up here is because many Christians have been taught or at least assume that when the phrase “spirit of” is found in the Bible it ALWAYS means that there is a supernatural being involved. In some verses, the terms “spirit of” definitely means a supernatural influence, especially when referring to the Holy Spirit or The Spirit of the Lord, but in other cases it is simply an idiom used to describe something. A quick survey of Bible verses shows that the phrase “spirit of” can mean something other than an actual demon influencing a person or situation. It can be used to describe an ability or an attitude a person has. It does not necessarily mean that they are demon possessed or being controlled by a spiritual being. What follows are several examples.

“You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill” (Exodus 28:3 ESV)

“. . . and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife” (Numbers 5:14 ESV)

“Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom” (Deuteronomy 34:9 ESV)

“Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha’” (2 Kings 2:15 ESV)

“The LORD has mingled within her a spirit of confusion” (Isaiah 19:14 ESV)

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear” (Romans 8:15 ESV)

“What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21 ESV)

In these verses, the use of the phrase “spirit of” as idioms are obvious. These are not referring to actual entities inhabiting a person, but are describing abilities, emotions, and other human characteristics. If we are to apply the same logic used by people making the claim that such verses are naming supernatural entities that are influencing a person, these scriptures create a theological problem. If verses like these are naming actual spirits, that would mean there are spiritual beings called the Spirit of Skill, the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Elijah, the Spirit of Slavery, etc. and that these spirits are capable of taking possession of even the most devout believers. Should we interpret these verses this way or is understanding them as a description of a behavior, knowledge, or mental attitude closer to what was intended by the words used? In the Deuteronomy quote, are we to understand that God gave Joshua wisdom, or should we take it to mean that a spiritual entity named Wisdom took over and filled Joshua?

Unfortunately, there are also many teachers out there that do not stop with the idiom “spirit of”. They also interpret many other phrases from scripture as referencing the names of spiritual entities- especially when it comes to evil spirits. Some of these include:

“ …but man is born to troubleas the sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:6-7 ESV) Some teachers have interpreted the word “sparks” in this verse to refer to evil entities.

“Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.” (Habakkuk 3:5 ESV)

Some teachers claim that plague and pestilence are the names of specific spiritual beings in this verse since the words used seem to indicate these beings are walking before and after someone.

“He is torn from the tent in which he trusted and is brought to the king of terrors.” (Job 18:14 ESV)

Some believe the “king of terrors” is the name of a specific demon, Among those claiming this, there is some debate over exactly which pagan deity or another is the actual the King of Terrors.

These are just a few of the Bible verses that are said to give us the names of evil spirits, but there are many more. In this section we are purposefully not naming the specific pastors that teach these examples because this research is not about coming against those individuals or their ministries. These are only provided here as examples of how far this kind of thinking can go and how the Bible can be reinterpreted to find evil entities everywhere. We will see where this can create errors in what people believe later in this examination.

Is the Problem Always an Evil Entity?

The takeaway here is that contrary to what some teach, there is not always an evil being involved in human misbehavior. Sometimes we are just jealous, or angry, or hungry and our fallen nature is the cause. The idea that there are more often than not supernatural evil beings taking control of us and causing bad behavior or attitudes comes from misinterpreting scripture. Again, this is not to say that it doesn’t happen in some cases. The opposite is true. But we should be wary of casting out evil spirits, when what is needed is to pray for someone’s attitude and encourage them to cultivate a better Christian walk. We should also be clear when speaking to other Christians to make certain we are not accidentally leading others astray. For example, when we say someone has a Spirit of Ahab, do we mean that the person is exhibiting a lack of character that reminds us of King Ahab found in 1 Kings, or do we mean that an evil spirit, named The Spirit of Ahab is influencing them. We should also ask the same question when someone says something similar to us. Are they saying that person is behaving like Jezebel or do they think the person is possessed?

Calling the Evil Spirits By Their Name

Another idea that is closely tied with this (and one tied to searching the Bible for the names of all the evil spirits) is that knowing the name of the spirit gives us power over it. If you search the Internet and look at teaching videos and articles on this topic, there is a great deal of varying opinions on the importance of knowing a demon’s name to cast it out. Some say it doesn’t matter, but many say it is of the utmost importance.

