“Beelzebul. The Greek is Beelzeboul (#954 Βεελζεβούλ), which gets put into English as “Beelzebul.” He is called the “prince of demons” in Luke 11:15. “Beelzeboul” is “lord of the dunghill.” This comes from the Hebrew zebul (dung, a dunghill).

[For more on the name Beelzebul and other names of the Slanderer (the Devil), see Appendix 14: “Names of the Devil.”]

The versions differ as to whether this is one statement by the scribes, or two statements. The Greek could go either way, but it seems like the people who were accusing Jesus of having Beelzebul also said that was how Jesus was casting out demons.

“the ruler of the demons.” This phrase is used in part to describe Beelzebul, in the first part of the verse, so from it, one thing we know is that the Jews were considering Beelzebul to be the ruler of the demons or to us, another name for the Slanderer (Devil). The Greek word translated “ruler” is archon (#758 ἄρχων), which is from archē, “first,” and it means the one who is first, thus the “ruler, commander, chief,” etc.

[For more on the names of the Devil, see Appendix 14: “Names of the Devil.”]