In religious and occult lore, few figures are as enigmatic as Balaam. Now, if you’ve never heard of him before, buckle up because this demon king story is anything but ordinary.
He starts out in the Bible as a non-Israelite prophet… and somehow ends up transformed into a powerful demon (and one of the nine rulers of Hell) in medieval occult traditions.
So, what happened? Let’s find out:
In this article:
Etymology
Let’s start with Balaam’s name. Knowing the etymology and how to pronounce his name can give us some hints about where he came from and who he really was.
His name is pronounced as ‘Bay-luhm’ in English. The name comes from Balaam (בִּלְעָם), son of Beor, who shows up in the Hebrew Bible in the Book of Numbers. The name roughly translates as “devourer” or “destroyer of the people.”
However, not everyone agrees on the meaning. Some scholars suggest it could also mean “not of the people,” which makes sense since he wasn’t an Israelite and was definitely seen as an outsider.
Balaam’s Origin
So, how did Balaam start off? If we wanna understand how Balaam went from Prophet to demon, we gotta look at his roots in the Bible.
We first learn about him in the “Book of Numbers,” where he’s depicted as a diviner—someone with a direct line to God—even though he wasn’t an Israelite. Honestly, his story is pretty interesting and full of divine interaction and moral ambiguity.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Balam, Balaam |
| Titles | Great King of Avarice, Idol Worship and Immorality |
| Race | Demon |
| Pantheon | Goetic Demonology (with biblical origins linked to Balaam, son of Beor) |
| Personifies | Greed, deceit, divination, hidden knowledge |
| Appearance | Three-headed figure (bull, man, ram), blazing eyes, serpent’s tail, riding a bear, with a hawk on fist |
| Abilities | Divination, invisibility, enhancement of wit and cunning, command over 40 legions of demons |
| Equipment | None explicitly mentioned, though often depicted with symbols of power (hawk, bear) |
| Associated Elements | Fire, earth |
| Gem/Crystal | None explicitly mentioned, but infernal associations suggest obsidian or onyx |
| Associated Figures | Lucifer, other Kings of Hell, Asmoday (Asmodeus), Belial, Bael |
| Astrological Influence | Strongly linked to Sagittarius; most powerful in the month of December |
| Summoning Requirements | Sigil, incantations, offerings such as animal symbolism (e.g., bear, hawk), ceremonial rituals |
| Affiliations | Commands 40 legions of spirits; one of the Nine Kings of Hell |
| Alignment | Chaotic and deceptive, depending on summoner’s intent |
| Historical Mentions | Ars Goetia, Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, The Infernal Dictionary |
The Prophet of Numbers
Most of Balaam’s story happens in the “Book of Numbers” (chapters 22-24). He’s a Prophet living in Pethor, near the Euphrates River, and he’s got something no one else has—access to God despite being an outsider.
According to the “Book of Numbers,” it all started when the Prophet was approached by messengers from Balak, the Moabite king. Why? Balak was terrified of the advancing Israelites, so he asked Balaam to put a curse on them.
Balaam initially refused to do such a thing. However, Balak didn’t give up easily; he kept trying to get Balaam to help, sending expensive gifts and promising power. More and more tempting offers.
Eventually, God permitted Balaam to go with Balak’s messengers. With one condition: he must only speak what God commands him to say.
So, the Prophet started his journey to Moab. However, God decided to test Balaam further. He sent one of His Angels after Balaam to see if he would stay true to his instructions.
As Balaam was traveling, his donkey suddenly stopped for no apparent reason. No apparent reason for Balaam, anyway. Because, in reality, the animal stopped before an Angel of the Lord standing in the road.
Balaam, oblivious, beat the donkey to get it moving. But the animal wouldn’t budge. Eventually, unwilling to take the beating anymore, the donkey miraculously spoke up, saying, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
At this moment, Balaam was granted the ability to see the angel, who explained that the donkey’s turning away from the messenger was the only reason Balaam was not killed. Balaam immediately repented but was instructed to continue on his way—this time, fully aware of God’s directive.
