Satan — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Spirit being who opposes God and seeks to frustrate his plans and lead his people into rebellion.

Satan is seldom mentioned in the OT. He is pictured as an angel who acts as the heavenly prosecutor (Jb 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Zec 3:1-2). As such, he is called “the satan” or “the accuser,” and there is nothing in the context to indicate that the angel is evil. It is not until the late OT period that Satan appears as a tempter: in 1 Chronicles 21:1, the story of 2 Samuel 24:1 is retold with Satan (used for the first time as a proper name) substituted for God and pictured as an evil figure. The OT, then, has no developed doctrine of Satan but contains the raw material from which the later doctrine came. (Some people see Lucifer of Is 14:12 as a reference to Satan, but the context is clearly referring to the king of Babylon; it is therefore unlikely that any reference to Satan was intended.)

Show passage in OET: JOB 1:6–12

OET-RV JOB 1:6

6 It was the day that God’s sons came to present themselves to Yahweh, and the adversary (Satan) was also there among them.

OET-RV JOB 1:7

7 Yahweh asked him, “Where have you just come from?”
¶ “I have come from the earth, where I was travelling around to see what was going on.” Satan replied.

OET-RV JOB 1:8

8 “Have you noticed my servant Iyov (Job)?” Yahweh asked. “There’s no one else like him on the whole earth—a blameless and righteous man who obeys me God and avoids anything evil.”

OET-RV JOB 1:9

9 “Does Iyov get nothing back for respecting God?” Satan answered Yahweh.

OET-RV JOB 1:10

10 “Don’t you constantly protect him and his household and everything that’s his? You’ve blessed what he works on, and his livestock have multiplied prolifically.

OET-RV JOB 1:11

11 However, just stretch out your hand and ruin everything he has, then we’ll see that he’ll curse you to your face.”

OET-RV JOB 1:12

12 “Listen, I’ll cede you control over everything he has,” Yahweh replied. “Only just don’t do anything against Iyov himself.” So the adversary went away from Yahweh’s presence.

OET-LV JOB 1:6

6 And_he/it _was the_day and_ the _sons _of the_ʼElohīm _they _came to_present _themselves on YHWH and_ also the_adversary _he _came among_them.

OET-LV JOB 1:7

7 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the_adversary from_where are _you _coming and_ the_adversary _he _answered DOM YHWH and_he _said from_going _about on _the_earth and_from_going _about on_it.

OET-LV JOB 1:8

8 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the_adversary have_you _set heart _of_your on servant _of_my ʼIyyōⱱ/(Job) if/because there_is_not like_him on _the_earth a _man blameless and_upright fearing _of (of)_god and_who_turns _aside from_evil.

OET-LV JOB 1:9

9 And_ the_adversary _he _answered DOM YHWH and_he _said in_vain ʼIyyōⱱ/(Job) has _he _feared god.

OET-LV JOB 1:10

10 Not you have _you _put _a _hedge behind_him and_behind house _of_his and_behind all _of that to_him/it from_round _about the _work _of his _hands _of_his you _have _blessed and_livestock _of_his it _has _spread _out on _the_earth.

OET-LV JOB 1:11

11 And_but stretch _out please hand _of_your and_touch in_all that to_him/it if not on face _of_your he_will _bless _you.

OET-LV JOB 1:12

12 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the_adversary THERE all _of that to_him/it is_in_hand _of_your only to_him/it do _not stretch _out hand _of_your and_ the_adversary _he/it _went _out from_with the _presence _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: JOB 2:1–7

OET-RV JOB 2:1

2 It was the day that God’s sons came to present themselves to Yahweh and the adversary (Satan) was also there among them.

OET-RV JOB 2:2

2 “Where have you come from?” Yahweh asked the adversary.
¶ “From wandering on the earth and going back and forth on it,” he answered.