Many of us have been taught that correctly identifying an evil spirit and calling them by name is the way to cast them out, but where this idea came from is unclear. It isn’t in the Bible (though there are some instances that might seem related and we will look at those later).

If you have been taught that you must know the name of an evil spirit to cast it out, do not be dismayed. There has been a great deal of confusion around this topic for hundreds of years and the aim here is to make everything clear.

To find the origins of the idea that we must know the name of an evil spirit to cast it out, we will look at the history of this teaching. In 1644, the Catholic church published a manual on exorcism called De exorcismis et supplicationibus quibusdam (translation: Rite of exorcism and prayers for particular circumstances).

This book provided exorcists with advice and the appropriate rituals to perform according to the beliefs at the time. This is included here not as an endorsement of the ritual, but to show that there has been confusion over using the names of evil spirits for a long time.

In the section of the book entitled Traditional & Revised Catholic Rites of Exorcism, EXORCISM OF THE POSSESSED-PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS, Subsection 15, can be found this advice to the exorcist:

But necessary questions are, for example: about the number and name of the spirits inhabiting the patient, the time when they entered into him, the cause thereof, and suchlike. (translated from the original 1644 version)

In this book, instructions are given to the priest that they are to ask the spirit a series of questions, which include its name. But what the priest is to do with the name or the other information is never explained. In fact, according to the instructions in the book, the name of the spirit isn’t used in casting it out at all. The specific words to be used by the priest performing the rite leave out the name and instead use “whosoever thou art” as seen in Section 2 of the same text:

Priest: I COMMAND thee, unclean spirit, whosoever thou art, along with all thine associates who have taken possession of this servant (handmaid) of God, that, by the mysteries of the Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, …

Further research into the Catholic rite reveals something surprising. In a 2017 article on exorcism, a Catholic exorcist named Father Truqui (who served as an assistant to Gabriele Amorth, the famous exorcist of Rome) was asked by the interviewer, “Why do you ask for the demon’s name?” His answer is somewhat surprising.

“The Ritual requires it, for a specific purpose. Naming something, or knowing its name, means having power over that thing. In fact, God gives Adam the power to name things. At the instant that the demon reveals his name, it shows that he has been weakened; if he doesn’t say it, he is still strong.” Chiara Santomiero, “Why do exorcists ask demons to reveal their names?”, Aleteia, April 4, 2017

In other words, according to the exorcist, naming a demon or spiritual entity has nothing to do with commanding it, but if it reveals its name that is a sign it is weakening. He does say that “naming something” gives power over it, but his explanation says something different.

What Does the Bible Say About Using the Names of Evil Spirits?

The idea that knowing a spirit’s name in order to cast it out might be another case of reading into the Bible something that is not there. In Mark 5 we find that Jesus, while freeing a man from demon possession asks for the spirit’s name, but it is not mentioned that Jesus uses the name to cast it out. From the scripture, we are not even certain that the host of demons were being truthful.

8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” (Mark 5: 8-9 ESV)

While there are many demons named in scripture, this is the only instance in the Bible where a name is given as part of an exorcism account. Again, we cannot be certain that Jesus called the demons out by naming them. The scripture does not say. All-in all, there are fifty-five times the New Testament mentions the casting out of demons, but this is the only time a name is given (though this same account is found in the three books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

Another instance that might be used to argue that naming a spirit gives humans power over it comes from Mark 9:25.

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” (Mark 9:25 ESV)

In this verse, Jesus refers to the entity as “you mute and deaf spirit”. There is no indication that this is the name of the spirit. Only that it describes the nature of the being.

If the Bible has no clear instances of anyone using a spirit’s name to cast it out or exert power over it, and there is no evidence that it was used in Medieval rituals, where did this idea come from? The answer seems to be that it came from other religions. Ancient pagan myths and folklore are full of examples of this very thing. In Egyptian mythology the goddess Isis had complete power over the sun god Ra when she learned his real name. In the fairy-tale Rumpelstiltskin, a child has power over an imp by using his real name. This concept is so common in ancient mythology and fairy-tales that it is referred to as “The Law of Names”. The Law of Names is the idea that knowing a supernatural being’s true name gives some magical power over it. But it is important to note that this idea is not a Christian principle.

