What did the ancient world really believe about demons?

Before the Bible ever mentioned unclean spirits, the people of Mesopotamia lived in a world filled with spirit beings, magic, and fear of the unseen.

In this episode, Dr. Mark Chavalas looks into the ancient Mesopotamian worldview of demons and spirit beings—the cultural backdrop behind how the Bible’s authors and readers understood the unseen world.This episode unpacks texts from the ancient Near East describing how demons were classified, how they affected daily life, and how people sought protection through magic, medicine, and ritual.

From protective spirits to terrifying ghosts and baby-snatching demonesses, this conversation reveals just how different—and yet familiar—the ancient world’s view of evil, spiritual warfare and the unseen realm really was.

🔥 In This Episode:

➡️ How Mesopotamians understood “demons” and spirit beings

➡️ Why there was no word for “demon” in the ancient Near East

➡️ The three classes of spiritual beings—from gods to ghosts

➡️ How illness, misfortune, and even nightmares were tied to the spiritual realm

➡️ The eerie rituals and “medical magic” used to drive out evil spirits

➡️ Why understanding Mesopotamian demonology illuminates Scripture

📚 Rescources & Texts:

- John H. Walton, “Demons in Mesopotamia and Israel: Exploring the Category of Non-Divine but Supernatural Entities”.

- Gina Konstantinopoulos, “Demons and Exorcism in Ancient Mesopotamia”

- Frans Wiggermann, “The Mesopotamian Pandemonium”, on Mesopotamian demon concepts

- Markham J. Geller, works on the Sherpa incantations and their relationship to biblical Leviticus style rituals.

- “Demons and Spirits in Biblical Theology: Reading the Biblical Text in Its Cultural and Literary Context” by John Walton & J. Harvey Walton

💬 Let’s Talk in the Comments:What surprises you most about how ancient people viewed demons?

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