OET-RV JOB 2:3

3 “Have you noticed my servant Iyov (Job)?” Yahweh asked Satan, “because there’s no one like him on the earth—a blameless and righteous man, striving to obey God and turning from evil. And he’s still holding firmly to his integrity, even though you incited me against him, to ruin him for nothing.”

OET-RV JOB 2:4

4 “Skin for skin,” replied the adversary, “actually, a person will give everything they have to save their life.

OET-RV JOB 2:5

5 However, just reach out and touch his flesh and bones, and see if he doesn’t curse you to your face.”

OET-RV JOB 2:6

6 “Listen,” Yahweh said to him, “I’ll give you power over him, but you must preserve his life.”

OET-RV JOB 2:7

7 So the adversary went away from Yahweh’s presence, and he infected Iyov with bad boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head.

OET-LV JOB 2:1

2 And_he/it _was the_day and_ the _sons _of the_ʼElohīm _they _came to_present _themselves on YHWH and_ also the_adversary _he _came among_them to_present _himself on YHWH.

OET-LV JOB 2:2

2 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the_adversary where from_this are _you _coming and_ the_adversary _he _answered DOM YHWH and_he _said from_going _about on _the_earth and_from_going _about on_it.

OET-LV JOB 2:3

3 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the_adversary have_you _set heart _of_your to servant _of_my ʼIyyōⱱ/(Job) if/because there_is_not like_him on _the_earth a _man blameless and_upright fearing _of (of)_god and_who_turns _aside from_evil and_still_he is_keeping _hold on_integrity _of_his and_you_incited _me in_him/it to_ruin_him without _cause.

OET-LV JOB 2:4

4 And_ the_adversary _he _answered DOM YHWH and_he _said skin for skin and_all/each/any/every that belongs_to_man he _will _give for life _of_his.

OET-LV JOB 2:5

5 But stretch _out please hand _of_your and_touch (to) bone _of_his and_near/to flesh _of_his if not to face _of_your he_will _bless _you.

OET-LV JOB 2:6

6 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the_adversary THERE_he is_in_hand _of_your nevertheless DOM life _of_his preserve.

OET-LV JOB 2:7

7 And_ the_adversary _he/it _went _out from_with the _presence _of YHWH and_he _struck DOM ʼIyyōⱱ/(Job) with_boil[s] bad from_the _sole _of his _foot _of_his and_to of _his _head _of_the _crown.

Show passage in OET: ZEC 3:1–2

OET-RV ZEC 3:1

3 Then Yahweh showed me the high priest Yehoshua (Joshua) standing in front of Yahweh’s messenger, and Satan was standing at his right to accuse him.

OET-RV ZEC 3:2

2 But Yahweh told Satan, “May Yahweh rebuke you, Satan—may Yahweh who’s chosen Yerushalem (Jerusalem), rebuke you. Isn’t he energetic like a burning stick taken out of the fire?”

OET-LV ZEC 3:1

3 And_he_showed _me DOM Yəhōshūˊa/(Joshua) the_priest/officer (the)_great standing to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _messenger _of YHWH and_the_accuser was_standing at hand _of_his _right to_accuse_him.

OET-LV ZEC 3:2

2 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to the_accuser YHWH may _he _rebuke (in)_you Oh_accuser and_may _he _rebuke YHWH (in)_you who_has_chosen (in)_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) am_not is_this a _piece _of _firewood plucked _out from_a _fire.

Show passage in OET: CH1 21:1

OET-RV CH1 21:1

21 Then a trouble-maker worked against Yisrael (Israel) by encouraging David to take a census of Yisrael,

OET-LV CH1 21:1

21 And_ an _adversary _he _rose _up on Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he _incited DOM Dāvid to_count DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: SA2 24:1

OET-RV SA2 24:1

24 Then Yahweh was angry against Yisrael (Israel) again and he incited David to cause problems for them by saying, “Go and order a census of Yisrael and Yehudah (Judah).”