Balak met Balaam at Kirjat Huzoth. From there, the two went to the “high places of Baal” and offered sacrifices on seven altars. Here, Yahweh gave Balaam a prophecy, which he spoke to Balak.
However, the prophecy blessed Israel instead of cursing them. Balak was furious, but Balaam reminded him that he could only speak the words of God. That was the agreement.
So, Balak took him to another “high place” at Pisgah to try again. Building another seven altars here and making sacrifices on each, Balaam provided another prophecy—this one also blessing Israel.
A now very frustrated Balak took Balaam to Peor, hoping for a different outcome. After the seven sacrifices there, Balaam decided not to “seek enchantments” but instead looked upon the Israelites from the peak. The Spirit of God came upon Balaam, and he delivered a third positive prophecy concerning Israel.
Balak’s anger rose to the point where he threatened Balaam, but Balaam merely offered a prediction of fate. He then looked upon the Kenites and Amalekites and offered two more predictions of their fates. After this, Balak and Balaam went their separate ways, each returning to their respective homes.
After what happened with Balak, Balaam doesn’t exactly get a good reputation. Instead, he becomes a symbol of everything you shouldn’t be—greedy, corrupt, morally compromised.
Numbers 25:1–9 describes how Israel engaged in the Heresy of Peor, where Moabite women seduced Israelite men, leading them into idol worship.
Numbers 31:16 blames this on Balaam’s advice. Because of his culpability in the incident, which resulted in deadly divine judgments against the Israelites who participated, Balaam was eventually killed in a retaliatory battle against Midian, as described in Numbers 31:8.
In 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 11, Balaam is also portrayed as greedy, a man who would do anything for the right price. These texts focus on his willingness to misuse his gifts for personal gain, turning him into an archetype for corrupt spirituality.
What’s so interesting about this story? No matter what, Balaam couldn’t go against God’s will. Even when he wanted to, he just couldn’t. And maybe that’s what made him such a compelling figure for the demonologists later on—someone with divine power who couldn’t always do what he wanted.
The Demon Balaam
Now, let’s jump ahead to medieval times—when Balaam becomes something way more sinister. By then, his story had taken a big turn.
He was no longer just a flawed Prophet; he was now a demon king. Medieval grimoires had a thing for transforming biblical figures into dark, powerful beings. With his past of greed and deceit, Balaam was an easy choice for demonization.
So, Balaam became a prominent figure in several grimoires, including “The Lesser Key of Solomon,” “Pseudomonarchia Daemonum,” and “The Infernal Dictionary.”
Key differences between Balaan the Prophet and the demon Balaan:
| Aspect | Biblical Balaam | Demon Balaam |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Prophet/diviner hired to curse Israelites. | King of Hell commanding 40 legions of demons. |
| Moral Alignment | Flawed but not inherently evil. | Malevolent figure associated with Hell. |
| Abilities | Received divine messages, delivered blessings. | Divination, invisibility, and enhancing wit. |
| Appearance | No specific description beyond human. | Three heads, flaming eyes, serpent’s tail. |
| Symbolism | Represents greed, spiritual compromise. | Embodies forbidden knowledge and temptation. |
The Lesser Key of Solomon
In the “Ars Goetia” section of “The Lesser Key of Solomon,” Balaam is described as a “Terrible, Great, and Powerful King” who commands 40 legions of demons. He appears with three heads—one like a bull, one like a man, and the third like a ram. He rides a bear and carries a goshawk:
“The Fifty-first Spirit is Balam, or Balaam. He is a terrible, great, and mighty King. He doth appear with three heads: the first resembling that of a Bull, the second of a Man, and the third of a Ram. He hath the tail of a Serpent, and eyes that do blaze with fire. He rideth upon a fierce Bear, and carrieth a Goshawk upon his fist. His voice is hoarse and deep, delivering true answers of matters past, present, and future. He causeth men to become invisible and also to grow wise and witty. He governeth forty legions of spirits.”
His portrayal shows his complex nature—part man, beast, and divine. He also strongly connects to different realms: animal power, human intelligence, and demonic authority.
