δαίμων
daímōn
G1142 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A supernatural being or spirit, often regarded as having influence over human affairs. In Greek usage, δαίμων refers primarily to a lesser divine power or intermediary spirit, which could be either benevolent or malevolent depending on the context. The term's core meaning is that of a spiritual entity or numinous power, but in later Hellenistic and early Christian contexts the focus shifts increasingly to harmful or evil spirits.
Semantic Range
supernatural spirit, divine being, intermediary spirit, fate/fortune-causing entity, minor deity, benevolent spirit, evil spirit, demon (in later/Christian context)
Root / Etymology
From the root δαίω (to divide, allot, distribute), with the sense of 'one who allots destinies.' The noun δαίμων originally referred to a divine distributer of fortune or fate, not exclusively negative in connotation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, δαίμων denoted a divine power, fate, or a supernatural being intermediary between gods and humans, often morally neutral or even beneficent. Homer and Hesiod use δαίμων and θεός (god) almost interchangeably, with δαίμων emphasizing the mysterious or fateful aspect of divine action. Plato, however, distinguishes δαίμονες as intermediary spirits. In Hellenistic and Roman era Greek, δαίμων came to include both benevolent and evil supernatural beings, but in popular usage and under Oriental influence (including in Jewish Hellenistic literature and the Septuagint), it shifts toward the sense of harmful or evil spirits. In the New Testament, δαίμων appears only rarely (distinct from the more common δαιμόνιον), and usually refers specifically to evil spirits perceived as afflicting or possessing humans, not simply as generic 'devils' or personifications of cosmic evil. Standard English translations such as 'devil' or 'demon' do not fully convey the broader classical range and culturally varied understandings of δαίμων, which lacks the absolute moral polarity of later Christian demonology. Used sparingly in NT and LXX; more prevalent in secular and philosophical texts. Distinct from ἄγγελος ('messenger, angel') and θεός ('god').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (to distribute fortunes); a dæmon or supernatural spirit (of a bad nature):--devil.
Root Family
δαίμων (daimōn) — supernatural spirit, intermediary divine being, allotter of fate, numinous power
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1142-01 |
δαίμονες | daimones | N NOM M PL |
demons | fate-allotting spirits | fate-allotting spirits | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1142-01 |
Matthew 8:31 | δαίμονες | daimones | N NOM M PL |
demons | fate-allotting spirits | fate-allotting spirits |