OET-LV SA2 24:1

24 And_ the _anger of_YHWH _it _repeated to_burn on_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he _incited DOM Dāvid (is)_in_them to_say go count DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_DOM Yəhūdāh/(Judah).

Show passage in OET: ISA 14:12

OET-RV ISA 14:12

12 How you’ve fallen from heaven, you shining son of the dawn.
⇔ ≈ You’ve been cut down to the ground, you who defeated nations.

OET-LV ISA 14:12

12 How you _have _fallen from_heaven Oh _shining _one son _of dawn you _have _been _cut _down to_ground Oh_you _who_defeat over the_nations.

Jump to OET JOB 1:6–12 section.

Jump to OET JOB 2:1–7 section.

Jump to OET ZEC 3:1–2 section.

Jump to OET CH1 21:1 section.

Jump to OET SA2 24:1 section.

Jump to OET ISA 14:12 section.

The Jews further developed the idea of Satan during the intertestamental period, also calling him Belial, Mastema, and Sammael. Three differing conceptions appear. First, the Satan of the OT reappears in the roles of tempting people, of accusing them in heaven before God, and of hindering God’s saving plan (Jubilees 11:5; 17:16; Assumption of Moses 17; 1 Enoch 40:7). Second, the Dead Sea Scrolls present Satan (Belial) as the leader of the evil forces and attacker of the righteous. This development was probably influenced by the evil god of Zoroastrian religion. But unlike the Zoroastrian idea, the scrolls never present two gods but rather one God who has created both Belial and the Prince of Light (who is sure to win in the end, for God is with him). Third, in this literature Satan is often identified with OT stories from which his name was originally absent: he lusted after Eve and therefore caused the fall (Wisd of Sol 2:24), he controls the angels who fell in Genesis 6:1-4 (Jubilees 10:5-8; 19:28), or he is a fallen angel himself (2 Enoch 29:4).

Show passage in OET: WIS 2:24

OET-RV WIS 2:24

24 but death entered into the world by the envy of the devil,
⇔ and those who belong to him experience it.

OET-LV WIS 2:24

24 envy but/and devilish/the_Devil death to_enter toward the/this/who world; ⟦πειράζουσι⟧ but/and he/she/it/self the/this/who the/this/who that part to_be.

Show passage in OET: GEN 6:1–4

OET-RV GEN 6:1

6 When people began to multiply on the earth’s surface, and they were having daughters,

OET-RV GEN 6:2

2 God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives.

OET-RV GEN 6:3

3 Then Yahweh said, “My Spirit won’t tolerate people forever, because they are physical beings, therefore their remaining time will be 120 years.”

OET-RV GEN 6:4

4 The NEFILIM were on the earth in those days and also after that, when the sons of God went to the daughters of humankind and they bore children for them. INVESTIGATE They were the mighty warriors of long ago—those famous men.

OET-LV GEN 6:1

6 And_he/it _was if/because the_humankind it _began to_increase _in _number on the _surface _of the_soil and_daughters they _were _born to/for_them.

OET-LV GEN 6:2

2 And_ the _sons _of the_ʼElohīm _they _saw DOM the _daughters _of the_humankind if/because _that were_good they and_they _took to/for_them wives from_all whom they _chose.

OET-LV GEN 6:3

3 And_ YHWH _he/it _said not my_breath/wind/spirit it _will _remain in/on _the_humankind to_vanishing _point in/on_that_also he is_flesh and_they _will _be his/its_days one _hundred and_twenty year[s].

OET-LV GEN 6:4

4 The_Nefilim/Nephilim they _were in/on _the_earth in _the_days those and_also after thus when the _sons _of the_ʼElohīm they _went into the _daughters _of the_humankind and_they _gave _birth to/for_them they the_powerful/mighty(pl) who from_long _ago/eternity the _men _of the_name.

Jump to OET WIS 2:24 section.

Jump to OET GEN 6:1–4 section.

