Submitted Name
Gender Masculine
Usage Biblical, Judeo-Christian Legend
Other Forms FormsAshmedaï, Asmadai, Asmoday, Chammadai, Chammaday, Chashmodai, Hasmoday, Sidonay, Sydonai
Meaning & History
From Hebrew Ashmedai, which itself is derived from Avestan aēšma-daēva meaning "demon of wrath". Asmodai is a semi-Biblical demon mostly known thanks to the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit. In the Book of Tobit, Asmodai falls in love with Sarah, daughter of Raguel, and kills her husband each time she gets married.He is also mentioned in some Talmudic legends and in demonology. In the Talmud, Asmodai seems not to be the evil creature he is in other books. However, there are some legends concerning Asmodai and King Solomon. One of them tells that King Solomon tricked the demon and obliged him to collaborate in building the temple of Jerusalem. In another legend Asmodai changed place for some years with King Solomon. Yet another legend tells that Asmodai is the king of all demons, comparable to the Christian notions of Satan, and married Lilith, the daughter of Samael and Lilith (the original wife of Adam).