If you have searched for who is Bartzabel in the Bible, there is one important fact to understand first: Bartzabel is not a person, angel, prophet, or named demon found in the Bible.
The name comes from later occult writings rather than Scripture. An older spelling, Barzabel, appears in Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy, where it is listed as the “spirit of Mars.” Centuries later, occult writer Aleister Crowley used the spelling Bartzabel in a work called An Evocation of Bartzabel the Spirit of Mars.
This matters because Bartzabel is sometimes confused with two genuine biblical names: Beelzebub, also written Beelzul in some Bible translations, and Zerubbabel, an important leader after the Babylonian exile.
The names sound somewhat alike, but they refer to completely different ideas.
| Name | In the Bible? | Who or What Is It? |
|---|---|---|
| Bartzabel / Barzabel | No | A name from Western occult tradition associated with Mars |
| Beelzebub / Beelzul | Yes | A name connected with the ruler of demons in the Gospels |
| Zerubbabel | Yes | Governor of Judah who helped rebuild the temple |
Understanding these differences helps us avoid placing later traditions into Scripture.
Who Is Bartzabel In The Bible?
Bartzabel is not identified anywhere in the Bible.
You will not find a biblical story about Bartzabel. There is no prophet named Bartzabel, no king named Bartzabel, and no passage where Jesus speaks to a spirit with that name.
Instead, the name belongs to a much later tradition of ceremonial magic.
One well-known historical source is the Renaissance scholar Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. In the second book of his Occult Philosophy, a form of the name written as Barzabel appears in a table connected with the planet Mars. Agrippa’s text identifies Barzabel as the “spirit of Mars.”
Aleister Crowley later used the spelling Bartzabel. His published ritual is explicitly titled An Evocation of Bartzabel the Spirit of Mars.
Neither source is part of the Bible.
That difference is essential.
A name can appear in a religious, mystical, magical, or historical book without appearing in Scripture. Just because someone calls a being an angel, demon, or spirit does not mean the Bible teaches that such a being exists under that name.
For Christians, Scripture remains the proper starting point when asking whether a spiritual figure is biblical.
Who Was Bartzabel?
When people ask, Who was Bartzabel?, they sometimes expect an answer similar to the stories of Gabriel, Michael, Satan, or other spiritual beings mentioned in Scripture.
But Bartzabel does not have a biblical biography.
There is no biblical account telling us:
- where Bartzabel came from
- whether Bartzabel was an angel
- whether Bartzabel rebelled against God
- what Bartzabel supposedly did
- whether Jesus encountered Bartzabel
- whether Bartzabel appears in Revelation
Those ideas are simply not part of the biblical text.
Historically, the name became associated with planetary magic. Agrippa’s occult tables place Barzabel under Mars, while Crowley’s later ritual also describes Bartzabel in relation to Mars.
That tells us about the history of Western occultism, not about biblical teaching.
This is a useful distinction whenever you read claims about spiritual beings online.
Someone might write, “Bartzabel is a demon from the Bible.” That statement mixes two very different sources.
A more accurate sentence would be:
Bartzabel is a name found in later occult tradition, not a named figure in Scripture.
If you are studying actual biblical descriptions of evil spirits, a better starting point is How Does the Bible Describe Demons? or Where in the Bible Does It Talk About Demons?
Those questions take us directly to biblical passages rather than later traditions.
Why Do Some People Think Bartzabel Is a Biblical Demon?
There are several understandable reasons for the confusion.
First, the name sounds ancient.
Names ending in -el can remind readers of biblical names such as Michael, Gabriel, Daniel, Ezekiel, or Israel. In Hebrew names, El can relate to God, so people sometimes assume that any mysterious name ending in those letters must come from the Bible.
That assumption is not safe.
A biblical-sounding name is not automatically a biblical name.
Second, many lists on the internet mix figures from completely different sources. A single page might combine names from the Bible, medieval writings, Jewish mystical texts, folklore, occult grimoires, novels, films, and modern spiritual traditions.
When all those names appear together, the reader may have difficulty seeing which ones Scripture actually mentions.
Third, Bartzabel is sometimes called a “demon” in modern discussions of occultism. That language can make people assume that the name belongs beside biblical discussions of demons.
But the Bible does not provide a catalog containing the name Bartzabel.
That is why checking the source matters.
Is Bartzabel the Same as Beelzebub?
No.
Bartzabel and Beelzebub are not the same name or the same figure.
This may be the most important confusion to clear up.
Beelzebub, often written Beelzul in modern Bible translations, appears in the New Testament. Bartzabel does not.
In Matthew 12, Jesus healed a man who was unable to see or speak because of demonic oppression. The Pharisees responded by accusing Jesus of casting out demons through Beelzul, whom they called the prince of demons.
Similar accusations appear in Mark 3 and Luke 11.
So when someone remembers a strange biblical name beginning with a “B” and connected with demons, Beelzebub may be the name they are actually trying to remember.
Bartzabel belongs to a different historical tradition.
