1139. daimonizomai
Lexical Summary
daimonizomai: To be demon-possessed, to be under the power of a demon.

Original Word: δαιμονίζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: daimonizomai
Pronunciation: dahee-mon-id'-zom-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (dahee-mon-id'-zom-ahee)
KJV: have a (be vexed with, be possessed with) devil(-s)
NASB: demon-possessed, demoniacs
Word Origin: [middle voice from G1142 (δαίμων - demons)]

1. to be exercised by a demon

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
to be demon possessed

Middle voice from daimon; to be exercised by a d?Mon -- have a (be vexed with, be possessed with) devil(-s).

see GREEK daimon

HELPS Word-studies

1139 daimonízomai (from 1142 /daímōn) – properly, demonized, i.e. coming under the power of a demon (fallen angel).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from daimón
Definition
to be possessed by a demon
NASB Translation
demon-possessed (11), demoniacs (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1139: δαιμονίζομαι

δαιμονίζομαι; 1 aorist passive participle δαιμονισθείς; (δαίμων); to be under the power of a demon: ἄλλος κατ' ἄλλην δαιμονίζεται τυχην, Philemon 1 in Stobaeus, ecl. phys. 1, p. 196; of the insane, Plutarch, symp. 7, 5, 4, and in other later authors. In the N. T. δαιμονιζόμενοι are persons afflicted with especially severe diseases, either bodily or mental (such as paralysis, blindness, deafness, loss of speech, epilepsy, melancholy, insanity, etc.), whose bodies in the opinion of the Jews demons (see δαιμόνιον) had entered, and so held possession of them as not only to afflict them with ills, but also to dethrone the reason and take its place themselves; accordingly, the possessed were accustomed to express the mind and consciousness of the demons dwelling in them; and their cure was thought to require the expulsion of the demon — (but on this subject see B. D. American edition under the word Demoniacs and references there; Weiss, Leben Jesu, book iii., chapter 6): Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:16, 28, 33; Matthew 9:32; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 15:22; Mark 1:32; Mark 5:15; John 10:21; δαιμονισθείς, that had been possessed by a demon (demons), Mark 5:18; Luke 8:36. They are said also to be ὀχλούμενοι ὑπό or ἀπό πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, Luke 6:18 (T Tr WH ἐνοχλούμενοι); Acts 5:16; καταδυναστευόμενοι ὑπό τοῦ διαβόλου, i. e. by his ministers, the demons, Acts 10:38.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Term

Strong’s Greek 1139 refers to persons “being demonized,” that is, under the direct control or domination of an unclean spirit. The word never describes demons themselves; it always portrays the human host. All thirteen occurrences appear in Gospel narratives that emphasize Jesus’ authority over the unseen realm. The contexts show that demonization is a distinct condition, neither synonymous with ordinary sickness nor reducible to mental illness, though physical and psychological symptoms may accompany it.

Canonical Distribution

Matthew 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22
Mark 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18
Luke 8:36
John 10:21

The Synoptics present live encounters, while John cites eyewitness testimony that recalls one of them.

Representative Passages

Matthew 4:24: “...they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering severe pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralyzed—and He healed them”.

Mark 5:15: “They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid”.

Luke 8:36: “Those who had seen it described how the demon-possessed man had been healed”.

John 10:21: “Others replied, ‘These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’ ”.

Characteristics of Demonization in the Gospels

• Altered consciousness and loss of normal control (Mark 5:15).
• Physical harm or self-destructive behavior (Mark 5:5).
• Extraordinary strength (Mark 5:4).
• Speech disorders—mute, blind, or both (Matthew 9:32; 12:22).
• Violent antisocial conduct (Matthew 8:28).
• Torment that may afflict children (Matthew 15:22).

The pattern underscores personal evil spirits as the immediate cause, not merely symbolic evil.

Jesus’ Authority and the In-breaking Kingdom

Demon expulsion is a primary sign of messianic authority (Matthew 12:28). Christ’s word alone is sufficient; no magical formulas appear. His victories foreshadow the ultimate defeat of Satan (Luke 10:18). The evangelists treat deliverance ministry as indisputable historical fact and a credential of the gospel.

Distinction from Other Afflictions

Lists such as Matthew 4:24 pair the demon-possessed with the sick, indicating overlap yet distinction. Healing (ἰάομαι) addresses bodily ailments; deliverance (ἐκβάλλω with δαιμόνια) addresses spiritual bondage. Occasionally, deliverance and healing occur simultaneously (Matthew 12:22).

Historical and Cultural Background

Second-Temple Judaism acknowledged personal evil spirits but lacked the effortless authority displayed by Jesus. Contemporary exorcists relied on incantations; the Gospel accounts contrast this with a simple command, magnifying Christ’s divine prerogative.

Ministry Implications

1. Recognition: Not every malady is demonic, but demonic influence remains a biblical reality.
2. Authority: Believers minister in Jesus’ name (Mark 16:17; Acts 16:18).
3. Preparation: Prayer and fasting accompany effective engagement (Mark 9:29).
4. Discernment: Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit guard against both credulity and skepticism.
5. Goal: Restoration to worshipful discipleship, as seen in the Gerasene’s immediate desire to follow Jesus (Mark 5:18-20).

