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Satan


Say´tuhn

The English transliteration of a Hebrew word whose literal meaning is “adversary.” In the OT, the figure of Satan appears only three times (Job 1-2; Zech 3:1-2; 1Chr 21:1). In the first two instances, Satan is depicted as a member of God’s court whose basic duty it was to “accuse” human beings before God. He is not presented at this point as an enemy of God or as the leader of the demonic forces of evil. In the NT writings, Satan appears frequently, especially in the Gospels. The figure is also known by numerous other designations, among which are “devil” (Matt 4:1), “tempter” (Matt 4:3), “accuser” (Rev 12:10), “ruler of the demons” (Luke 11:15), “ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “Beelzebul” (Matt 10:25), and “evil one” (Matt 5:37; Eph 6:13). In both Jewish and Christian writings, it is clearly affirmed that, no matter how powerful Satan may appear to be, his final overthrow by the power of God is certain (e.g., Rev 20:1-15, where “the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan” is to be “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur . . . and tormented day and night forever and ever”).

  • Powell, Mark Allan, ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Abridged Edition. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009.