In Christian demonology, Beelzebub is commonly known as the “Lord of the Flies.” The name ultimately derives from Baal-zebub, a deity associated with the Philistine city of Ekron.
Beelzebub’s identity changed as religious traditions developed. A figure connected with a non-Israelite god was reinterpreted in Jewish and Christian sources as a demonic power. The name appears in the New Testament in discussions of an accusation that Jesus cast out demons by the authority of Beelzebul, or the ruler of demons.
Later demonological works gave Beelzebub a prominent place among the princes or chief demons of Hell. In some classifications he represents gluttony, while other accounts associate him with pride, deception, or corruption. The translation “Lord of the Flies” is famous, though the precise history and wording of the name have been debated.
Beelzebub is often confused with Satan or Lucifer because later demonologies sometimes rank all three among Hell’s major figures. They are not simply different spellings of one universally defined character; their roles vary across biblical interpretation, theology, folklore, and occult literature.