Pastoral Considerations

• Proclamation of the gospel remains the primary means of liberation (Colossians 1:13).
• Deliverance should be coupled with instruction, fellowship, and sacramental life to prevent relapse (Matthew 12:45).
• Community accountability protects both the minister and the delivered.

Eschatological Outlook

Present triumphs anticipate the final banishment of demonic forces (Revelation 20:10). Until then, the Church serves as an outpost of Christ’s reign, pushing back darkness through Word, Spirit, and compassionate engagement with the afflicted.

Related Topics

Demons; Unclean spirits; Exorcism; Spiritual warfare; Authority of Jesus; Kingdom of God

Forms and Transliterations
δαιμονιζεται δαιμονίζεται δαιμονιζομενοι δαιμονιζόμενοι δαιμονιζομενον δαιμονιζόμενον δαιμονιζόμενος δαιμονιζομενου δαιμονιζομένου δαιμονιζομενους δαιμονιζομένους δαιμονιζομενω δαιμονιζομένω δαιμονιζομένῳ δαιμονιζομενων δαιμονιζομένων δαιμονίζομενων δαιμονισθεις δαιμονισθείς δαιμονισθεὶς daimonistheis daimonistheís daimonistheìs daimonizetai daimonízetai daimonizomeno daimonizomenō daimonizomenoi daimonizoménoi daimonizoménōi daimonizómenoi daimonizomenon daimonizomenōn daimonizoménon daimonizoménōn daimonizómenon daimonizomenos daimonizómenos daimonizomenou daimonizoménou daimonizomenous daimonizoménous
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 4:24 V-PPM/P-AMP
GRK: συνεχομένους καὶ δαιμονιζομένους καὶ σεληνιαζομένους
NAS: and pains, demoniacs, epileptics,
KJV: and those which were possessed with devils, and
INT: oppressed and possessed by demons and epileptics

Matthew 8:16 V-PPM/P-AMP
GRK: προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δαιμονιζομένους πολλούς καὶ
NAS: to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast
KJV: many that were possessed with devils: and
INT: they brought to him possessed with demons many and

Matthew 8:28 V-PPM/P-NMP
GRK: αὐτῷ δύο δαιμονιζόμενοι ἐκ τῶν
NAS: two men who were demon-possessed met
KJV: two possessed with devils, coming
INT: him two possessed by demons out of the

Matthew 8:33 V-PPM/P-GMP
GRK: τὰ τῶν δαιμονιζομένων
NAS: had happened to the demoniacs.
KJV: and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
INT: the [events] of the [men] being possessed by demons

Matthew 9:32 V-PPM/P-AMS
GRK: ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον
NAS: out, a mute, demon-possessed man
KJV: a dumb man possessed with a devil.
INT: a man mute possessed by a demon

Matthew 12:22 V-PPM/P-AMS
GRK: προσηνέχθη αὐτῷ δαιμονιζόμενος τυφλὸς καὶ
NAS: Then a demon-possessed man [who was] blind
KJV: unto him one possessed with a devil, blind,
INT: was brought to him one possessed by a demon blind and

Matthew 15:22 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: μου κακῶς δαιμονίζεται
NAS: is cruelly demon-possessed.
KJV: is grievously vexed with a devil.
INT: of me miserably is possessed by a demon

Mark 1:32 V-PPM/P-AMP
GRK: καὶ τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους
NAS: and those who were demon-possessed.
KJV: and them that were possessed with devils.
INT: and those possessed by demons

Mark 5:15 V-PPM/P-AMS
GRK: θεωροῦσιν τὸν δαιμονιζόμενον καθήμενον ἱματισμένον
NAS: and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down,
KJV: see him that was possessed with the devil, and had
INT: see the [man] possessed by demons sitting clothed

Mark 5:16 V-PPM/P-DMS
GRK: ἐγένετο τῷ δαιμονιζομένῳ καὶ περὶ
NAS: it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and [all] about
KJV: it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and
INT: it happened to him possessed by demons and concerning

Mark 5:18 V-APP-NMS
GRK: αὐτὸν ὁ δαιμονισθεὶς ἵνα μετ'
NAS: into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring
KJV: the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed
INT: him the [one] having been possessed by demons that with

Luke 8:36 V-APP-NMS
GRK: ἐσώθη ὁ δαιμονισθείς
NAS: to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.
KJV: by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
INT: was healed the [one] having been possessed by demons

John 10:21 V-PPM/P-GMS
GRK: οὐκ ἔστιν δαιμονιζομένου μὴ δαιμόνιον
NAS: are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon
KJV: the words of him that hath a devil. Can
INT: not are [those] of one possessed by a demon not A demon

Strong's Greek 1139
13 Occurrences


δαιμονισθεὶς — 2 Occ.
δαιμονίζεται — 1 Occ.
δαιμονιζομένῳ — 1 Occ.
δαιμονιζομένων — 1 Occ.
δαιμονιζόμενοι — 1 Occ.
δαιμονιζόμενον — 2 Occ.
δαιμονιζόμενος — 1 Occ.
δαιμονιζομένου — 1 Occ.
δαιμονιζομένους — 3 Occ.

1138
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