Turning back to scripture, there is an instance in the Bible that might be connected to the Law of Names, but it is unclear. In Genesis 32: 22-32, Jacob wrestles with someone that he later determines to be the Angel of God.

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh. (Genesis 32:22-32 ESV)

When God asks why Jacob wanted to know his name, the Bible gives us no direct answer. Some have assumed that this is an example of Jacob trying to use The Law of Names as power over God, but we simply do not know Jacob’s intent by what was written.

This section has covered a lot of material and has shown that there is no evidence in the Bible that using an evil spirit’s name gives us any advantage or special powers. To the contrary, it seems that this idea may have come from pagan myths and misguided Christians that have looked for ways to have more influence over the spiritual realm.

Looking at Specific Examples

In the sections above you have read of a few “spirits” (Jezebel, Ahab, Molech) specifically named as examples of those that some Christians have come to believe are real supernatural entities. In this section we will give a little background on each of these so you can be more informed. The inclusion of this list is not to endorse these beliefs, but to give more details on what some people teach.

The Spirit of Jezebel

From the Bible: Jezebel was an actual person and a Phoenician princess that married Ahab, king of Israel. She is one of the most wicked figures in the Bible and is known for her ruthlessness, her evil attempts at political control, killing the prophets of Yahweh, and her attempts to kill Elijah. The parts of the Bible that tell her story begin in 1 Kings 16 through 2 Kings 9.

In the Book of Revelation, a woman named Jezebel is also mentioned in the writing to the church in Thyatira.

19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.(Rev. 2:19- 24 ESV)

In this quote it is worthy to note that Jezebel is definitely a person and not referred to as a spirit. Whether Jezebel is the person’s actually name or if John is comparing her to the evil queen in Israel’s history we cannot tell.

What we are told: The Spirit of Jezebel is usually referred to as demonic spirit that seeks to replace true authority (especially in the church), is full of rebellion and insubordination. Typically, the spirit is believed to have more evil influence over women than men. In the secular world, the name Jezebel is used to refer to sexually promiscuous or controlling women.

Where the idea comes from: It appears that the origins of the idea that there is actually a demonic Spirit of Jezebel came from two books. While we usually avoid naming specific teachers, we include these two because they are the major sources for this concept.

The first is a book entitled The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane (1994). In his book, Frangipane states:

… to understand the spirit of Jezebel, we must understand the genesis of this personality in the Bible. The first mention of Jezebel is seen in the rebellious, manipulative wife of King Ahab. It was actually this spirit, operating through Jezebel ….

Frangipane (1994:120) further states ‘that the spirit which produced Jezebel existed before its namesake was born’.

According to Frangipane, the spirit that he identifies as the Spirit of Jezebel was around long before Jezebel was born and therefore Jezebel is not its name (nor should we assume that the spirit is actually the spirit of the original Jezebel found in the Bible).

The second book that introduces the Spirit of Jezebel as an evil entity is entitled Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit by John Paul Jackson (2001). Jackson also believes that we are talking about a specific evil spirit. In discussing Jezebel of 2 Kings 9:22, Jackson (2001:19) states, “I believe an evil spirit motivated Jezebel’s actions…. I also believe the influence of this spirit exists today and has never been eradicated from the Church.”

Conclusion: Many believe and teach that the Spirit of Jezebel is an actual evil spirit that can control people, but this is not backed up in scripture. While the Spirit of Jezebel works well as a concept to describe types of behaviors, no one has presented evidence that it exists as a spiritual force, or is part of what should be considered sound Christian doctrine. Attempts to find references to the Spirit of Jezebel before the books by Frangipane and Jackson turn up nothing. Even the exhaustive Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (a book used by Bible scholars because of its thoroughness and its references to other scholarly works) has an extensive section on Jezebel, but as of the 1999 edition, there was no evidence of Jezebel as an evil spirit.

