Topical Bible: Devil

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "Devil" is derived from the Greek word "diabolos," meaning "slanderer" or "accuser." In the Bible, the Devil is often identified with Satan, the adversary of God and humanity. The Devil is portrayed as a fallen angel who rebelled against God and now seeks to lead humanity astray.

Biblical Descriptions and Titles

The Devil is referred to by various names and titles throughout Scripture, each highlighting different aspects of his character and role. In the New Testament, he is called "the tempter" (Matthew 4:3), "the evil one" (Matthew 13:19), and "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31). In Revelation, he is described as "the great dragon" and "the ancient serpent" (Revelation 12:9), linking him to the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).

Role and Activities

The Devil's primary role is to oppose God and His purposes. He is depicted as a deceiver, seeking to lead people away from the truth. In the temptation of Jesus, the Devil attempts to entice Jesus to sin by twisting Scripture and offering worldly power (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus resists these temptations, demonstrating His authority over the Devil.

The Devil is also described as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). He is the accuser of the brethren, who accuses believers before God day and night (Revelation 12:10). His ultimate goal is to thwart God's plan and to bring as many as possible into rebellion against God.

The Devil's Influence

The Devil's influence is evident in the world through sin, deception, and spiritual warfare. He blinds the minds of unbelievers to prevent them from seeing the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Believers are warned to be vigilant and to put on the full armor of God to stand against the Devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:11).

Defeat and Destiny

Despite his power and influence, the Devil's defeat is assured. Jesus' death and resurrection marked the beginning of the end for the Devil's reign. Hebrews 2:14 states that through His death, Jesus destroyed "the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." The final defeat of the Devil is prophesied in Revelation, where he will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, to be tormented forever (Revelation 20:10).

Conclusion

The Devil is a real and active adversary in the biblical narrative, representing the forces of evil and opposition to God. Believers are called to resist him, standing firm in their faith and relying on the power of God to overcome his influence.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Gr. diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man's spiritual interest (Job 1:6; Revelation 2:10; Zechariah 3:1). He is called also "the accuser of the brethen" (Revelation 12:10).

In Leviticus 17:7 the word "devil" is the translation of the Hebrew sair, meaning a "goat" or "satyr" (Isaiah 13:21; 34:14), alluding to the wood-daemons, the objects of idolatrous worship among the heathen.

In Deuteronomy 32:17 and Psalm 106:37 it is the translation of Hebrew shed, meaning lord, and idol, regarded by the Jews as a "demon," as the word is rendered in the Revised Version.

In the narratives of the Gospels regarding the "casting out of devils" a different Greek word (daimon) is used. In the time of our Lord there were frequent cases of demoniacal possession (Matthew 12:25-30; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 4:35; 10:18, etc.).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind.

2. (n.) An evil spirit; a demon.

3. (n.) A very wicked person; hence, any great evil.

4. (n.) An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically, of negation.

5. (n.) A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.

6. (n.) A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc.

7. (v. t.) To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.

8. (v. t.) To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

DEVIL

dev'-'-l. See DEMON; SATAN.

Greek

4567. Satanas -- the adversary, Satan, ie the devil
... the adversary, Satan, ie the devil. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Satanas Phonetic Spelling: (sat-an-as') Short Definition: an adversary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4567.htm - 6k

1228. diabolos -- slanderous, accusing falsely
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: diabolos Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ab'-ol-os) Short Definition: slanderous, the Slanderer, the Devil Definition: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1228.htm - 8k

3789. ophis -- a snake
... Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: ophis Phonetic Spelling: (of'-is) Short
Definition: a serpent Definition: a serpent, snake; used of the devil or Satan ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3789.htm - 6k

1139. daimonizomai -- to be possessed by a demon
... to be demon possessed. Middle voice from daimon; to be exercised by ad?Mon -- have
a (be vexed with, be possessed with) devil(-s). see GREEK daimon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1139.htm - 7k