Bartzabel vs. Beelzebub
The distinction can be summarized simply:
Bartzabel
- Not named in Scripture
- Found in occult writings
- Traditionally associated with Mars
- Appears in writings centuries after biblical times
Beelzebub / Beelzul
- Appears in the New Testament
- Mentioned during accusations against Jesus
- Described by Jesus’ opponents as the ruler or prince of demons
- Connected with Christ’s teaching about Satan’s kingdom
The similarity in sound should not cause us to combine them.
What Does Jesus Say About Beelzebub?
This question takes us directly into the Gospels.
In Matthew 12, the Pharisees accused Jesus of using Beelzul’s power to cast out demons. Instead of simply answering the insult, Jesus exposed the weakness in their argument.
He explained that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
If Satan were fighting against Satan, Satan’s own kingdom would be destroying itself.
Jesus then pointed to the true meaning of what was happening: His power over demons showed God’s authority at work. Matthew places this discussion within Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God.
The same basic argument appears in Mark 3 and Luke 11.
This passage teaches much more about Jesus than it teaches about the name Beelzebub.
The focus is Christ’s authority.
Demons do not stand as equal rivals to God. Jesus commands, heals, delivers, and demonstrates authority over evil.
That is an important principle when reading passages about spiritual warfare. Christian attention should not become centered on collecting mysterious names. Scripture repeatedly directs our attention toward God’s authority, faithfulness, truth, and power.
If this subject interests you, What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Warfare? gives a broader biblical picture without relying on later occult traditions.
Is Bartzabel the Same as Zerubbabel?
No.
This is another common name confusion.
Zerubbabel is absolutely a biblical person. Bartzabel is not.
Zerubbabel lived during one of the most important periods in Old Testament history: the return of the Jewish people after the Babylonian exile.
The book of Haggai identifies Zerubbabel as the son of Shealtiel and governor of Judah.
He worked alongside Joshua the high priest and other returned exiles.
When the people came back to Jerusalem, they faced an enormous task. Their land had suffered destruction. The temple had been ruined. Worship needed to be restored.
Zerubbabel became one of the leading figures in that restoration.
His story has nothing to do with Bartzabel, demons, planets, or occult practices.
The similarity is only in the sound of the names.
What Was Zerubbabel Known For?
Zerubbabel is best known for helping lead the Jewish community during the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
Ezra 3 describes Zerubbabel and the priestly leadership taking part in rebuilding the altar after the return from exile.
Later, opposition made the rebuilding work difficult.
This is one reason the ministries of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah became so important. They encouraged the people to continue the work God had given them.
Zechariah specifically speaks about Zerubbabel’s role in rebuilding the temple. Zechariah 4:9 says that Zerubbabel’s hands had laid the temple’s foundation and would also complete the work.
Zerubbabel was therefore known as:
- governor of Judah
- a leader of the returned Jewish community
- a participant in restoring the altar
- a leader connected with rebuilding the temple
- a person encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah
- an important figure in the line recorded in the genealogy of Jesus
Matthew 1 includes Zerubbabel in the genealogy leading to Jesus Christ.
This gives his name an important place in biblical history.
A reader who accidentally types “Bartzabel” when looking for Zerubbabel can therefore end up in a completely different subject.
Why Did God Choose Zerubbabel?
Haggai contains one of the most striking statements about Zerubbabel.
At the end of Haggai 2, God describes Zerubbabel as His servant and says that He has chosen him. God also uses the image of a signet ring.
A signet ring was important in the ancient world. A ruler could use one to mark or authenticate something with his authority.
So this picture communicates value, authority, and special appointment.
We should be careful, however, not to invent a private reason that the Bible never gives.
Scripture does not provide a sentence saying, “God chose Zerubbabel because of exactly these five qualities.”
What Scripture does show is that Zerubbabel had a God-given role during Judah’s restoration.
Haggai 1 also tells us that Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people responded to God’s message and returned to the work of rebuilding the house of the Lord.
This gives us a beautiful picture of calling.
God did not call Zerubbabel because the situation was easy. The work took place in a time of uncertainty, opposition, and national weakness.
Yet God still had work for him to do.
For believers today, the story is encouraging. A difficult setting does not mean God has no purpose. Sometimes faithfulness is shown by continuing to obey when the work feels slow.
Where Did the Name Bartzabel Come From?
The exact history behind unusual occult names can become complicated, so we should not claim more than the evidence allows.
What we can say confidently is that a form of the name appears in Renaissance occult literature.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy includes Barzabel among names associated with Mars and labels it the spirit of Mars.
Agrippa’s work belongs to the history of Renaissance occult philosophy, not the biblical canon.
Much later, Aleister Crowley used the spelling Bartzabel in an occult ritual centered on what he also called the spirit of Mars.
So it would be inaccurate to say Crowley invented Bartzabel from nothing. The form Barzabel existed in earlier occult literature.
It would be equally inaccurate to move the name backward into the Bible.
The safest historical statement is:
Bartzabel or Barzabel belongs to Western occult tradition rather than biblical Scripture.
That distinction gives us a reliable answer without turning uncertain traditions into biblical facts.
