Satan

Satan, meaning "adversary" or "accuser," is the devil, the chief enemy of God and tempter of humanity, who seeks to hinder God's purposes and lead people into sin.

The name Satan means “contrary; adversary; enemy; accuser”

SupernaturalOld & New Testaments28 books110 verses

Summary

An angel in the Old Testament; called Satan or "accuser" (שָׂטָן); or "worthless" or "worthless" or "worthless" or "worthless" or "scoundrel" (בְּלִיַּ֫עַל); or Beelzebul (Βεελζεβούλ); or Belial (Βελίαλ); or Satan (Σατάν) or Satan (Σατανᾶς).

Profile

The book of Job mentions "the satan" as part of the heavenly court (Job 1:6; 2:1). (The heavenly court is a gathering in heaven where God meets with his angels.) In Hebrew, satan means an adversary or accuser in court (see Job 1–2; Zechariah 3:1). God sometimes uses angels as adversaries for righteous judgment and to oppose wrongdoers (for example, Numbers 22:22, 32, where satan is often translated as "oppose"; see also 1 Kings 22:19–23).

The Old Testament suggests the accuser has a demonic nature. But it was in the time between the Old and New Testaments that Satan became associated with the serpent in Eden (see Wisdom of Solomon 2:24). The New Testament calls the chief demon "Satan" (Revelation 20:2). The New Testament uses other names like:

Satan did many evil things against God and people. He made David count his army when he should not have (1 Chronicles 21:1; compare 2 Samuel 24:1). Satan tried to tempt Jesus to do wrong and later helped Judas betray Jesus (Mark 1:12–13; John 13:27). He wanted to test Peter's faith like he tested Job (Luke 22:31). He trapped people in sin (Acts 26:17–18). He used lies to oppose God's people (1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:14). In the end, God will defeat and imprison Satan, overcoming the adversary of God's people (Revelation 12:9; 20:2, 10).

Passages for Further Study

Numbers 22:22, 32; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6–2:7; Zechariah 3:1–4; Matthew 4:1–10; 12:24; 13:19, 38–39; 16:23; Mark 1:13; 4:15; Luke 4:6; 10:17–20; 11:15; 22:3, 31; John 8:44; 12:31; 13:2, 27; 16:11; Acts 13:9–10; 26:17–18; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 2:10–11; 4:4; 6:15; 11:13–15; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:2–12; Hebrews 2:14; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 2:13–14; 3:12; 5:18; Revelation 12:3, 9; 20:2, 10

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Satan Belial, Beliar Beelzebul, Beelzebub Beelzebul

