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Satan. Satan, [a] also known as the Devil, [b] and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an entity in Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehood. In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to God, typically regarded as a metaphor for the yetzer hara, or "evil inclination".
- The Devil in The Bible
- Names For The Devil
- The Devil in Other Religions
- The Devil and Hell
- What Does The Devil Look like?
- The Devil and Witches
- The Devil in Modern Times
- Sources
Although the Devil is present in some form in many religions and can be compared to some mythological gods, he’s arguably best known for his role in Christianity. In modern biblical translations, the Devil is the adversary of God and God’s people. It’s commonly thought that the Devil first showed up in the Bible in the book of Genesis as the serpen...
Some biblical scholars, however, claim Lucifer isn’t a proper name but a descriptive phrase meaning “morning star.” Still, the name stuck and the Devil is often referred to as Lucifer. Names for the Devil are numerous: Besides Lucifer, he may be referred to as the Prince of Darkness, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, Baphomet, Lord of the Flies, the Antic...
Most other religions and cultures teach of an evil being who roams the earth wreaking havoc and fighting against the forces of good. In Islam, the devil is known as Shaytan and, like the Devil in Christianity, is also thought to have rebelled against God. In Judaism, “satan” is a verb and generally refers to a difficulty or temptation to overcome i...
Perhaps the most lasting images of the Devil are associated with hell, which the Bible refers to as a place of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. Still, the Bible doesn’t state the Devil will reign over hell, just that he’ll eventually be banished there. The idea that the Devil governs hell may have come from a poem by Dante Al...
In his poem, Dante portrayed the Devil as a grotesque, winged creature with three faces—each chewing on a devious sinner—whose wings blew freezing cold winds throughout Hell’s domain. The Bible doesn’t describe the Devil in detail. Early artistic interpretations of The Divine Comedy, featuring shocking images of the Devil and his demons inflicting ...
Fear of the Devil is at least partially responsible for the witchcrafthysteria of Europe and New England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Protestants and Catholics alike accused many people of practicing witchcraft and making deals with the Devil. The Puritans living in New England’s early colonies were petrified of the Devil. They belie...
Religious translations are often controversial. There’s usually some degree of dissent on how to interpret early texts, and texts about the Devil are no exception. Even so, throughout history, the Devil’s reputation as an evildoer hasn’t changed much. Most Christians still believe he’s literally transformed the world and is responsible for much of ...
A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Smithsonian.com. Devil Worship in the Middle Ages. Loyola University New Orleans. Jewish Concepts: Demons and Demonology. Jewish Virtual Library. Puritans Beliefs on Satan and Witchcraft. Gettysburg College. The Buddha’s Encounter with Mara the Tempter: Their Representation in Literature and Art. Access to...
Aug 8, 2023 · The Real Devil analyzes Bible teaching about the devil, satan and demons, concluding that ‘satan’ [‘adversary’] and ‘devil’ [‘false accuser’] do not refer to a personal satan, dragon, or spirit being; but rather to any opposing force, and often to the power of sin and evil.
May 6, 2024 · The word Satan is the English transliteration of a Hebrew word for “adversary” in the Bible. With the definite article, the Hebrew word denotes “the adversary” par excellence, mainly in the Book of Job, where the adversary comes to the heavenly court with the “sons of God.”. His task is to roam the earth (like a contemporaneous ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Who is Satan?Satan is the prince of evil spirits and adversary of God in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Satan is traditionally understood as an angel who reb...
- How did Satan tempt Jesus?In the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness after his baptism. There he remains and fa...
- What is Satan’s role in the Book of Job?In the Book of Job Satan is an adversary who argues to God that Job is righteous only because of his prosperous life. God allows Satan to inflict a...
- How is Satan described in Paradise Lost?In John Milton’s Paradise Lost Satan is portrayed as proud, manipulative, and vengeful against God, whom he sees as a powerful oppressor. Some Roma...
Feb 18, 2021 · Satan, or the Devil, is one of the best-known characters in the Western traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Surprisingly, this entity was a late-comer in the ancient world. Satan, as a totally evil being, is nowhere to be found in the Jewish Bible.
- Rebecca Denova
Nov 2, 2023 · In Scripture, the term Satan means “adversary.”. We know him as the devil. He is a high angelic creature who, before the creation of the human race, rebelled against God and has since battled with human beings and God. He is called the prince of darkness, the father of lies, the accuser, and the beguiling serpent.
The personal identification of Satan with the devil is asserted in Revelation 12:9; 20:2. I. References to Satan. 1. In the OT. Without the article the Heb. term rendered Satan has the general meaning of “an adversary,” “an enemy.”