The NT has a developed portrayal of Satan, and he comes with a whole list of names: Satan (Hebrew for “accuser”), devil (the Greek translation of Satan), Belial, Beelzebul, the Adversary, the Dragon, the Enemy, the Serpent, the Tester, and the Wicked One. Satan is pictured as the ruler of a host of angels (Mt 25:41) and the controller of the world (Lk 4:6; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor 4:4), who especially governs all who are not Christians (Mk 4:15; Jn 8:44; Acts 13:10; Col 1:13). He is opposed to God and seeks to alienate all people from God; therefore, he is an especially dangerous foe of Christians (Lk 8:33; 1 Cor 7:5; 1 Pt 5:8), who must steadfastly resist him and see through his cunning (2 Cor 2:11; Eph 6:11; Jas 4:7). Satan works his evil will by tempting persons (Jn 13:2; Acts 5:3), by hindering God’s workers (1 Thes 2:18), by accusing Christians before God (Rv 12:10), and by controlling the evil persons who resist the gospel (2 Thes 2:9; Rv 2:9, 13 OET REV 2:9 · OET REV 2:13; 13:2).

Show passage in OET: MAT 25:41

OET-RV MAT 25:41

41 “Then the king will also speak to the ones on his left, ‘Get away from me you cursed people. You’ll go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his messengers,

OET-LV MAT 25:41

41 Then he_˓will˒_ also _be _saying to _the ones on the_left:
Be _going from me having _been _cursed ones into the the eternal fire, which having _been _prepared for _the devil and the messengers of _him.

Show passage in OET: LUK 4:6

OET-RV LUK 4:6

6 and he said, “I’ll give you this entire domain and the status of these kingdoms because it’s been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want,

OET-LV LUK 4:6

6 And the devil said to _him:
I _will _be _giving to _you the all this domain and the glory of _them, because has _been _given _over to _me and I _am _giving it to _whom if I _may _be _wanting.

Show passage in OET: ACT 26:18

OET-RV ACT 26:18

18 to open their minds and for them to turn back from darkness to light and from Satan’s power to God, so that they can be forgiven for their sins and receive an inheritance among the ones who’ve been made guiltless by their faith in me.’

OET-LV ACT 26:18

18 to _open _up eyes of _them, for _that to _turn _back from darkness to light, and from _the power of_ the _Satan/(Sāţān) to the god, for _that them to _receive forgiveness of _sins and allotment among the ones having _been _sanctified by _faith which in me.

Show passage in OET: CO2 4:4

OET-RV CO2 4:4

4 The god of this age has blinded the thinking of the unbelievers so that the light of the good message about the greatness of the messiah who’s God’s image, doesn’t radiate out to them,

OET-LV CO2 4:4

4 in whom the god of_ the _age this blinded the thinking of _the unbelievers, in _order that not to _radiate the enlightenment of _the good _message of _the glory of _the chosen _one /messiah, who is the_image of_ the _god.

Show passage in OET: MRK 4:15

OET-RV MRK 4:15

15 and there are some along the path where the good message is being spread, who hear, but Satan turns up immediately and snatches the message that had been planted in them.

OET-LV MRK 4:15

15 And these are the ones along the road where the message is _being _sown, and whenever they _may _hear, the Satan/(Sāţān) immediately is _coming and is _carrying the message which having _been _sown in them.

Show passage in OET: JHN 8:44

OET-RV JHN 8:44

44 is because you come from your father, the devil, and you want to do what your father wants. But he was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stick to the truth because there’s no truth in him. Whenever he tells lies, he’s speaking from his own nature, because he’s a liar and the source of lying.

OET-LV JHN 8:44

44 You _all are of the father the devil, and you _all _are _wanting to _be _doing the desires of _the father of _you _all.
That one was a_murderer from the_beginning, and has_ not _stood in the truth, because truth is not in him.
Whenever he _may _be _speaking the falsehood, he _is _speaking from his own, because he _is a_liar, and the father of _it.

