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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

110 verses

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.”
  7. 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.
  8. Revelation 20:7Σατανᾶς · Satan
    When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,
  9. 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.
  10. 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.