שָׂטָן (sa.tan)
sa.tan
Satan
H:N-M / N:N--TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M / N:N--T
Word Overview
The Hebrew word śāṭān literally means "adversary" or "one who opposes." In most Old Testament passages, it functions as a common noun describing human opponents in war, legal disputes, or political intrigue. For instance, King Solomon faced adversaries during his reign (1 Kings 11:14), and Balaam’s donkey encountered an angel acting as an adversary to block the path (Numbers 22:22). In these contexts, the term simply identifies a person or force standing against another.
When the definite article is added, forming haśśāṭān ("the adversary"), the word takes on a specific theological role. This figure appears in Job and Zechariah not as a human enemy, but as a heavenly prosecutor who challenges human integrity and accuses people before God. The sources clarify that this character is distinct from later demonic concepts; he operates within the divine council to test righteousness, rather than acting as an independent source of evil.
Only in 1 Chronicles 21:1 does the word appear without the article, referring directly to a spirit who incites David to take a census. This usage marks a shift toward viewing the adversary as a malevolent agent rather than a courtroom functionary. Over time, Jewish and Christian tradition developed this figure into Satan, the arch-enemy of God, though the original Hebrew text presents a more nuanced role of opposition and testing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word śāṭān literally means "adversary." In many Old Testament passages, it describes human opponents in war or legal disputes. For example, King Solomon faced adversaries like Hadad and Rezon who sought to harm his reign (1 Kings 11:14). This common usage reminds us that opposition is a regular part of life, whether from political rivals or personal enemies.
However, the word takes on a deeper meaning when used with the definite article, "the adversary." In Job and Zechariah, this figure acts as a heavenly prosecutor. He challenges human integrity before God, asking if people serve Him only for blessings (Job 1:9). This portrayal shows that spiritual testing is real, yet it remains under God’s ultimate authority. Even in these intense moments, God sets boundaries on what the adversary can do.
Understanding this word helps us see that while opposition exists, God remains sovereign. The story of Job teaches that our faithfulness matters deeply to Him, even when we face severe trials. We can trust that God sees our integrity and uses these difficult seasons to refine our character rather than destroy it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ adversary14×
- an adversary4×
- to/ an adversary2×
- the/ accuser1×
- and/ the/ accuser1×
- and/ an accuser1×
- O/ accuser1×
- <into>/ an adversary1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שָּׂטָ֔ן5×
- הַ/שָּׂטָ֗ן3×
- הַ/שָּׂטָ֖ן3×
- הַ/שָּׂטָ֤ן2×
- הַ/שָּׂטָ֛ן2×
- שָׂטָן֙1×
- שָׂטָ֤ן1×
- שָׂטָ֖ן1×
- שָׂטָ֔ן1×
- לְ/שָׂטָ֣ן1×
- לְ/שָׂטָ֖ן1×
- לְ/שָׂטָ֔ן1×
Key Verses
-
Job 1:9
Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
This verse captures the core tension of the word, as the adversary questions whether Job’s faith is genuine or merely transactional.
-
Zechariah 3:2
Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”
Here God actively rebukes the adversary, demonstrating that divine protection overrides human accusation against His chosen people.