Show passage in OET: ACT 13:10

OET-RV ACT 13:10

10 and said, “You’re full of all kinds of deceit and fraud you child of the devil. Will you never stop twisting the truth about following the master?

OET-LV ACT 13:10

10 said:
Oh son of_the_devil full of _all deceit and all fraud, enemy of _all righteousness, not ˓will˒_you _be _ceasing perverting the the straight ways of _the master?

Show passage in OET: COL 1:13

OET-RV COL 1:13

13 The father rescued us from the power of darkness and redirected us into the kingdom of his dear son—

OET-LV COL 1:13

13 who rescued us from the power of_ the _darkness, and redirected us into the kingdom of _the son of _the love of _him,

Show passage in OET: LUK 8:33

OET-RV LUK 8:33

33 So the demons rushed out of the man and into the pigs, and all the pigs then rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

OET-LV LUK 8:33

33 And the demons having _come _out from the man, they _came _in into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep _bank into the lake, and was _drowned.

Show passage in OET: CO1 7:5

OET-RV CO1 7:5

5 Don’t deprive each other, except by mutual agreement so that you may devote yourselves to prayer for an agreed time, and then be together again, so that Satan can’t easily tempt you all because of your lack of self-control.

OET-LV CO1 7:5

5 Not be _defrauding one _another, if surely _not wishfully by harmonious for a_time, in _order _that you _all _may _have _leisure the for _prayer, and again with the same you _all _may _be, in _order _that not may _be _tempt you _all the Satan/(Sāţān), because _of the intemperance of _you _all.

Show passage in OET: PE1 5:8

OET-RV PE1 5:8

8 Stay alert and keep watch. Your opponent, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, wanting to swallow up you chosen people,

OET-LV PE1 5:8

8 Be _sober, watch.
The opponent of _you _all, the_devil, is _walking as a_lion roaring, seeking to _swallow _up,

Show passage in OET: CO2 2:11

OET-RV CO2 2:11

11 so that we can’t be exploited by Satan (because we’re not ignorant about his intentions).

OET-LV CO2 2:11

11 in _order _that not we _may _be _exploited by the Satan/(Sāţān), because/for not of _him the thinking we _are _not _knowing.

Show passage in OET: EPH 6:11

OET-RV EPH 6:11

11 Wear God’s complete armour because it will enable you to stand up against the devil’s schemes.

OET-LV EPH 6:11

11 Dress _in the whole _armor of_ the _god, because/for that you _all to _be _able to _stand against the schemings of _the devil.

Show passage in OET: JAM 4:7

OET-RV JAM 4:7

7 So strive then to do what God wants of you. Resist the devil and he will flee away from you.

OET-LV JAM 4:7

7 Therefore be _subjected to_ the _god.
But resist against _the devil, and he _will _be _fleeing from you _all.

Show passage in OET: JHN 13:2

OET-RV JHN 13:2

2 And now it was getting near time for the dinner and the devil had already put into Yehudah (Judas; Grk. Yudas) Iskariot’s mind the idea of handing Yeshua over to the authorities.

OET-LV JHN 13:2

2 And becoming, supper, the devil already having _put into the heart Youdas/(Yəhūdāh) of _Simōn Iskariōtaʸs that may _give_ him _over

Show passage in OET: ACT 5:3

OET-RV ACT 5:3

3 Then Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros) said, “Hananyah, why has Satan filled your mind such that you would lie to the holy spirit and keep aside some of the proceeds of the property?

OET-LV ACT 5:3

3 But the Petros said:
Ananias, because/for_ Why _reason the Satan/(Sāţān) filled the heart of _you, for _you to _lie to _the the holy spirit, and to _embezzle from the value of _the property?

