Lexical Summary shed: Demon, evil spirit Original Word: שֵׁד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance devil From shuwd; a doemon (as malignant) -- devil. see HEBREW shuwd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition probably demon NASB Translation demons (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שֵׁד] noun [masculine] apparently demon (loan-word from Assyrian šêdu, a protecting spirit, especially of bull-colossus, DlPa 153 f.; WB 645 COTDeuteronomy 32:17 ZimKAT3. 460 f., 455, 649; compare Aramaic שֵׁידָא,  demon, and (perhaps) Phoenician proper name גדשד NöZMG xiii (1888), 481 Lzb249; originally √שׁוד ( = Arabic  rule) according to Thes BaudSemitic Rei. i. 130 ff. DlWB and others; > Arabic  (III, IV aid, HomZMG xlvi (1892), 529, against this Ziml. c); — יִזְבְּחוּ לַשֵּׁדִים לֹא אֱלֹהַּ Deuteronomy 32:17 (compare Dr), Psalm 106:37 (human sacrifice). Topical Lexicon Term and Definition שֵּׁד (shed) denotes a malignant spiritual being, commonly rendered “demon.” While neighboring cultures may have viewed similar spirits as ambivalent or even protective, Scripture consistently portrays shedim as hostile entities opposed to the worship of the LORD. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Deuteronomy 32:17: “They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods that your fathers did not fear.” Both texts occur in contexts of covenant infidelity, underlining the intimate link between demon-worship and idolatry. Historical Background The word bears similarity to the Akkadian “shedu,” supernatural beings often depicted as winged bulls or lions. Israel’s prophets, however, strip such beings of any protective aura, exposing them as demonic forces masquerading behind idols. This polemic confronts syncretism in the land of Canaan and later in post-exilic contexts where foreign deities tempted Israel. Theological Significance 1. Monotheism Guarded: By labeling the objects of pagan sacrifice “demons,” Scripture affirms that any worship not directed to the true God aligns with hostile spirits (compare Isaiah 44:9-20). Relation to Idolatry Shedim operate through idols (cf. Psalm 106:36), enticing humans to substitute created images for the Creator. Moses and the Psalmist depict sacrifice to false gods as an act of covenant treachery, provoking divine jealousy (Deuteronomy 32:16). Thus the Old Testament frames idolatry as spiritual adultery empowered by demons. New Testament Parallels Paul echoes Deuteronomy in 1 Corinthians 10:20, warning that “the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God.” The Greek term δαιμόνια (daimonia) functions as an equivalent to Hebrew shedim, demonstrating canonical consistency: Old and New Testaments agree that idolatry traffics in demonic fellowship. Other passages—Mark 1:34; Acts 16:16-18; 1 Timothy 4:1—reveal Christ’s authority over demons and caution against doctrines inspired by them. Practical Applications for Ministry 1. Discernment: Pastors and missionaries must recognize demonic realities behind syncretistic or occult practices, remaining vigilant in cultures where ancestral or idol worship persists. Conclusion Strong’s Hebrew 7700 encapsulates the Old Testament’s sober witness that demons lurk behind the façade of idolatry, leading people away from the living God. By exposing shedim, Scripture calls the faithful to exclusive devotion, equips them for spiritual conflict, and points ultimately to the triumph of the “Son of God who appeared to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Forms and Transliterations לַשֵּֽׁדִים׃ לַשֵּׁדִים֙ לשדים לשדים׃ laš·šê·ḏîm lashsheDim laššêḏîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 32:17 HEB: יִזְבְּח֗וּ לַשֵּׁדִים֙ לֹ֣א אֱלֹ֔הַ NAS: They sacrificed to demons who were not God, KJV: They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; INT: sacrificed to demons were not God Psalm 106:37 2 Occurrences |
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