4190. poneros -- toilsome, bad
... morally) culpable, ie Derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief,
malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4190.htm - 8k

4566. Satan -- Satan.
... Word Origin variant reading for Satanas, qv. Satan. Of Hebrew origin (satan); Satan,
ie The devil -- Satan. Compare Satanas. see GREEK Satanas. see HEBREW satan ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4566.htm - 6k

1142. daimon -- a demon
... demon, evil spirit. From daio (to distribute fortunes); ad?Mon or supernatural spirit
(of a bad nature) -- devil. (daimones) -- 1 Occurrence. 1141, 1142. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1142.htm - 7k

1140. daimonion -- an evil spirit, a demon
... a demon. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; ad?Monic being; by extension a deity --
devil, god. see GREEK daimon. (daimonia) -- 32 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1140.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

8163. sa'iyr -- hairy
sa'iyr. 8162, 8163. sa'iyr. 8163a . hairy. Transliteration: sa'iyr Phonetic
Spelling: (saw-eer') Short Definition: devil. devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr ...
/hebrew/8163.htm - 5k

7700. shed -- probably demon
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition probably demon NASB Word Usage demons
(2). devil. From shuwd; a doemon (as malignant) -- devil. see HEBREW shuwd. ...
/hebrew/7700.htm - 5k

Library

Whether the Devil is the Head of all the Wicked?
... OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST, AS HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (EIGHT ARTICLES)
Whether the devil is the head of all the wicked? Objection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the devil is the.htm

The Devil Acknowledges the King.
... The Wilderness: Temptation The Devil Acknowledges the King. Another swift shift
of the scene. ... When the devil has used up all his ammunition". ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the devil acknowledges the king.htm

Whether the Devil is Directly the Cause of Man's Sinning?
... OF THE CAUSE OF SIN, AS REGARDS THE DEVIL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the devil
is directly the cause of man's sinning? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the devil is directly.htm

Yezidees, or Worshippers of the Devil.
... YEZIDEES, OR WORSHIPPERS OF THE DEVIL. From a very interesting work recently
published by Asahel Grant, MD, a medical missionary ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/yezidees or worshippers of the.htm

Whether to Tempt is Proper to the Devil?
... OF THE ASSAULTS OF THE DEMONS (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether to tempt is proper to the
devil? Objection 1: It would seem that to tempt is not proper to the devil. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether to tempt is proper.htm

April 4. "Resist the Devil and He Will Flee" (James iv. 7).
... APRIL 4. "Resist the devil and he will flee" (James iv. 7). "Resist the devil and
he will flee" (James 4:7). Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /april 4 resist the devil.htm

Origin of the Devil, in the Criminal Excess of the Sorrow of ...
... Chapter XXII."Origin of the Devil, in the Criminal Excess of the Sorrow of Achamoth
The Devil, Called Also Munditenens, Actually Wiser Than the Demiurge ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xxii origin of the devil.htm

Persecution is from the Devil.
... Chapter II. 23. Persecution is from the Devil. Seeing therefore that such
are the commands of our Saviour, and that such is the ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/23 persecution is from the.htm

Whether the Devil was Wicked by the Fault of his Own Will in the ...
... THE MALICE OF THE ANGELS WITH REGARD TO SIN (NINE ARTICLES) Whether the devil was
wicked by the fault of his own will in the first instant of his creation? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the devil was wicked.htm

How the Devil was Forced by Many Reasons to the view that Christ ...
... Book VII. Chapter XI. How the devil was forced by many reasons to the view
that Christ was God. Finally as for the devil himself ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xi how the devil.htm

Thesaurus

Devil (58 Occurrences)
... In Leviticus 17:7 the word "devil" is the translation of the Hebrew sair, meaning
a "goat" or "satyr" (Isaiah 13:21; 34:14), alluding to the wood-daemons, the ...
/d/devil.htm - 25k

