Demon, Demoniac - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Demon, Demoniac
[ A-1,Noun,G1142, daimon ]a demon," signified, among pagan Greeks, an inferior deity, whether good or bad. In the NT it denotes "an evil spirit." It is used in Matthew 8:31, mistranslated "devils." Some would derive the word from a root da---, meaning "to distribute." More probably it is from a similar root da---, meaning "to know," and hence means "a knowing one."
[ A-2,Noun,G1140, daimonion ]
not a diminutive of daimon, No. 1, but the neuter of the adjective daimonios, pertaining to a demon, is also mistranslated "devil," "devils." In Acts 17:18, it denotes an inferior pagan deity. "Demons" are the spiritual agents acting in all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a "demon" associated with it who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices, 1 Corinthians 10:20,21; Revelation 9:20; cp. Deuteronomy 32:17; Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 34:14; Isaiah 65:3,11. They disseminate errors among men, and seek to seduce believers, 1 Timothy 4:1. As seducing spirits they deceive men into the supposition that through mediums (those who have "familiar spirits," Leviticus 20:6,27, e.g.) they can converse with deceased human beings. Hence the destructive deception of spiritism, forbidden in Scripture, Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:11; Isaiah 8:19. "Demons" tremble before God, James 2:19; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41. Christ cast them out of human beings by His own power. His disciples did so in His name, and by exercising faith, e.g., Matthew 17:20.
Acting under Satan (cp. Revelation 16:13,14), "demons" are permitted to afflict with bodily disease, Luke 13:16. Being unclean they tempt human beings with unclean thoughts, Matthew 10:1; Mark 5:2; Mark 7:25; Luke 8:27-Luke 8:29; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 18:2, e.g. They differ in degrees of wickedness, Matthew 12:45. They will instigate the rulers of the nations at the end of this age to make war against God and His Christ, Revelation 16:14. See DEVIL.
[ B-1,Verb,G1139, daimonizomai ]
signifies "to be possessed of a demon, to act under the control of a demon." Those who were thus afflicted expressed the mind and consciousness of the "demon" or "demons" indwelling them, e.g., Luke 8:28. The verb is found chiefly in Matt. and Mark; Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:16,28,33; Matthew 9:32; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 15:22; Mark 1:32; Mark 5:15,16,18; elsewhere in Luke 8:36; John 10:21, "him that hath a devil (demon)."
[ C-1,Adjective,G1141, daimoniodes ]
signifies "proceeding from, or resembling, a demon, demoniacal;" See marg. of James 3:15, RV (text, "devilish").