Show passage in OET: TH1 2:18

OET-RV TH1 2:18

18 We wanted to come and see you all—I, Paulos, even tried twice to come—but Satan held us back.

OET-LV TH1 2:18

18 Because we _wanted to _come to you _all, I indeed Paulos, both once and twice, and hindered us the Satan/(Sāţān).

Show passage in OET: REV 12:10

OET-RV REV 12:10

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now our god’s salvation and power and kingdom have come, and the authority of his messiah, because the accuser of the believers has been thrown out—the one who spent day and night in front of God accusing them.

OET-LV REV 12:10

10 And I _heard a_voice great in the heaven saying:
Now became the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of_ the _god of _us, and the authority of _the chosen _one /messiah of _him, because was _thrown down the accuser of _the brothers of _us, the one accusing them before the god of _us, by _day and night.

Show passage in OET: TH2 2:9

OET-RV TH2 2:9

9 The lawless man was coming and working under Satan with his power and signs and false miracles

OET-LV TH2 2:9

9 of _whom is the coming, according _to the_working of_ the _Satan/(Sāţān) in every power, and signs, and wonders of _falsehood,

Show passage in OET: REV 2:9; REV 2:13

OET-RV REV 2:9

9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty, but you’re actually rich! I also know how about the slander of those who consider themselves to be Yehudim (Jews), but they’re not true Yehudim because their master is Satan.

OET-RV REV 2:13

13 “I know where you live: where Satan’s throne is. Despite that, you firmly believe in me and you haven’t denied your faith in me, even when Antipas, the faithful man who told others about me was killed in your city, where Satan lives.

OET-LV REV 2:9

9 I _have _known of _you the tribulation and the poverty (but rich you _are), and the slander of the ones saying Youdaiōns to _be themselves, and not they _are, but are a_synagogue of_ the _Satan/(Sāţān).

OET-LV REV 2:13

13 I _have _known where you _are _dwelling, where the throne of_ the _Satan is, and you _are _taking _hold _of the name of _me, and not disowned the faith of _me, even in the days of _Antipas, the witness of _me the faithful of _me, who was _killed _off among you _all, where the Satan is _dwelling.

Show passage in OET: REV 13:2

OET-RV REV 13:2

2 The sea creature that I saw was like a leopard with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion, and the dinosaur gave it his power and his throne and wide-ranging authority.

OET-LV REV 13:2

2 And the wild _animal that I _saw was similar to_a_leopard, and the feet of _it like of_a_bear, and the mouth of _it like the_mouth of_a_lion.
And gave to _it the dragon the power of _him, and the throne of _him, and authority great.

Jump to OET MAT 25:41 section.

Jump to OET LUK 4:6 section.

Jump to OET ACT 26:18 section.

Jump to OET CO2 4:4 section.

Jump to OET MRK 4:15 section.

Jump to OET JHN 8:44 section.

Jump to OET ACT 13:10 section.

Jump to OET COL 1:13 section.

Jump to OET LUK 8:33 section.

Jump to OET CO1 7:5 section.

Jump to OET PE1 5:8 section.

Jump to OET CO2 2:11 section.

Jump to OET EPH 6:11 section.

Jump to OET JAM 4:7 section.

Jump to OET JHN 13:2 section.

Jump to OET ACT 5:3 section.

Jump to OET TH1 2:18 section.

Jump to OET REV 12:10 section.

Jump to OET TH2 2:9 section.

Jump to OET REV 2:9 section. · OET REV 2:13 section.

Jump to OET REV 13:2 section.

Most importantly, however, the NT teaches us that this being, who has been evil from the beginning (1 Jn 3:8), has now been bound and cast out of heaven through the ministry of Jesus (Lk 10:18; Rv 12). While Satan is still a dangerous enemy, Jesus himself prays for us and has given us the powerful weapons of prayer, faith, and the efficacy of his blood. Satan can still cause physical illness when allowed by God (2 Cor 12:7), and persons can be delivered over to him for punishment (1 Cor 5:5; 1 Tm 1:20). Satan will always be under God’s control, who will eventually destroy him (Rom 16:20; Rv 20:10).