In biblical terminology, the term "accuser" is often associated with Satan, who is depicted as the adversary of humanity and the one who brings charges against believers. The concept of the accuser is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, where it is used to describe the role of Satan as the one who opposes and seeks to undermine the faith and righteousness of God's people.

Old Testament Context

The Hebrew word for accuser is "satan," which means adversary or opponent. This term is used in various contexts, but it is most notably personified in the Book of Job. In Job 1:6-12 , Satan appears before God as the accuser, challenging the integrity of Job's faithfulness. Here, Satan's role is to question and test the righteousness of God's servant, suggesting that Job's piety is merely a result of his prosperity and protection from God.

Zechariah 3:1-2 also presents a vivid image of the accuser: "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan: 'The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?'" In this vision, Satan stands ready to accuse Joshua, the high priest, but the LORD rebukes him, emphasizing God's authority and protection over His chosen people.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the role of the accuser is further developed, particularly in the writings of the Apostle John. Revelation 12:10 identifies Satan as "the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before our God." This passage highlights the continuous nature of Satan's accusations against believers, portraying him as a relentless adversary who seeks to condemn and destroy.

The New Testament also provides assurance of victory over the accuser through the work of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:33-34 states, "Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is there to condemn? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us." This passage underscores the belief that, despite the accusations of Satan, believers are justified and defended by Christ's intercession.

Theological Implications

The role of the accuser in Scripture serves as a reminder of the spiritual battle that believers face. Satan's accusations are intended to sow doubt, fear, and guilt, undermining the confidence of believers in their relationship with God. However, the Bible consistently affirms that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are justified and protected from the accusations of the enemy.

The accuser's role also highlights the importance of spiritual vigilance and reliance on God's grace and truth. Ephesians 6:11-12 encourages believers to "put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

In summary, the concept of the accuser in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the adversarial role of Satan against God's people, while simultaneously affirming the ultimate victory and protection found in Jesus Christ.Satan is styled the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10. Comp. Job 1:6; Zechariah 3:1), as seeking to uphold his influence among men by bringing false charges against Christians, with the view of weakening their influence and injuring the cause with which they are identified. He was regarded by the Jews as the accuser of men before God, laying to their charge the violations of the law of which they were guilty, and demanding their punishment. The same Greek word, rendered "accuser," is found in John 8:10 (but omitted in the Revised Version); Acts 23:30, 35; 24:8; 25:16, 18, in all of which places it is used of one who brings a charge against another. (n.) One who accuses; one who brings a charge of crime or fault.ACCUSER

a-kuz'-er: This word, not found in the Old Testament, is the rendering of two Greek words:

(1) kategoros, that is, a prosecutor, or plaintiff in a lawsuit, or one who speaks in a derogatory way of another (Acts 23:30, 35; Acts 25:16, 18 Revelation 12:10);

(2) diabolos, meaning adversary or enemy. This word is rendered "accuser" in the King James Version and "slanderer" in the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version (2 Timothy 3:3 Titus 2:3). According to the rabbinic teaching Satan, or the devil, was regarded as hostile to God and man, and that it was a part of his work to accuse the latter of disloyalty and sin before the tribunal of the former (see Job 1:6; Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10).

W. W. Davies

2725. kategoros -- an accuser
... an accuser. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kategoros Phonetic
Spelling: (kat-ay'-gor-os) Short Definition: a prosecutor, accuser Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2725.htm - 6k

2725b. kategor -- an accuser
... an accuser. Transliteration: kategor Short Definition: accuser. Word Origin a form
of kategoros Definition an accuser NASB Word Usage accuser (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2725b.htm - 5k

2725a. kategoros -- an accuser
... an accuser. Transliteration: kategoros Short Definition: accusers. Word Origin from
the same as kategoreo Definition an accuser NASB Word Usage accusers (5). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2725a.htm - 5k

1228. diabolos -- slanderous, accusing falsely
... also ). 1228 () in Greek means "backbiter," ie an accuser, calumniator
(slanderer). 1228 ... 3). false accuser, devil, slanderer. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1228.htm - 8k

4567. Satanas -- the adversary, Satan, ie the devil
... Satan. Of Chaldee origin corresponding to ma'bad (with the definite affix); the
accuser, ie The devil -- Satan. see HEBREW ma'bad. (satana) -- 15 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4567.htm - 6k

423. anepilemptos -- without reproach
... Here the person (accuser) trying to seize someone's character by unjustified censure
is shown to be groundless, ie when the matter is understood in its . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/423.htm - 7k