The Spirit of Ahab

From the Bible: Ahab was the seventh king of Israel (874-853 BCE). He was considered wicked and weak. His evilness is only overshadowed by that of his domineering queen, Jezebel. Ahab appears in 1 Kings 16:29 – 22:40. He is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 22:5

What is interesting to note is that a lying spirit was sent to Ahab’s prophets to deceive him, but there is no mention of Ahab being possessed by a spirit himself. This begs the question, would there need to be a spirit sent to the prophets if Ahab himself was already under the influence of an evil spirit? This can be found in 1 Kings 22: 19-23.

19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.” (1 Kings 22: 19-23 ESV)

What we are told: The Spirit of Ahab is one of weak men that give up their authority and responsibility to others. The are believed to often be codependent with another person that has a Spirit of Jezebel.

Where the idea comes from: The same logic that arrives at an entity called The Spirit of Jezebel takes the next step to imagine this spirit exists as well. Some think that if there is a Spirit of Jezebel, there must also be a Spirit of Ahab.

Conclusion: Like The Spirit of Jezebel, there is no scriptural evidence for The Spirit of Ahab. It is likely that this idea came from belief in The Spirit of Jezebel as an actual demon.

The Spirit of Moloch (or other Territorial Spirits)

From the Bible: Moloch (Molech, Molek) was traditionally thought to be a Canaanite god that was worshiped through child sacrifice. For the last 100 or so years, this has been questioned and the word “Molech” has been interpreted as referring to the sacrifice itself, rather than the deity. While this thought has become increasingly popular, it is still contested and both sides cite the same archaeological evidence (child burials) to support their opposite positions. Regardless of the actual correct interpretation, there are several references to Moloch in the Bible. Three are cited here:

“You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 18:21 ESV)

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, 5 then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.(Leviticus 20:1-5 ESV)

42But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’(Acts 7: 42-43 ESV)

The quote from Acts is particularly interesting and its importance will be covered in greater detail in the “Where the idea comes from:” section.

What we are told:

Moloch is considered to be a territorial demon worshiped as a pagan god that demands child sacrifices, and therefore the Spirit of Moloch has been tied to abortion by modern teachers.

Where the idea comes from: The belief in a Spirit of Moloch comes from the many mentions in scripture. Though it is never named as a “spirit”, the connection as a pagan deity is obvious. Descriptions of the Moloch idol exist, but these all come from Middle Ages authors and the various images of Moloch idols that can be found on the Internet come from much later periods. To date, no archaeological evidence of these idols has been found.

What is important to note is that at one time Moloch was considered to be a territorial demon limited to the areas where it was worshiped, but in modern times has become popularly associated with a free-ranging spirit that is tied to child sacrifice. Territorial demons are believed to be evil entities that are associated with specific places and this idea is definitely supported many places in the Bible. The most definitive can be found in Deuteronomy 32:8-9:

8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 9 But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.(Deuteronomy32:8-9 ESV)

This quote from scripture has been interpreted to mean that as God divided the nations, He placed them under supernatural control of different spiritual entities (the sons of God), keeping the nation of Israel (Jacob) for Himself.

The idea of territorial demons is supported in many other passages and we will give a few here. The first is found in the book of Daniel. In the tenth chapter of that book, Daniel is visited by an angel, who has been sent to explain what will become of the Jews in Babylonian exile.

11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” (Daniel 10: 11-14 ESV)

These verses have been interpreted to mean that an evil territorial spirit (the prince of the kingdom of Persia – which is in modern day Iran) withstood the angelic messenger sent to Daniel and captured him, but he was freed by the archangel Michael.

Paul adds to this in 1 Corinthians.

19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.( 1 Corinthians 10: 19-20 ESV)

In other words, these quotes from the Scriptures are taken to mean that the deities worshiped by pagans are demons and spiritual beings allowed to control and have influence over certain territories for a time. They are tied to a specific geographical location and dominate the spiritual attacks in that area. In addition to the territorial demons that are known ancient pagan gods, others have been named by some scholars. These include the Queen of Heaven (which is believed to control equatorial regions) and Leviathan (the Mediterranean Sea). Many verses throughout the Bible support the idea of territorial spirits in other narratives.

