In Proverbs 6, the Bible lists the 7 things that the Lord hates. These are:

• A proud look (haughty eyes)
• a lying tongue
• hands that shed innocent blood
• a heart that devises wicked schemes
• feet that are quick to rush into evil
• a false witness who pours out lies
• a person who stirs up conflict in the community

Even though the Bible doesn’t say it directly, it is believed that these 7 sins also correspond to the 7 princes (demons/devils) of hell. 

Names of the 7 Princes of Hell

The 7 princes of hell, also referred to as the 7 devils, are Lucifer, Mammon, leviathan, sloth, Belphegor, and Beelzebub. 

Let us take a closer look at each of these in more detail below. 

Lucifer – The Morning Star

Lucifer is also referred to as the morning star. The Bible mentions Lucifer in the following scripture;

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! Isaiah 14:12

Some of the modern English translations replace the name Lucifer with a transliterated phrase that emphasizes Lucifer’s meaning in Latin. The name Lucifer means “light-bringer” or “morning star” in Latin. Lucifer is portrayed as the fallen angel who led a revolt in heaven. His goal was to usurp God’s authority due to the pride that came into his life. 

The name of Lucifer, which means “light-bringer” explains why he if often thought of as the bringer of truth. The Apostle Paul warned about him by saying that the devil masquerades as an angel of light. His goal is to pervert God’s knowledge and offer an alternate knowledge that he passes as truth. 

Leviathan – The Serpent of the Deep

The Bible describes Leviathan as a monstrous creature that dwells in the sea. Leviathan is mentioned in three Old Testament books – Isaiah, Psalms, and Job. Here is one of the noteworthy mentions;

In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, With His fierce and great and mighty sword, Even Leviathan the twisted serpent; And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea. Isaiah 27:1

Leviathan is described as a dweller of the sea to denote his chaotic nature. In the book of Job 41, Leviathan is depicted as uncontrollable and this is because he represents the uncontrollable desires of the flesh.

Asmodeus – The Demon of Lust

Asmodeus is not mentioned in the canonized protestant Bible. However, the book of Tobit (one of the deuterocanonical books) mentions him and portrays him as one driven by the lust of the flesh. The name Asmodeus most likely originates from Persian and Hebrew sources. The Hebrews describe Asmodeous as the demon that is in charge of several vices but especially lust. 

Because he is personified as the demon of lust, Asmodeus is also thought of as the demon of impurity and debauchery. He entices people with an intense and often destructive sexual desire. His character reminds individuals of the importance of temperance and ethical conduct in matters of sexuality and the potential for such desires to lead them away from the path of virtue.

Satan – The Accuser

Satan needs no introduction as he is one of the most referenced princes of hell. The name satan is derived from a Hebrew word that loosely translates to “accuser” or adversary. This may explain why satan is in charge of many things but the most prominent description he has from scripture is that of accuser or adversary. For instance, in Job 1:6, we read an interesting story of a time when the angels were before God and satan also came with one primary goal – to accuse Job. In Revelation 12, scripture records how the accuser of brethren was overcome by the blood of the lamb and by the word of testimony. 

Satan tempts Christians in order to find an occasion against them. In Matthew 4, we see him tempting Jesus 4 times and after Jesus overcame, he left him for a season. This implies that he is always looking for another opportunity to tempt God’s people. This is why scripture warns;

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5:8

Belphegor – The Demon of Sloth

Belphegor is one of the seven devils or princes of Hell, and he is primarily associated with the sin of sloth. His character embodies the concept of spiritual and moral laziness, and his name has origins in various religious and mythological traditions.

The name Belphegor originated from Moabite and Canaanite cultures and it is given to the demon of sloth who represents the sin of laziness. This demon tempts people into apathy and laziness and discourages them from making responsible decisions with their time. He encourages people to waste their potential, squandering their time and abilities on trivial or self-indulgent pursuits.

Mammon – The Pursuit of Wealth

Jesus talked about mammon in Mathew 6:24 when he was teaching about money. From this context, we can infer that mammon is the demon that entices people to focus extensively in the pursuit of money to the extent that nothing else matters. Mammon fills people’s hearts with greed and an insatiable appetite for material gain. 

The demon of Mammon normalizes corruption, murder, and all kinds of evil acts that are performed in the pursuit of wealth. This demon entices people to accumulate riches without caring about the cost. Jesus sternly warned that it wouldn’t benefit anyone to gain everything mammon has to offer and yet lose their soul. 

Beelzebub – The Lord of Flies

Beelzebub, also referred to as the Lord of the Flies,  is the prince of gluttony. The name Beelzebub has its origins in Canaanite cultures but the name is mentioned in the New Testament when the Pharisees accused Jesus of being under the power of Beelzebub (Luke 11:15). 

Beelzebub is in charge of making people to have an excessive consumption of food and drink. As such, people will lack self-control and they will overindulge irrespective of the consequences. Beelzebub is called the lord of flies to represent the flies that swarm on leftover food. The symbolism is the insatiable appetite he brings to ensure his victims lose temperance and self-control. 

Conclusion

Just as the kingdom of God is organized in ranks, so is the devil’s kingdom. Even though there is some truth in using the devil’s names interchangeably, it is a good idea to know that there are different princes all with different assignments. This can also help you in spiritual warfare because you will know which demon you are dealing with.