476. antidikos -- an opponent, adversary
... law; an "opponent at law" (). 476 ("an accuser, adversary") brings charges,
ie as they are to . acts as such an adversary, bringing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/476.htm - 8k

7854. satan -- adversary, also the name of the superhuman ...
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition adversary, also the name of the
superhuman adversary of God NASB Word Usage accuser (1), adversary (8), Satan (18 ...
/hebrew/7854.htm - 6k

Whether an Accuser who Fails to Prove his Indictment is Bound to ...
... OF MATTERS CONCERNING UNJUST ACCUSATION (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether an accuser who fails
to prove his indictment is bound to the punishment of retaliation? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an accuser who fails.htm

In the Hands of Giant Accuser
... CHAPTER SEVEN IN THE HANDS OF GIANT ACCUSER. IN THE HANDS OF GIANT ACCUSER ... I
recall one battle I had with Giant Accuser [Matthew 4:1-11]. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter seven in the hands.htm

Concerning the Accused or Accuser.
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon XXX. (Greek xxxiii.) Concerning the accused
or accuser. Concerning the accused or accuser. [433] ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxx greek xxxiii concerning.htm

Concerning Jonathan, one of the Sicarii, that Stirred up a ...
... CHAPTER 11. Concerning Jonathan, One Of The Sicarii, That Stirred Up A Sedition
In Cyrene, And Was A False Accuser [Of The Innocent]. ...
/.../chapter 11 concerning jonathan one.htm

Whether a Judge May Condemn a Man who is not Accused?
... Now God judges the sinner even though there be no accuser. Therefore ... witness. Therefore
a judge may condemn a man without there being an accuser. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a judge may condemn.htm

That if any Bishop is Accused the Cause Should be Brought Before ...
... Aurelius, the bishop, said: Whatever bishop is accused the accuser shall bring the
case before the primates of the province to which the accused belongs, and ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xix greek xxii that.htm

The Peroration
... The above rules for the peroration apply equally to the accuser and to
the defendant's advocate. They, likewise, use nearly the ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the peroration.htm

Better to Pray in a Building than in the Desert.
... Now then, I would also meet the other and only remaining objection of my
accuser. ... How would the accuser then have vented his folly! ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/17 better to pray in.htm

Whether it is Necessary for the Accusation to be Made in Writing?
... Decret. II, qu. viii, can. Accusatorum) that "the role of accuser must never
be sanctioned without the accusation be in writing.". I ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is necessary for 6.htm

He Shows the Falsehood of Eunomius' Calumnious Charge that the ...
... argument verbally), "He is not setting forth to us the mode of the Divine existence,
but the terms which belong to the Incarnation." Our accuser starts from ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 he shows the.htm

Accuser (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Satan is styled the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation
12:10. Comp. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ACCUSER. ...
/a/accuser.htm - 11k

Satan (50 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name,
the Hebrew word so rendered has the article "the adversary ...
/s/satan.htm - 53k

One (26466 Occurrences)
... the evil one," margin, "evil," the personal form referring to the enemy of the race
known by various terms: Satan, "the adversary" or "the accuser," occurs 50 ...
/o/one.htm - 9k

Adversary (100 Occurrences)
... The Septuagint gives diabolos, as the rendering, and both in Job and Zechariah,
Satan is portrayed as the "false accuser." In two cases "adversary" represents ...
/a/adversary.htm - 40k

Code (6 Occurrences)
... If he is convicted by the god as guilty, the accuser receives his house; in the
opposite case, the accuser is condemned to death and the accused receives his ...
/c/code.htm - 40k

Accusers (13 Occurrences)

/a/accusers.htm - 9k

Evil (1503 Occurrences)
... the evil one," margin, "evil," the personal form referring to the enemy of the race
known by various terms: Satan, "the adversary" or "the accuser," occurs 50 ...
/e/evil.htm - 47k

Accused (29 Occurrences)

/a/accused.htm - 15k

Hammurabi
... If he is convicted by the god as guilty, the accuser receives his house; in the
opposite case, the accuser is condemned to death and the accused receives his ...
/h/hammurabi.htm - 47k

Witness (295 Occurrences)
... Among those not qualified to be witnesses were the near relations of the accuser
or the accused, friends and enemies, gamesters, usurers, tax-gatherers, heathen ...
/w/witness.htm - 44k

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