DEMON (δαιμόνιον, daimonion). A supernatural being: a spirit, a divine force, a semi-divine being, an evil spirit, or a malevolent force.
Terminology
The word did not always have a negative connotation. Usually the Greek rendering of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, translated the Hebrew term שׁד (shd) as demon (δαιμόνιον, daimonion).
Demons in the Old Testament
There are traces of demons and various evil spirits scattered throughout the literature.
Demons
There was a conviction in the Old Testament period that some foreign gods were types of demons. At times, Israel sacrificed to these demons (Deut 32:17). Israel is condemned for sacrificing her own sons and daughters to these demons (Psa 106:37). In these contexts, the demons are not deities, but less powerful spirits. These are mentioned in Mesopotamian texts as defenders of various people and places (Ciampa and Rosner, “First Corinthians,” 728).
