Labal

Labal (Hebrew: לבל, LBL), also spelled Lebal or Bebal is a demon who accompanies the Goetic demon Paimon.

Name

In the original Latin texts mentioning Labal's name, it is spelled as Bebal. Subsequent translations rendered it Bébal, Beball, Labal, or Lebel.

According to author Brian Pivik, the demon's name should be rendered in Hebrew as לבל.

Although the origin of Lebal is presently unknown, it may be connected with the demon Bael or the various Canaanite gods using similar names such as Beelzebub. In French, the name would literally mean "The Bal."

Textual history

The demon is only mentioned in grimoires in conjunction with Paimon and was never written about as an individual.

It first appears as "Bebal" in Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577). The same passage explaining Paimon's abilities in the Lesser Key of Solomon subsequently referenced the same demon as "Labal."

Finally, The Infernal Dictionary spells the name as Bébal.

Abilities

In the hierarchy of Hell, Labal is a Great Prince or a King. He accompanies Paimon, but only comes when an offering is made specifically to Paimon with no other demons included.

Labal is part of Paimon's 25 legions and presumably leads one of those legions, along with his partner Abalam.