Satan
שָׂטָן · sa.tan · H7854Βεελζεβούλ · Beelzeboul · G09545 other spellings“contrary; adversary; enemy; accuser” Hitchcock's 1869100 mentions in 28 books, most in Luke (14)
Who they were
Satan, also known as the devil, is the chief adversary of God and the tempter of humanity. The name "Satan" comes from the Hebrew word meaning "adversary" or "accuser." He is portrayed as a spiritual being who opposes God's purposes and seeks to lead people into sin and destruction.
In the Old Testament, Satan appears as an accuser in the heavenly court (Job.1.6-12; 2:1-7; Zechariah 3:1-2). He challenges the integrity of Job and receives permission from God to test him. The Old Testament also uses the term "satan" or "adversary" to describe human opponents or obstacles (1Sa.29.4; 2Sa.19.22; 1Ki.5.4).
In the New Testament, Satan is identified as the tempter of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11; Mrk.1.13; Luke 4:1-13), the oppressor of God's people (Luke 13:16; Act.10.38), and the deceiver of the world (Revelation 12:9; 20:3, 8). He is also called the "ruler of this world" (Jhn.12.31; 14:30; 16:11) and the "god of this age" (2Co.4.4).
Jesus defeated Satan through His death and resurrection (Hebrews 2:14; 1Jn.3.8), and believers are called to resist him (Jam.4.7; 1Pe.5.8-9). The New Testament portrays Satan as a real and active spiritual adversary, but one whose power is limited and whose ultimate defeat is assured (Romans 16:20; Revelation 20:10).
Other names for Satan include Beelzebub (Matthew 10:25; 12:24-27), Belial (2Co.6.15), and the serpent (Revelation 12:9; 20:2). These names highlight his role as the leader of demons, the personification of evil, and the deceiver of humanity.
Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Every mention
100 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
Judges2 mentions
Judges 19:22As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain wicked fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old…Judges 20:13Now therefore deliver up the men, the wicked fellows who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel.” But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their…
1 Samuel6 mentions
1 Samuel 1:16Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”1 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men. They didn’t know Yahweh.1 Samuel 10:27But certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no tribute. But he held his peace.1 Samuel 25:17Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master and against all his house, for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.”1 Samuel 25:25Please don’t let my lord pay attention to this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s…1 Samuel 30:22Then all the wicked men and worthless fellows of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they didn’t go with us, we will not give them anything of the plunder that we have…
2 Samuel3 mentions
2 Samuel 16:7Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow!2 Samuel 20:1There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we…2 Samuel 23:6But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand.
1 Kings2 mentions
1 Kings 21:10Set two men, wicked fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and stone him to death.”1 Kings 21:13The two men, the wicked fellows, came in and sat before him. The wicked fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and…
1 Chronicles1 mention
Job11 mentions
Job 1:6Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan also came among them.Job 1:7Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”Job 1:8Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.”Job 1:9Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?Job 1:12Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.Job 2:1Again, on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh.Job 2:2Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”Job 2:3Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still…Job 2:4Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.Job 2:6Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life.”Job 2:7So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.
Zechariah2 mentions
Zechariah 3:1He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.Zechariah 3:2Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”
Matthew12 mentions
Matthew 4:1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.Matthew 4:5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,Matthew 4:8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.Matthew 4:10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”Matthew 4:11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.Matthew 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!Matthew 12:24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”Matthew 12:26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?Matthew 12:27If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.Matthew 13:39The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.Matthew 16:23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”Matthew 25:41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
Mark6 mentions
Mark 1:13He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.Mark 3:22The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”Mark 3:23He summoned them and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?Mark 3:26If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end.Mark 4:15The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.Mark 8:33But he, turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”
Luke14 mentions
Luke 4:2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.Luke 4:3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”Luke 4:5The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.Luke 4:6The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I want.Luke 4:8Jesus answered him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”Luke 4:13When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.Luke 8:12Those along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.Luke 10:18He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.Luke 11:15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”Luke 11:18If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.Luke 11:19But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.Luke 13:16Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”Luke 22:3Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve.Luke 22:31The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have all of you, that he might sift you as wheat,
John3 mentions
John 8:44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.…John 13:2During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,John 13:27After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
Acts4 mentions
Acts 5:3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?Acts 10:38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.Acts 13:10and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?Acts 26:18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified…
Romans1 mention
1 Corinthians2 mentions
1 Corinthians 5:5you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.1 Corinthians 7:5Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your…
2 Corinthians4 mentions
2 Corinthians 2:11that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.2 Corinthians 6:15What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?2 Corinthians 11:14And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.2 Corinthians 12:7By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should…
Ephesians2 mentions
1 Thessalonians1 mention
2 Thessalonians1 mention
1 Timothy4 mentions
1 Timothy 1:20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they might be taught not to blaspheme.1 Timothy 3:6not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.1 Timothy 3:7Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.1 Timothy 5:15For already some have turned away after Satan.
2 Timothy1 mention
1 Peter1 mention
1 John2 mentions
1 John 3:8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil.1 John 3:10In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.
Revelation10 mentions
Revelation 2:9“I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days.…Revelation 2:13“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed…Revelation 2:24But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira—as many as don’t have this teaching, who don’t know what some call ‘the deep things of Satan’—to you I say, I am not putting any other…Revelation 3:9Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I…Revelation 12:9The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down…Revelation 12:12Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.”Revelation 20:2He seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years,Revelation 20:7And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prisonRevelation 20:10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
What the dictionary says
Adversary; accuser.
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain