Greek word · G1139

δαιμονίζομαι

daimonizomai

be demonised

'To be under the power or influence of a daimonion (demon).' BDAG glosses it 'be possessed by a hostile spirit'. It is formed from daimōn/daimonion.

Appears 13 times in 13 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δαιμονίζομαι

(in cl. also δαιμονάω; δαίμων), [in Aq.: Psalm 91:6 * ;]

to be under the power of a δαίμων (δαιμόνιον, which see), to be possessed: Matthew 15:22; elsewhere always ptcp., -ιζόμενος, -ισθείς: Matthew 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33 9:32 12:22, Mark 1:32 15 16 18, Luke 8:36, John 10:21 (Cremer, 171).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 8:16

Range of meaning

'To be under the power or influence of a daimonion (demon).' BDAG glosses it 'be possessed by a hostile spirit'. It is formed from daimōn/daimonion. In use it describes a person afflicted, controlled, or tormented by a spirit, with symptoms that range from muteness (9:32) and blindness (12:22) to violence (8:28) and seizures (17:15, 18).

Against the English

Most English versions say 'demon-possessed' or 'possessed with devils'. YLT's 'demoniacs' and a strict 'demonized' stay closer to the single Greek verb. ESV here reads 'oppressed by demons', which is softer than 'possessed'.

How it drifted

'Possession' in English suggests ownership or full takeover of the self. That picture was reinforced by later Christian exorcism manuals and by modern films, and it made 'possessed vs. merely oppressed' a matter of debate. The Greek verb makes no such distinction. It simply says a person is suffering under a demon's influence, to whatever degree.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare before the NT. It appears in later Greek (e.g., Plutarch and Philemon the comic poet) in the sense 'be out of one's mind under a daimōn'. In the LXX, daimonia are the 'gods of the nations' (Ps 95:5 LXX; Deut 32:17). In Second Temple Jewish texts, evil spirits trouble people (Tobit 3:8; 6:8; 1 Enoch 15:8–12, where the spirits of the giants 'rise up against' humans; Jubilees 10:1–14). Josephus writes of demons entering people (Antiquities 8.45–48; Jewish War 7.185).

From the study of Matthew 4:24

Range of meaning

To be under the power or influence of a daimonion, an evil spirit (BDAG). In older Greek a daimōn could be any divine or semi-divine power, good or bad. In Jewish Greek, daimonia are the gods of the nations (Ps 95:5 LXX; Deut 32:17 LXX) and harmful spirits (Tobit's Asmodeus).

Against the English

KJV has 'possessed with devils'. BSB and NLT have 'demon-possessed'. ESV has 'oppressed by demons'. NASB has 'demoniacs'. WEB has 'possessed with demons'. YLT has 'demoniacs'.

How it drifted

'Possessed' suggests ownership and one fixed condition, but the Greek is just a verb, 'being demonised', and covers different levels of affliction. The KJV's 'devils' blurs daimonia (many spirits) with ho diabolos, 'the devil', a word the New Testament uses for one figure only, the accuser.

Used elsewhere in the period

Josephus (Antiquities 8.45–49) describes the Jewish exorcist Eleazar driving out a demon in front of Vespasian. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain incantations against spirits (11Q11, 4Q510–511). Elsewhere the verb appears in Matt 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22.

From the study of Matthew 15:22

Range of meaning

"To be demonized": to be under the influence or control of a daimonion (an evil spirit), shown in illness, seizures, muteness, violence or derangement. In wider Greek, daimonion could mean any lesser divine power, even a good one (Socrates' guiding "daimonion"). In Jewish usage it means hostile, unclean spirits.

Against the English

BSB/WEB/NIV/NASB: "possessed" or "demon-possessed"; ESV: "oppressed by a demon"; KJV: "vexed with a devil"; YLT: "demonized". The Greek has no word for "possess". The KJV's "devil" merges daimonion (one of many spirits) with diabolos (the Devil, Satan).

How it drifted

"Possession" became the standard English term through later demonology and exorcism practice. The KJV's "devil" comes from older English, which used one word for both Greek terms.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint Ps 95:5 (96:5): "all the gods of the nations are daimonia". The idea that Gentile lands and gods were bound up with demons was common Jewish thought (Deut 32:17; 1 Enoch 19:1; Jubilees 22:17). Matthew uses the verb for the afflicted in 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 7

  1. Matthew 4:24 δαιμονιζομένους those being demonised

    News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.

    Here: People troubled or controlled by a daimonion, an evil spirit. Greek uses one verb for this, 'being demonised'; there is no noun for 'possession'.

  2. Matthew 8:16 δαιμονιζομένους being demonised

    When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

    Here: 'People being demonized': people afflicted by, under the influence of, a daimonion (an evil spirit). The present participle describes an ongoing condition. The word says a demon is affecting the person. It does not by itself say anything about ownership.

  3. Matthew 8:28 δαιμονιζόμενοι being demonised

    When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, He was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

    Here: "Being demonized": present tense, an ongoing condition of being under a demon's power. The word names the affliction. It does not spell out a theory of ownership or how far the control went.

  4. Matthew 8:33 δαιμονιζομένων. being demonised.

    Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men.

    Here: 'The ones being demonized': the two men from v. 28. The participle still names them by their former condition, because that is how the town knew them: as the dangerous men of the tombs.

  5. Matthew 9:32 δαιμονιζόμενον. demonised.

    As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.

  6. Matthew 12:22 δαιμονιζόμενος [one] being demonised

    Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see.

    Here: A present participle (a verb form used here like a noun) meaning "one being demonized". It describes a continuing condition of being in a demon's grip. Matthew uses it as the main label for the man, and his blindness and muteness come after it as descriptions.

  7. Matthew 15:22 δαιμονίζεται.¶ is demonised.

    And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”

    Here: Present tense: she is under a demon's power right now. The Greek is a single verb, "is being demonized". It describes a state of being afflicted and controlled, not a demon "owning" her.

Mark · 4

  1. Mark 1:32 δαιμονιζομένους· being demonised;

    That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed,

    Here: 'Those being demonized': people under the hostile influence or control of a daimonion, an unclean spirit like the one cast out in the synagogue that same day (1:23–26). The present tense describes their ongoing condition.

  2. Mark 5:15 δαιμονιζόμενον being demonised

    When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

    Here: A present-tense participle used as a label: 'the demoniac', the man everyone knew by that name. The irony is that the label no longer fits. 'The demoniac' is sitting there sane.

  3. Mark 5:16 δαιμονιζομένῳ being demonised

    Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs.

  4. Mark 5:18 δαιμονισθεὶς having been demonised

    As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 8:36 δαιμονισθείς. having been demonised.

    Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

John · 1

  1. John 10:21 δαιμονιζομένου· of one demonised;

    But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

    Here: 'Of a person under a demon's control.' The genitive case means the words are not the kind that come from such a person. It answers the charge in v. 20 that Jesus 'has a demon and is raving mad'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.