Lexical Summary satan: Satan, adversary, accuser Original Word: שָׂטָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance adversary, Satan, withstand From satan; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good -- adversary, Satan, withstand. see HEBREW satan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition adversary, also the name of the superhuman adversary of God NASB Translation accuser (1), adversary (8), Satan (18). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׂטָן noun masculinePsalm 109:6 1 adversary. 2 Satan (Late Hebrew שָׂטָן, סָטָן; Aramaic שָׂטָנָא, סָטָנָא, Syriac 1 adversary, in General, personal or national; (ל) ׳הָיָה לְשׂ Numbers 22:22 (JE), 1 Samuel 29:4 (compare NesMarg. 15), 2 Samuel 19:23, ׳יָצָא לְשׂ Numbers 22:32 (JE); ׳שׂ 1 Kings 5:18; 1 Kings 11:25; ל ׳הֵקִים שׂ, subject God 1 Kings 11:14,23, compare Psalm 109:6 ("" רָשָׁע). 2 superhuman adversary, ׳הַשּׂ: a. of Job, one of בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים Job 1:6,7 (twice in verse); Job 1:8,9,12 (twice in verse); Job 2:1,2(twice in verse); Job 2:3,4 (twice in verse); Job 2:6,7. b. of high priest of Israel before ׳י, Zechariah 3:1,2(twice in verse); ᵐ5. ὁ διάβολος. c. as proper name ׳שׂ Satan 1 Chronicles 21:1 (interpret 2 Samuel 24:1), ᵐ5 διάβολος (ᵐ5 σατάν 1 Kings 11:14,23; Σατανᾶς Matthew 4:10; Mark 1:13; Luke 10:18 33t. NT). Topical Lexicon Overview The noun translated “adversary” or transliterated “Satan” appears about twenty-seven times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Its core idea is opposition—whether military, legal, political, or spiritual. Context determines whether the term refers to a human foe, a divinely appointed hindrance, or the distinct personal being later called “the devil.” Range of Usage 1. Human opponents: 1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 5:4; 1 Kings 11:14, 23, 25; Psalm 109:6. Narrative Occurrences • Balaam’s Road (Numbers 22) “The Angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him.” The malʾak becomes “an adversary” to protect Israel from Balaam’s reckless intent, showing that God can employ even His own messenger as a barrier to sin. • David among the Philistines (1 Samuel 29:4) Philistine commanders fear David will become “our adversary during the fighting,” revealing the ordinary military sense of the word. • Hadad and Rezon against Solomon (1 Kings 11) Because Solomon’s heart turned after foreign gods, “the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite” (1 Kings 11:14) and later Rezon (11:23). Here the term underscores divine sovereignty in history: God disciplines covenant unfaithfulness by permitting hostile forces. • Satan incites the census (1 Chronicles 21:1) “Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census.” Unlike 2 Samuel 24:1, which attributes the incitement to the LORD’s anger, Chronicles identifies the personal Satan, indicating progressive revelation without contradiction: divine judgment may operate through a malicious spiritual agent. • Job’s Testing (Job 1–2) A heavenly council scene portrays Satan questioning Job’s motives: “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9). Permission to test but not destroy underscores God’s rulership and Satan’s limits. • Joshua the High Priest (Zechariah 3) Satan stands to accuse, but “the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you.’” The high priest’s filthy garments are exchanged for clean ones, foreshadowing the coming Messianic cleansing. The Personal Satan: Profile and Purpose 1. Accuser: He prosecutes God’s people (Job; Zechariah). Human and Providential Adversaries The same word designates national enemies and even friends who momentarily oppose righteous purposes (2 Samuel 19:22). Thus the text warns that “satanic” opposition can surface in ordinary relationships, reminding believers of the need for discernment and prayer. Spiritual Warfare and Ministry Significance • God may allow opposition to refine faith (Job; Numbers 22). Christological Fulfillment The Old Testament anticipates a definitive Rebuker. Jesus confronts and overcomes the adversary in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11) and at the cross (Colossians 2:15). His authority validates the hope implicit in Zechariah 3 and secures the believer’s standing (Romans 8:33–34). Key Themes for Teaching • God’s sovereignty over every adversary. Summary Across its twenty-seven occurrences, שָׂטָן ranges from ordinary enemy to the cosmic accuser. The consistent thread is opposition to God’s redemptive purposes—a hostility God overrules for His glory and the good of His people. Forms and Transliterations הַשָּׂטָ֔ן הַשָּׂטָ֖ן הַשָּׂטָ֗ן הַשָּׂטָ֛ן הַשָּׂטָ֤ן הַשָּׂטָן֙ השטן וְ֝שָׂטָ֗ן וְהַשָּׂטָ֛ן והשטן ושטן לְשָׂטָ֑ן לְשָׂטָ֔ן לְשָׂטָ֖ן לְשָׂטָ֣ן לשטן שָׂטָ֔ן שָׂטָ֖ן שָׂטָ֤ן שָׂטָן֙ שטן haś·śā·ṭān hassaTan haśśāṭān lə·śā·ṭān lesaTan ləśāṭān śā·ṭān saTan śāṭān vehassaTan vesaTan wə·haś·śā·ṭān wə·śā·ṭān wəhaśśāṭān wəśāṭānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 22:22 HEB: יְהוָ֛ה בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ לְשָׂטָ֣ן ל֑וֹ וְהוּא֙ NAS: in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding KJV: in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding INT: of the LORD the way an adversary now he was riding Numbers 22:32 1 Samuel 29:4 2 Samuel 19:22 1 Kings 5:4 1 Kings 11:14 1 Kings 11:23 1 Kings 11:25 1 Chronicles 21:1 Job 1:6 Job 1:7 Job 1:7 Job 1:8 Job 1:9 Job 1:12 Job 1:12 Job 2:1 Job 2:2 Job 2:2 Job 2:3 Job 2:4 Job 2:6 Job 2:7 Psalm 109:6 Zechariah 3:1 27 Occurrences |
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(Hebrew); Late Hebrew verb סָטַן, Aramaic סְטַן; Arabic 
is be remote, especially from the truth, and from the mercy of God; 
Satan, Ethiopic 
:); —