Pseudomonarchia Daemonum
Johann Weyer’s “Pseudomonarchia Daemonum,” written in 1577, gives us a similar take on Balaam. He’s still got his three heads and rides a bear. Still, the emphasis is on his power to reveal secrets and make people invisible—abilities that made him pretty appealing to occultists back then:
“Balam is a great and terrible king, who cometh forth with three heads: the first of a Bull, the second of a Man, and the third of a Ram. He hath the tail of a Serpent, and eyes that blaze like fire. He rideth upon a fierce Bear, and carrieth a Hawk on his fist. He speaketh with a hoarse voice, answering perfectly of things present, past, and to come. He maketh a man both invisible and wise. He governeth forty legions of spirits, and was once of the Order of Dominations.”
The Infernal Dictionary
In the 19th-century “Infernal Dictionary” by Jacques Collin de Plancy, Balaam’s form and abilities are laid out with even more detail, again emphasizing his role as a King in Hell:
“Balan, a great and terrible king of the underworld, doth oft appear with three heads: that of a Bull, that of a Man, and that of a Ram. He hath a serpent’s tail, and eyes that do throw flames. More commonly, he manifesteth on horseback, naked and horned, riding upon a fierce Bear, and carrying a Sparrowhawk upon his fist. His voice is hoarse and violent. He giveth answers of matters past, present, and future. This demon, who was once of the Order of Dominations, now commandeth forty infernal legions, and teacheth the arts of subtlety, finesse, and the means to see without being seen.”
Powers and Attributes
Let’s talk about Balaam’s powers and why he’s one of the prominent rulers in Hell.
Compared to other high-ranking demons—like Asmodeus, Bael, and Paimon—Balaam’s abilities are unique. Still, they complement the others in some pretty fascinating ways.
For example, Asmodeus is the King of Lust and Desire, focusing on influence over human relationships. Conversely, Balaam is all about knowledge—divination, invisibility, and enhancing wit. His powers cater more to those looking for an edge, strategy-wise, rather than carnal indulgence.
Divination
One of Balaam’s big powers is his gift of divination. He can see the past, present, and future as if it were laid out in front of him.
His followers seek the demon’s help for this insight, especially when they want answers they can’t find elsewhere. This power is pretty similar to his biblical role—except now, it’s twisted into something dark and sinister.
Invisibility
Another notable power is invisibility. Balaam allegedly grants those who summon him the power to become unseen. It symbolizes his control over perception and how he manipulates what people can or cannot see.
In the occult, this power meant the ability to influence from the shadows without anyone knowing.
Intelligence
And lastly, Balaam can enhance the intelligence and cunning of those who call on him. Whether we’re talking about sharper social skills, the ability to manipulate a situation, or just want to seem a whole lot smarter, the demon can provide all of this.
It’s a power that aligns perfectly with his nature as a trickster and manipulator. It’s about giving his followers the tools they need to bend others to their will.
What Does the Demon Balaam Look Like?
Balaam’s appearance isn’t exactly what you’d call ordinary. In demonology, he’s usually described with three heads—one of a man, one of a bull, and one of a ram. Each head represents a different side of his nature: human intelligence, animal strength, and raw demonic force.
His eyes blaze with fire, and he rides a bear while carrying a hawk on his fist.
Role in the Hierarchy of Hell
As mentioned above, Balaam isn’t just any demon. He’s one of the nine Kings of Hell, each ruling over their own territories and domains. Besides Balaam, the other Kings of Hell include:
- Bael, the King of the East
- Beleth, the King of Chaos
- Purson, the King of Hidden Riches
- Asmoday, the King of Lust and Desire
- Vine, the King of Storms
- Zagan, the King of Deception
- Belial, the King of Lawlessness
- Paimon, the King of Obedience
As a king, Balaam commands 40 legions with thousands of lesser demons at his disposal.
Zodiacal Sign and Time of Power
Balaam is particularly powerful during December, with Sagittarius being his zodiac sign. With its connection to the winter solstice and long, dark nights, December has always had a certain magical quality.
