The Greek noun daimon means a demon or evil spirit. In classical Greek it could refer to a divine being, spirit, or intermediate deity — Socrates spoke of his daimon as an inner voice. In the New Testament, however, daimon refers exclusively to malevolent spiritual beings. It appears only in Matthew 8:31, where the Legion of demons begs Jesus to send them into the pigs.
The single New Testament occurrence of daimon (Matthew 8:31) is charged with significance. The demons call out to Jesus, acknowledging His authority, and beg for mercy in how they are judged. That even daimones petition Christ demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over the spiritual realm. The subsequent destruction of the pigs illustrates the nature of demonic presence — destructive and ultimately self-defeating. Theologically, the daimones are not co-equal adversaries of God; they are defeated, begging enemies operating only within divine permission.