Does the Bible Name Demons?
The Bible certainly speaks about demons and evil spirits.
The Gospels describe Jesus casting out demons. The New Testament warns believers about spiritual evil. Satan is named throughout Scripture, and some other spiritual figures receive names or titles.
But Scripture does not give Christians an extensive dictionary of every supposed demon name found in later religious or magical literature.
That difference is important.
Many names that people now associate with demons come from:
- later folklore
- magical texts
- medieval traditions
- Renaissance occultism
- literary works
- modern entertainment
- later religious writings
Some may have connections with older languages or traditions. Others may have developed over centuries.
But those histories should not be confused with the Bible itself.
For example, Abaddon does appear in Scripture, particularly in Revelation 9:11. That makes the question Who Is Abaddon in the Bible? very different from asking about Bartzabel.
Similarly, Belial is a term that appears in biblical texts, although its use and development require careful study.
The safest habit is simple: ask where the name actually appears.
How Can You Tell Whether a Name Is Really Biblical?
You do not need to be a Bible scholar to check many of these claims.
A few simple habits can protect you from misinformation.
1. Search for the exact name
Do not rely only on a social media post saying, “This demon is in the Bible.”
Look for the actual name in Scripture.
Check several translations if the spelling may vary.
This is especially helpful with names such as Beelzebub and Beelzul, where English translations may differ slightly.
2. Read the passage around the name
Finding a word is only the first step.
Context tells us what the Bible is actually saying.
For example, when Beelzul appears in Matthew 12, the passage is about an accusation made against Jesus and His response to it.
Reading the whole passage keeps us from building ideas from one isolated word.
3. Check whether the source is Scripture or a later book
A book can be ancient without being biblical.
A religious text can discuss angels without being Scripture.
A magical text can use Hebrew-looking names without being part of the Hebrew Bible.
That is exactly the issue with Bartzabel.
Agrippa and Crowley belong to the history of Western occultism. Their writings may help historians understand where a later belief came from, but they do not make Bartzabel a biblical figure.
4. Watch for similar names
One letter or syllable can completely change a biblical identity.
Consider these three:
Bartzabel
Not a biblical figure.
Beelzebub
A New Testament name connected with the ruler of demons.
Zerubbabel
Governor of Judah and a leader in rebuilding the temple.
They may look confusing at first, but once their contexts are clear, they are almost impossible to mix up.
5. Be cautious with confident online claims
A claim can sound certain and still be wrong.
Statements such as “the Bible says,” “ancient Christians believed,” or “this is a biblical demon” should lead us to ask one simple question:
Where exactly does Scripture say that?
That question is not disrespectful. It is careful Bible study.
Should Christians Be Afraid of Names Like Bartzabel?
The Bible does not encourage believers to live in fear of mysterious spiritual names.
Christian faith is centered on God, not on fascination with darkness.
In the Gospels, Jesus does not appear frightened by demonic powers. He demonstrates authority over them.
This should shape the way Christians approach subjects involving demons, occult stories, or frightening claims online.
You do not need to memorize hundreds of alleged demon names to trust God.
You do not need to become an expert in occult rituals to follow Christ faithfully.
You do not need to assume that every strange spiritual name has hidden biblical significance.
Instead, Scripture repeatedly directs believers toward truth, prayer, obedience, wisdom, and trust in God.
A healthy study of what the Bible says about spiritual warfare should therefore strengthen faith rather than create obsession or fear.
What Bartzabel, Beelzebub, and Zerubbabel Teach Us About Careful Bible Reading
At first, this may look like a simple spelling question.
Yet it teaches an important lesson.
Words matter.
Sources matter.
Context matters.
Bartzabel comes from a later occult tradition.
Beelzebub or Beelzul appears in the Gospels during accusations that Jesus was casting out demons through demonic power. Jesus rejected that reasoning and pointed to the contradiction of Satan fighting against his own kingdom.
Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah who helped lead God’s people during the rebuilding of the temple after exile. Haggai identifies him as governor, Zechariah connects him with the temple’s foundation and completion, and Matthew includes him in Jesus’ genealogy.
Three similar-looking names lead to three very different subjects.
That is why careful Bible reading protects us from confusion.
A Simple Answer to Remember
So, who is Bartzabel in the Bible?
The simplest answer is:
Bartzabel is not a biblical figure.
A form of the name, Barzabel, appears in Renaissance occult writings as a spirit associated with Mars, and Aleister Crowley later used the spelling Bartzabel in an occult ritual.
If you were thinking of a biblical figure, you may have meant:
- Beelzebub, a name associated with the ruler of demons in the New Testament, or
- Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah who helped lead the rebuilding of the temple.
The Bible gives us enough truth without adding later traditions to it.
When a mysterious name appears online, we can respond with curiosity but also wisdom. Check the text. Read the context. Find the source.
That simple habit helps us honor Scripture and keeps our faith rooted in what the Bible actually says.
Dr. Rachel is very smart and knows a lot about the Bible. He helps us understand the Bible better by talking about the old texts in a simple way.
