The ink was black, the paper rough. The scribe’s hand paused at the 68th spirit. The grimoire warned that this demon would not bow. Of all the kings of hell, Belial is the one who refuses to kneel. His relationship with other demons is defined by that refusal: he is the lawless one, the independent sovereign who answers to no throne.
Belial is a demon of lawlessness, rebellion, and independence. In the goetic hierarchy he is a king who commands 80 legions, but unlike other demons he does not serve a higher master. His relationship with other demons ranges from rivalry with Satan to uneasy alliance with Lucifer, and his position in the infernal hierarchy remains contested across centuries of demonological literature.
Where the Name “Belial” Comes From
The Hebrew word beliyya‘al appears dozens of times in the Old Testament, meaning “worthlessness” or “destruction.” It is a label, not a name. “Sons of Belial” meant worthless men (Deuteronomy 13:13, 1 Samuel 2:12). The word carried no personality. It was a category of moral failure.
That changed in the Second Temple period. The Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically the War Scroll (1QM, c. 1st century BCE), give Belial a face. He is the chief of the sons of darkness, the angel of malevolence, the leader of the forces that oppose God. The community at Qumran saw history as a war between Belial and the Prince of Light. Belial was no longer a label. He was a commander of armies.
The Book of Jubilees (c. 2nd century BCE) reinforces this. Belial is the accuser, the one who speaks against Israel. He is not yet a king of hell. He is a cosmic enemy, a figure of absolute opposition.
How Belial Entered the Grimoires
The shift from biblical adversary to goetic king happened through medieval Christian demonology. The Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1583) by Johann Weyer lists Belial as a king who appears in the form of two beautiful angels seated in a chariot of fire. He grants favors, promotions, and the favor of friends and enemies. But Weyer warns: Belial will not accept a sacrifice unless the magician is worthy. He tests the summoner.
The Lesser Key of Solomon (17th century) repeats this. Belial is the 68th spirit, a king who commands 80 legions. He gives excellent familiars and makes men immune to political influence. The grimoires present him as a demon who must be treated with respect. He is not a servant. He is a monarch who negotiates.
In the Dictionnaire Infernal (1818, expanded 1863), Collin de Plancy illustrates Belial as a crowned figure on a throne, a book in one hand, a scepter in the other. He is a judge, not a warrior. The image reinforces his independence.
Belial Versus Satan: The Core Rivalry
The most important relationship in the infernal hierarchy is the one between Belial and Satan. The two are often confused, but the traditions separate them sharply.
Satan is the adversary, the accuser, the tempter. He works within God’s permission, as in the Book of Job. He is a prosecutor in the divine court. His role is opposition to humanity, but not necessarily rebellion against God’s order.
Belial is the lawless one. He does not accuse. He does not tempt. He breaks. The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs (2nd century BCE) says Belial is “the spirit of error and blindness” and that his weapons are fornication, pride, and the love of money. But his core is rebellion against structure itself.
Early Christian writers, including Tertullian and Origen, sometimes equated Belial with Antichrist. The Apostolic Constitutions (4th century) says “Belial is the angel of lawlessness.” This places him outside the hierarchy of hell. He is not a prince under Satan. He is a rival power.
The consequence for the practitioner: when summoning, Satan may be addressed as a king of hell with a defined role. Belial will not accept that framing. He answers to no one. We have seen experienced magicians pause at his name. He is the demon who makes the circle feel thin.
Belial, Lucifer, and Beelzebub: The Three Kings
The Goetia lists three kings of hell: Bael, Beleth, and Belial. But later traditions, especially in ceremonial magic, group Belial with Lucifer and Beelzebub as a triumvirate. This is a Renaissance invention, not a medieval one.
Lucifer is the light-bringer, the fallen angel of pride. His rebellion is a single act of defiance. He is the morning star who fell.
Beelzebub is the lord of flies, associated with gluttony and decay. In the Malleus Maleficarum (1487), he is the second in command after Satan.
Belial is the lawless one. The three are sometimes said to rule the three degrees of demons: Lucifer over the proud, Beelzebub over the gluttonous, Belial over the rebellious. But this classification is loose. No single text agrees on the hierarchy.
The Grimorium Verum (18th century) places Belial as a supreme spirit, but warns that he is “the most dangerous” because he will not be controlled. He is the demon who breaks the circle.
Why Belial Is Considered Difficult to Summon
Every grimoire that mentions Belial adds a caution. The Lesser Key of Solomon says he “will not be forced to obey.” The Lemegeton advises that the summoner must be of pure intent and not greedy. Belial tests the magician’s character.
This is not a decorative warning. It shapes the practical relationship. A magician who treats Belial as a servant will get nothing. The demon is not hostile; he is indifferent to hierarchy. Offerings must be given freely, not demanded. Some sources say he requires the first gift to be a sacrifice of blood, but this is a late addition, likely from the Grand Grimoire (18th century). Earlier texts say he accepts incense and a written request.
The human consequence: we have seen practitioners who summon Belial without preparation. They report the circle felt cold, the incense died, the candle guttered. He is not a demon to summon on a whim.
Common Misconceptions About Belial’s Relationships
Belial is not a demon of lust. Some modern texts confuse him with Belphegor or Asmodeus. The word “belial” was sometimes used in medieval English to mean “worthless” or “wicked,” and later writers assumed he was a demon of depravity. The grimoires do not support this. He is a king of rebellion, not of sexual sin.
Belial is not Satan. This is the most persistent error. The two are distinct in both biblical and grimoire traditions. Satan is the adversary. Belial is the lawless one. They sometimes work together, but they are not the same entity.
Belial is not subordinate to Lucifer. Renaissance hierarchies sometimes placed Lucifer as the supreme, but the Goetia does not. Belial is a king in his own right. He does not bow.
FAQ
Is Belial the same as Satan?
No. Satan is the adversary and accuser in the biblical tradition. Belial is the angel of lawlessness, a separate figure who refuses all hierarchy.
What rank does Belial hold in the infernal hierarchy?
In the Goetia he is a king commanding 80 legions. In the Dictionnaire Infernal he is a prince. His rank varies by source, but he is always high.
Why is Belial considered hard to summon?
He tests the magician’s intent. The grimoires say he will not obey unless the summoner is worthy and the offerings are sincere. He is not a demon to command.
How does Belial relate to Lucifer?
They are sometimes grouped as a triumvirate of supreme kings, but Belial is not subordinate to Lucifer. Medieval texts treat them as separate rulers with different domains.
The Thread That Connects
Belial’s relationship with other demons is not a matter of alliance or war. It is a matter of refusal. He is the one who stands apart. In a hierarchy built on submission, he is the crack in the throne. His independence is what makes him useful to the magician who knows how to work with it.
For a deeper look at the infernal court, see our guide to Demonology and the Goetia. The demonic hierarchy page explains how the grimoires organize the spirits. And for a full breakdown of the 72 spirits, read The 72 Demons of the Goetia Explained.