Devil's (5 Occurrences)
...Devil's (5 Occurrences). Ephesians 6:11 put on the whole armour of God, for your
being able to stand against the wiles of the devil, (See NIV). ...
/d/devil's.htm - 7k

Dumb (34 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed
with a devil. ... Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. ...
/d/dumb.htm - 20k

Michael (16 Occurrences)
... He is also represented as warning against "that old serpent, called the Devil,
and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:7-9). ...
/m/michael.htm - 16k

Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)
... Since the 13th century the word "witch" has come more and more to denote a woman
who has formed a compact with the Devil or with evil spirits, by whose aid she ...
/w/witchcraft.htm - 23k

Witch (2 Occurrences)
... with the Devil; a sorcerer or sorceress; -- now applied chiefly or only to women,
but formerly used of men as well. 3. (n.) An ugly old woman; a hag. ...
/w/witch.htm - 24k

Undo (9 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 John 3:8 He who is habitually guilty of sin is a child of the Devil,
because the Devil has been a sinner from the very beginning. ...
/u/undo.htm - 9k

Undoing (7 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 John 3:8 He who is habitually guilty of sin is a child of the Devil,
because the Devil has been a sinner from the very beginning. ...
/u/undoing.htm - 8k

Taketh (398 Occurrences)
... Taketh (398 Occurrences). Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy
city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/t/taketh.htm - 35k

Ended (146 Occurrences)
... Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. ... Luke 4:13 And when the devil had
ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. ...
/e/ended.htm - 37k

Resources

What are the works of the devil in 1 John 3:8? | GotQuestions.org

What are the wiles of the devil in Ephesians 6:11? | GotQuestions.org

Why is "the devil made me do it" not a valid excuse? | GotQuestions.org

Devil: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Devil (58 Occurrences)

Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 4:5
Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 4:8
Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 4:11
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 9:32
As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
(KJV)

Matthew 9:33
And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
(KJV)

Matthew 11:18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
(KJV)

Matthew 12:22
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
(KJV)

Matthew 13:39
The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 15:22
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
(KJV)

Matthew 17:18
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
(KJV)

Matthew 25:41
Then 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;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 5:15
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
(KJV)

Mark 5:16
And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
(KJV)

Mark 5:18
And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
(KJV)

Mark 7:26
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
(KJV)

Mark 7:29
And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
(KJV)

Mark 7:30
And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
(KJV)

Luke 4:2
for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 4:3
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 4:5
The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
(WEB KJV WEY DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Luke 4:6
The 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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Luke 4:13
When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 4:33
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
(KJV)

Luke 4:35
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
(KJV)

Luke 7:33
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
(KJV)

Luke 8:12
Those 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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 8:29
(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
(KJV)

Luke 9:42
And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
(KJV)

Luke 11:14
And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
(KJV)

John 6:70
Jesus answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 7:20
The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
(KJV)

John 8:44
You 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. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 8:48
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
(KJV)

John 8:49
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
(KJV)

John 8:52
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
(KJV)

John 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
(KJV)

John 10:21
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
(KJV)

John 13:2
During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 10:38
even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him 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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 13:10
and said, "Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 4:27
neither give place to the devil.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 3:6
not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 3:7
Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Timothy 2:26
and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 2:14
Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

James 3:15
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
(Root in KJV ASV DBY RSV NIV)

James 4:7
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 John 3:8
He 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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 John 3:10
In 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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jude 1:9
But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 2:10
Don'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. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 12:9
The 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 with him.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 12:12
Therefore 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."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 20:2
He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 20:10
The 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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Devil

The Devil: Assumes the Form of an Angel of Light

The Devil: Cast Down to Hell

The Devil: Cast out of Heaven

The Devil: Character of Cowardly

The Devil: Character of Deceitful

The Devil: Character of Fierce and Cruel

The Devil: Character of Malignant

The Devil: Character of Powerful

The Devil: Character of Presumptuous

The Devil: Character of Proud