What is a succubus?

Answer

According to medieval folklore, a succubus is a demon that assumes the form of a woman to engage in sexual activity with a man in his dreams. The term originates from Old Latin, meaning “to lie under.” In Islamic belief, a similar demon is known as the qarinah or karina, while in ancient Middle Eastern societies, the night demon was referred to as Lilith. Despite the different names, they share common characteristics: tempting men sexually at night and attempting to harm newborns.

There are two biblical references that may allude to this type of demon. One of the Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q184) portrays a being known as “the seductress” with horns, wings, and a multitude of sins. This being entices men to sin and leads them to destruction. This account bears resemblance to Proverbs 2:18-19, which warns of the dangers of the seductress or “strange woman.” Describing God’s judgment on Edom, Isaiah 34:14 (KJV) mentions, “the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.” The American Standard Version interprets “lilith” as a night demon or monster, while the Revised Standard Version uses the name “Lilith.” Some scholars suggest that ancient cultures mistook the sounds of nocturnal animals for demonic entities due to their lack of knowledge about these creatures.

Do succubi exist? Considering the widespread beliefs of ancient civilizations, the answer would likely be affirmative. However, when examining biblical texts, the answer becomes more complex. Undoubtedly, the name has been linked to a demonic presence for millennia and aligns with that context in the Bible. The Bible acknowledges demons as genuine and potent entities that interact with humanity. Second Peter 2:4 mentions angels who sinned and were condemned to hell, while Jude 6 (KJV) similarly discusses

Of angels who “kept not their first estate,” and are awaiting the last judgment. Jesus cast demons out of people, as did His disciples. Whether or not we accept the idea of sexual tempters, there is no doubt that demons themselves are real.

The male counterpart of the succubus is the incubus, from the Latin incubo for “nightmare.” An incubus was supposedly a male demon who would lie with sleeping human women in order to have sexual intercourse with them. Incubi were thought to be able to father children, and the half-human offspring of an incubus was called a “cambion.” Merlin, the legendary wizard from the King Arthur legends, was supposedly sired by an incubus, from whom he received his supernatural powers and abilities. Both succubi and incubi were the products of medieval superstitions and were most likely efforts to explain the natural phenomena that occur during sleep—nightmares, sexual dreams, sleep paralysis, and night terrors. They are also thought to have been efforts to explain away nighttime rapes and other assaults on women by friends, relatives, and even the clergy. It would have been easier to attribute such attacks to the supernatural than to admit they came from some person in a position of trust.

As Christians, we are warned against worshiping demons «And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute forever unto them throughout their generations. », (Leviticus 17:7), and even their names should be forgotten «And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. », (Zechariah 13:2). Some people study demons thinking that will help them carryOn spiritual warfare. All we really need to know about the enemy is this: “Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God” «and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. », (1 John 4:3, NKJV). Our focus should be on learning more about the One who “has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14;NKJV). When we hide God’s Word in our hearts, it keeps us from sinning against Him «Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. », (Psalm 119:11) and gives us the weaponry to fight off any attack of Satan or his demons «And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: », (Ephesians 6:17).