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 10 verses that refer to Satan without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. …that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known),
  2. While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!”
  3. Hand over the wicked men of Gibeah so we can put them to death and purge Israel of this evil.” But the Benjamites refused to heed the voice of their fellow Israelites.
  4. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman, for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”
  5. Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
  6. But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.
  7. Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
  8. My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
  9. …but all the wicked and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered, except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”
  10. And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
  11. Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
  12. But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.
  13. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
  14. And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
  15. 1 Chronicles 21:1שָׂטָן · Satan
    Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
  16. Job 1:6שָׂטָן · Satan
    One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.
  17. Job 1:7שָׂטָן · Satan
    “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
  18. Job 1:8שָׂטָן · Satan
    Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”
  19. Job 1:9שָׂטָן · Satan
    Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
  20. Job 1:12שָׂטָן · Satan
    “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
  21. Job 2:1שָׂטָן · Satan
    On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.
  22. Job 2:2שָׂטָן · Satan
    “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
  23. Job 2:3שָׂטָן · Satan
    Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”
  24. Job 2:4שָׂטָן · Satan
    “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.
  25. Job 2:6שָׂטָן · Satan
    “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”
  26. Job 2:7שָׂטָן · Satan
    So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
  27. Psalm 109:6שָׂטָן · Satan
    Set over him a wicked man; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
  28. Zechariah 3:1שָׂטָן · Satan
    Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
  29. Zechariah 3:2שָׂטָן · Satan
    And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”
  30. Matthew 4:1διάβολος · Devil
    Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
  31. Matthew 4:3Referred to, not named
    The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
  32. Matthew 4:5διάβολος · Devil
    Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
  33. Matthew 4:6Referred to, not named
    “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
  34. Matthew 4:7Referred to, not named
    Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
  35. Matthew 4:8διάβολος · Devil
    Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
  36. Matthew 4:9Referred to, not named
    “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
  37. Matthew 4:10Σατανᾶς · Satan
    “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
  38. Matthew 4:11διάβολος · Devil
    Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
  39. Matthew 10:25Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzebub
    It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
  40. Matthew 12:24Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzebub
    But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
  41. Matthew 12:26Σατανᾶς · Satan
    If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
  42. Matthew 12:27Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzebub
    And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
  43. Matthew 13:39διάβολος · Devil
    …and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
  44. Matthew 16:23Σατανᾶς · Satan
    But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
  45. Matthew 25:41διάβολος · Devil
    Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
  46. Mark 1:13Σατανᾶς · Satan
    …and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.
  47. Mark 3:22Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzebub
    And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
  48. Mark 3:23Σατανᾶς · Satan
    So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
  49. Mark 3:26Σατανᾶς · Satan
    And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.
  50. Mark 4:15Σατανᾶς · Satan
    Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
  51. Mark 8:33Σατανᾶς · Satan
    But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
  52. Luke 4:2διάβολος · Devil
    …where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.
  53. Luke 4:3διάβολος · Devil
    The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
  54. Luke 4:4Referred to, not named
    But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
  55. Luke 4:5διάβολος · Devil
    Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
  56. Luke 4:6διάβολος · Devil
    “I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.
  57. Luke 4:7Referred to, not named
    So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”
  58. Luke 4:8Σατανᾶς · Satan
    But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
  59. Luke 4:9Referred to, not named
    Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here.
  60. Luke 4:12Referred to, not named
    But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
  61. Luke 4:13διάβολος · Devil
    When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
  62. Luke 8:12διάβολος · Devil
    The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
  63. Luke 10:18Σατανᾶς · Satan
    So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
  64. Luke 11:15Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzebub
    …but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
  65. Luke 11:18Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzebub; Σατανᾶς · Satan
    If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
  66. Luke 11:19Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzebub
    And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
  67. Luke 13:16Σατανᾶς · Satan
    Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?”
  68. Luke 22:3Σατανᾶς · Satan
    Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.
  69. Luke 22:31Σατανᾶς · Satan
    Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat.
  70. John 8:44διάβολος · Devil
    You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
  71. John 13:2διάβολος · Devil
    The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
  72. John 13:27Σατανᾶς · Satan
    And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
  73. Acts 5:3Σατανᾶς · Satan
    Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
  74. Acts 10:38διάβολος · Devil
    …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
  75. Acts 13:10διάβολος · Devil
    …and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
  76. Acts 26:18Σατανᾶς · Satan
    …to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
  77. Romans 16:20Σατανᾶς · Satan
    The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
  78. 1 Corinthians 5:5Σατανᾶς · Satan
    …hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
  79. 1 Corinthians 7:5Σατανᾶς · Satan
    Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
  80. 2 Corinthians 2:11Σατανᾶς · Satan
    …in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
  81. 2 Corinthians 6:15Βελίαλ · Belial
    What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
  82. 2 Corinthians 11:14Σατανᾶς · Satan
    And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
  83. 2 Corinthians 11:15Referred to, not named
    It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
  84. 2 Corinthians 12:7Σατάν · Satan
    …or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
  85. Ephesians 4:27διάβολος · Devil
    …and do not give the devil a foothold.
  86. Ephesians 6:11διάβολος · Devil
    Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
  87. 1 Thessalonians 2:18Σατανᾶς · Satan
    For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
  88. 2 Thessalonians 2:9Σατανᾶς · Satan
    The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
  89. 1 Timothy 1:20Σατανᾶς · Satan
    Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
  90. 1 Timothy 3:6διάβολος · Devil
    He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
  91. 1 Timothy 3:7διάβολος · Devil
    Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
  92. 1 Timothy 5:15Σατανᾶς · Satan
    For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
  93. 2 Timothy 2:26διάβολος · Devil
    Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
  94. Hebrews 2:14διάβολος · Devil
    Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
  95. James 4:7διάβολος · Devil
    Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
  96. 1 Peter 5:8διάβολος · Devil
    Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
  97. 1 John 3:8διάβολος · Devil
    The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
  98. 1 John 3:10διάβολος · Devil
    By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
  99. Jude 1:9διάβολος · Devil
    But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
  100. Revelation 2:9Σατανᾶς · Satan
    I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
  101. Revelation 2:10διάβολος · Devil
    Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  102. Revelation 2:13Σατανᾶς · Satan
    I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits, yet you hold fast to My name. You did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of My faithful witness Antipas, who was killed among you where Satan dwells.
  103. Revelation 2:24Σατανᾶς · Satan
    But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you
  104. Revelation 3:9Σατανᾶς · Satan
    As for those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you.
  105. Revelation 12:9διάβολος · Devil; Σατανᾶς · Satan
    And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
  106. Revelation 12:12διάβολος · Devil
    Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
  107. Revelation 20:2διάβολος · Devil; Σατανᾶς · Satan
    He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
  108. Revelation 20:7Σατανᾶς · Satan
    When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,
  109. Revelation 20:8Referred to, not named
    …and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.
  110. Revelation 20:10διάβολος · Devil
    And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.