What Are the Demons of the Seven Deadly Sins?

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The seven deadly sins are character vices and the origin of sins, dating back to early Christian times. The seven deadly sins are wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. In 1589 German bishop Peter Binsfeld coupled each sin with a demon responsible for the temptation related to the sin.

1 Lucifer

"Lucifer" usually refers to the great angel cast to hell. However, in the two places in the Bible where the term appears (Isaiah 14:3–20 and 2 Peter 1:19), the word "Lucifer" means to the Morning Star -- the appearance of Venus in dawn. Only since the New Testament has the title changed to mean a demon responsible for the sin of pride.

2 Mammon

Mammon, in the Christian Bible, refers to wealth and greed. Matthew 6:24 personifies Mammon as a false god: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

3 Asmodeus

Asmodeus is the king of demons, appearing, among other books, in the Kabbalah and Book of Tobit. He is accountable for lust, and distorts sexual desires. Those who succumb to these sins spend eternity in the second level of hell.

4 Leviathan

Leviathan is a sea monster and the gatekeeper to hell, mentioned six times in the Hebrew Bible. He is similar to serpent demons found in ancient Near Eastern mythology. Leviathan is the demon of envy in the seven deadly sins.

5 Beelzebub

The name "Beelzebub" literally translates to "Lord of the Flies". He was a Semitic deity, worshipped in the Philistine city, Ekron. Beelzebub is responsible for sins of gluttony. He appears in the Bible in 2 Kings 1:2: "Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury."

6 Satan

Satan is accountable for sins of wrath in the seven deadly sins. Exiled from heaven, Satan is the antagonist of God and tempts mankind to rebuff Him. Revelations 12:9 mentions Satan: "The dragon, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan" and later at 20.2 as "the deceiver."

7 Belphegor

Belphegor aids people in the creation of inventions to bring them wealth. His power is stronger in the month of April, according to some 16th century demonologists. Binsfeld designated Belphegor as the demon of sloth, from a belief that Belphegor's seductions stem from laziness. He also symbolizes vanity.

Laura Jean Holton is a professional writer specializing in a diverse range of topics, including education, pets, music and history. She also writes articles about hair styles, care and trends for the Vissa Studios website.

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