Conclusion: There is Biblical support for the idea of Molech as a territorial demon in Cannan, but scripture does not tell us if such spirits can relocate to influence other nations. And while a mental association with child sacrifices and abortion is reasonable, we only have speculation that the evil entity called Molech is behind the promotion of abortion in places like the United States. Other evil entities such as the Queen of Heaven and Leviathan controlling the geographical areas of the equatorial regions and the Mediterranean Sea are new teachings.

The Spirit of Python

From the Bible: The Spirit of Python may be one of “Spirit of …” phrases in the Bible that is truly referring to an evil spiritual being. In the Book of Acts we find this verse:

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. (Acts 16:16 ESV)

If that sentence is read in the original Greek text, “spirit of divination” is written as “spirit of Python”. The reason for this is that the phrase “Spirit of Python” is a Greek idiom used in the ancient world to mean that a person can foresee the future.

In Greek mythology, Python was a huge serpent that was killed by the god Apollo in a cleft of rock where the Oracle of Delphi was located. The Oracle of Delphi was a young priestess that had been gifted with the divination and fortune telling from the serpent- thus, the phrase having Spirit of Python obtained its meaning. Other versions of the legend hold that it was the fumes from the decaying body of the huge serpent that gave her this ability.

What we are told: The Spirit of Python is an evil being that seeks to squeeze the life out of relationships and churches. It does this by constricting manipulation and it can even cause stroke-like symptoms in people as if it is depriving them of oxygen.

Where the idea comes from: Some still correctly associate “The Spirit of Python” with divination, but most that believe in such a spirit have adopted a completely new set of characteristics for the entity. They base their assumptions on the constrictor snake known as the python instead of the original meaning found in scripture. They have turned away from the interpretation of the Greek idiom and believe that the spirit is named for its “constricting” type attacks.

Conclusion: Biblical evidence makes it very clear that the Spirit of Python means something entirely different from present day interpretation in some Christian circles.

What follows is a list of other “Spirits of …” that are commonly referred to by those that following these sorts of teachings. Most of these names come from people mentioned in the Bible that are believed to have had these spirits. A few are pagan deities that are thought to now go about influencing individuals or churches through demonic attacks. Beside each name are the behaviors associated with that particular spirit.

Spirit of Absalom – flatters people, gossip, remove pastor, split the church, or start a new church

Spirit of Ammon – incest, perversion, abortion

Spirit of Ashtoreth lust, sensuality, debauchery

Spirit of Korah- rebellion, sedition

Spirit of Leviathan – pride, works to twist communication, create misunderstanding, and damage or break relationship.

Spirit of Mammon- money, idolatry, materialism

Spirit of Rachel- refusing comfort

Spirit of Rahab- pride

What We Can Know

Returning to the three main concepts behind the teachings on naming evil spirits and commanding them by name that was introduced at the beginning of this chapter, we find that there is a mixture of Biblical support for some of the ideas. But many of the other teachings seem to be recent inventions or reinterpretations of scripture.

Concept 1: There is a list of known common spiritual beings that regularly influence or even possess Christians.

While some evil spirits are definitely named in the Bible, many of the others that have become a part of a newly taught theology appear to be recent additions to Christian beliefs. Some of the evil spirits that are found in the Bible are now believed to be considerably different from what was taught about them originally or have characteristics that have recently changed.

Concept 2: These beings can be identified or diagnosed by human behavior.

What is assumed to be demonic influence or even possession may simply be human behavior. There has arisen a new trend in developing lists of evil spirits and associating them with how people act. Some of the “spirits” identified in these lists may only come from misinterpretation of scripture.

Concept 3: These spiritual beings can be controlled if they are properly identified and their name is known.

There is no known scriptural reference that would indicate spirits can be controlled by knowing their name or that their name must be known in order to cast them out. This teaching seems to come from pagan religions and a misunderstanding of 400 year old exorcism rites.

References

The links below are provided as references and resources for additional study. We do not have any affiliation with these Websites or the organizations that publish them. We do not necessarily agree or disagree with anything on the sites or endorse any of the information found at the links. The links are for additional research on the part of the reader and are based on supporting sources that could be verified through an Internet search. Which links the search produced was more due to ease and dependability of access than church or denominational association.