How many times is demon mentioned in the Bible?
The word demon does not appear in the King James Version. The World English Bible uses it 23 times, and 79 times counting demon, demons.
The KJV does not use the word demon. It translates the Greek word for demons as devils, which is why the Devil page counts a different thing. The World English Bible says demons.
Demon in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of demon counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| demon | 0 | 23 |
| demons | 0 | 56 |
| Total | 0 | 79 |
Which books mention demon most
Demon appears in 10 books of the 66 in the World English Bible. Luke has the most (24), then Matthew (19) and Mark (18).
First and last mention of demon
They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread.
He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
The verse that uses it most is Matthew 9:34, 2 times (tied with Matthew 12:24, Mark 1:34, Mark 3:22, Luke 11:14, Luke 11:15 and 3 more):
But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”
Where the two translations differ
0 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 70 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Deuteronomy 32:17: counted in the World English Bible only
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread.
Psalm 106:37: counted in the World English Bible only
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
Verses with demon on our topic pages
10 verses that use demon in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
On: Demons
When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
On: Demons
Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
On: Demons
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
On: Demons
and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
On: Demons
Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him.
On: Demons
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
On: Demons
The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
On: Mental Health
These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
On: What Does the Bible Say About Speaking in Tongues? 22 Verses
Common questions
How many times is demon in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the World English Bible, counting every form, 2 of the 79 uses are in the Old Testament and 77 in the New Testament. Demon appears in 10 books of the 66 in the World English Bible. Luke has the most (24), then Matthew (19) and Mark (18).
Where is demon first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the World English Bible is Deuteronomy 32:17: "They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread." The last is Revelation 18:2.
Read the full collection: Bible Verses About Demons (21 Verses).
More word counts: judgment, wrath, vengeance, envy, lust, hate, compassion, goodness, or all 253 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-05.