King James Version

What Does Luke 11:15 Mean?

Luke 11:15 in the King James Version says “But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. Beelzebub: Gr. Beelzebul” — study this verse from Luke chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. Beelzebub: Gr. Beelzebul”

Luke 11:15 · KJV

Context

13

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

14

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

15

But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. Beelzebub: Gr. Beelzebul

16

And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

17

But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

Read Luke 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. This verse records the ultimate blasphemy: attributing Jesus' works to Satan. The name "Beelzebub" (Βεελζεβούλ, Beelzeboul) derives from the Philistine deity Baal-zebub ("lord of flies," 2 Kings 1:2) but had become a Jewish title for Satan as "lord of the dwelling" or prince of demons. Calling him "chief of the devils" (ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων, archonti tōn daimoniōn) acknowledges a hierarchical demonic kingdom.

The accusation is strategically wicked: unable to deny the miracle's reality, Jesus' opponents reinterpret its source. This foreshadows Matthew 12:31-32's warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—persistently attributing God's redemptive work to Satan crosses into unforgivable territory. The charge also reveals the Pharisees' spiritual blindness: they so thoroughly rejected Jesus that they preferred to believe God's Messiah was Satan's agent rather than acknowledge His divine authority. This demonstrates how religious tradition and pride can harden hearts against truth.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Beelzebub accusation appears in all three Synoptic Gospels, indicating its prominence in Jewish opposition to Jesus. Attributing miraculous power to demons rather than God protected the Pharisees' authority—if Jesus operated by God's power, their rejection of Him was rebellion against God. By claiming demonic collusion, they could dismiss His works while maintaining their own religious credentials. This accusation would later be used against Christians (see Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho), showing how entrenched this polemic became.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the Pharisees' willingness to attribute obvious good (healing) to Satan reveal about the depths of spiritual blindness?
  2. How does this accusation illustrate the danger of religious systems that prioritize institutional authority over truth?
  3. In what ways might contemporary Christianity be tempted to dismiss genuine moves of God because they don't fit our theological frameworks?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 13 words
τινὲς1 of 13

“some”

G5100

some or any person or object

δὲ2 of 13

“But”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἐξ3 of 13

“of”

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

αὐτῶν4 of 13

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

εἶπον5 of 13

“said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

Ἐν6 of 13

“through”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

Βεελζεβοὺλ7 of 13

“Beelzebub”

G954

dung-god; beelzebul, a name of satan

ἄρχοντι8 of 13

“the chief”

G758

a first (in rank or power)

τῶν9 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δαιμόνια·10 of 13

“devils”

G1140

a daemonic being; by extension a deity

ἐκβάλλει11 of 13

“He casteth out”

G1544

to eject (literally or figuratively)

τὰ12 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δαιμόνια·13 of 13

“devils”

G1140

a daemonic being; by extension a deity

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 11:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 11:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 9:34John 10:20John 8:52John 7:20John 8:48Luke 11:18-19

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Luke 11 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterLuke Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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