Who Is satan? Names, Titles, and What the Bible Actually Says
Cutting Through Tradition to the Text
Unmasking satan: A Biblical Deep Dive
Who Is satan? Names, Titles, and What the Bible Actually Says
Cutting Through Tradition to the Text
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For most people, the word “satan” conjures images of horns, red skin, a pitchfork, and a throne of fire. Others picture a fallen angel named “Lucifer,” cast out of heaven before time began, now ruling over legions of demons. But how much of this is biblical, and how much comes from art, literature, and tradition?
The Bible does not leave us in the dark. It presents a portrait of satan that is real, coherent, and terrifyingly relevant—but also limited, subordinate, and doomed. To truly grasp the adversary we face, we must go back to the text, not the folklore.
📝 Note: In this series we use satan with lowercase (as per your preference) to emphasize that he is a created being, not worthy of honor or elevation.
The Linguistic Foundations: Hebrew and Greek
The Hebrew word śāṭān simply means “adversary” or “accuser.” In several Old Testament passages, it describes human opposition (1 Sam 29:4; 2 Sam 19:22). But when paired with the definite article—haśśāṭān (“the satan”)—it designates a cosmic adversary.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” (ESV)
Here satan functions as an accuser, a prosecutor figure, appearing before God to challenge the integrity of Job.
In the New Testament, the Greek diabolos (“slanderer”) becomes the dominant term. From it we get the English word “devil.”
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (ESV)
📝 Takeaway: In both Hebrew and Greek, the emphasis is not on a personal name, but on the role—one who opposes, accuses, and slanders.
📖 Source: Brown, Driver, Briggs (1906). Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Read [lexicon entry]: archive.org.
satan in the Old Testament
The Old Testament provides several snapshots of satan at work:
The Book of Job — satan questions Job’s motives, arguing that Job only fears God because of blessing. God grants permission to test Job, but always with limits (Job 1:12; 2:6).
Zechariah 3:1–2 — satan accuses Joshua the high priest, but the Lord rebukes him: “The LORD rebuke you, O satan! … Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
1 Chronicles 21:1 — satan incites David to take a census, but in 2 Samuel 24 the same act is attributed to God’s anger, showing God’s sovereignty even over satan’s instigations.
📝 In the OT, satan never acts freely. He is an accuser, tempter, or opposer—but never outside of God’s control.
Intertestamental Development
Between Malachi and Matthew, Jewish writings such as 1 Enoch and the Book of Jubilees expand the concept of satan and fallen angels. They portray cosmic rebels influencing humanity. While not Scripture, these writings influenced the cultural backdrop of the New Testament.
📖 Source: Charlesworth, James H. (ed.) (1983). The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. Doubleday.
📝 NT authors sometimes echo this worldview (2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6), but they never grant satan equal status with God.
Jesus and satan: The Showdown
The New Testament presents Jesus as the decisive opponent of satan.
Temptation in the Wilderness (Matt 4/Luke 4): satan tempts Jesus three times, twisting Scripture. Jesus resists by quoting Scripture truthfully.
Exorcisms: Jesus consistently casts out demons, signaling the inbreaking Kingdom of God (Matt 12:28).
The Strong Man Parable: Jesus says He binds the strong man (satan) to plunder his house (Matt 12:29).
Luke 10:18: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” This points to satan’s defeat as Christ’s Kingdom advances.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. (ESV)
📝 Jesus’ ministry is the turning point: satan’s power is exposed, bound, and broken.
Apostolic Teaching: The Enemy’s Schemes
The apostles consistently warn believers of satan’s activity:
Paul: satan blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Cor 4:4), masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14), and schemes against the church (Eph 6:11).
Peter: satan prowls like a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8–9).
James: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
John: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Jude: fallen angels are kept in chains for judgment (Jude 6).
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)
Names and Titles of satan in the Bible
The Bible ascribes several titles to the adversary:
Accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10)
Tempter (Matt 4:3)
The Evil One (Matt 13:19; 1 John 5:19)
Prince of this world (John 12:31)
God of this age (2 Cor 4:4)
The Deceiver (Rev 12:9)
Beelzebul (Matt 12:24)
📝 Each title emphasizes function, not personal identity. The Bible never elevates satan to God’s level—he is always the creature, never the Creator.
Misconceptions and Tradition
“Lucifer” — The King James Version (Isa 14:12) introduced this through Latin “lucifer” (“light-bearer”), referring to the morning star. The original text is a taunt against the king of Babylon, not a personal name for satan. Later tradition applied it to him.
Pitchfork and Red Skin — This comes from medieval art and later literature, not Scripture.
Equal Rival of God — Dualism (two equal cosmic forces of good and evil) is foreign to biblical theology.
📖 Source: Kelly, Henry Ansgar (2006). Satan: A Biography. Cambridge University Press.
satan’s Role in God’s Plan
The Bible shows satan as real and active, but always under God’s leash. He accuses, tempts, deceives—but never acts beyond divine permission.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (ESV)
📝 satan’s opposition serves to reveal God’s greater glory, Christ’s victory, and the believer’s dependence on the Spirit.
The End of satan
The story concludes with judgment:
10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (ESV)
satan’s destiny is sealed. His time is short. His defeat is certain.
Final Thought
The Bible’s testimony about satan strips away myth and confusion. He is a real spiritual adversary—cunning, powerful, deceptive—but always limited, always subordinate, and ultimately doomed. Christ’s death and resurrection have already broken his power. The believer’s task is not to fear, but to stand firm, resist, and walk in Christ’s victory.
Ask Yourself:
Am I more influenced by cultural depictions of satan or by the Bible’s testimony?
Where do I see satan’s tactics of accusation, deception, or temptation in my own life?
How can I more faithfully put on the armor of God to resist him?
Join the Discussion:
What most surprised you about the biblical picture of satan compared to traditional or cultural ideas?
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