The use of “satan” and “devil” in the Bible

“Satan” in the Old Testament

We have reproduced the Young’s Concordance entry for both "satan" and "devil" to enable you to do an in-depth study of this subject if you wish.

In the Old Testament satan is used of people. Sometimes the word "satan" is translated "adversary":

We can see that "satan" is used of people who oppose other people in various ways.

In this verse we see that an Angel sent from God was a satan when he stood in the way to obstruct or oppose Balaam on his donkey.

The identification of "satan" in Job is not so straightforward. There has been much argument and discussion about the identity of satan in the book of Job. But, as we saw in the "Temptation" section, the Bible is more concerned about our reaction to temptation, rather than the things that lead to us being tempted.

The words of satan against Job move God to test Job, who clearly understood that his present unpleasant circumstances were from God, as Job 2 v 9 and 10 show. Job 1 v 11 and 42 v 11 also show that God was the power behind Job’s sufferings. The satan did exactly what the serpent did in Eden. The satan in Job was involved in the circumstances that tested Job’s commitment to God. Also, as in the case of the serpent, satan was involved in the circumstances and is not mentioned again.

So we have seen that the Old Testament uses satan to describe any one who opposes another. The motive for opposition can be bad, as we saw in the references in Psalms, or good, as in the case of the Angel who opposed Balaam. The Job passage has shown us that where it is difficult to determine the identity of the satan, he is still under God’s control and has no power of his own. Satan is not mentioned after he has caused the circumstances that tested Job. If you look at the references to satan in the Young’s Concordance entry, you will see that there is no mention of satan having any power similar to God’s.

“Devil” in the Old Testament

The word "devil" occurs only four times in the Authorised Version of the Old Testament, and not at all in the New King James and New International Versions.

The references in the Authorised Version are:

• Leviticus 17 v 7
• Deuteronomy 32 v 17
• 2Chronicles 11 v 15
• and Psalm 106 v 37

If you look at these verses and the verses around them, you will see that they are referring to false gods.

Summary of Old Testament teaching on the devil and satan

• Satan is used of people who oppose others or wish evil on others
• Satan is used of angels who oppose people for their good
• The satan of Job was under God’s control and used God’s power
• The Old Testament uses the term "devil" in the Authorised Version of false gods
• The satan of Job was involved in the circumstances that tested Job’s faith in God
• The satan of Job plays a minor role and his identity is not revealed
• There is no satan who has the power to rival that of the Lord God

This would have been the understanding of those in New Testament times who read and understood the Old Testament.

“Satan” in the New Testament

In the New Testament the concept of "satan" seems in places to be extended from the Old Testament concept of physical opposition to include opposition from thoughts and ideas as well.

We will look at some of the occurrences of "satan" and see how the New Testament uses the word.

As we saw in the Old Testament, people who oppose are called satan. Here Peter opposes Jesus. He tries to stop him doing God’s Will. He puts thoughts of disobedience into Jesus’ mind, but it is up to Jesus to make up his own mind whether he will act on them. Notice how Jesus immediately rejects this temptation.

We are not told in this verse what the hindrance was, but it was opposition which prevented Paul from seeing the Thessalonians. Acts 17 v 1 to 9 tells us that the political uproar after Paul’s visit was such that he could not return, a brother called Jason had been bound over to keep the peace.

Here we are told exactly what is meant when it says "satan filled your heart" - notice verse 4 says "Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?". "Satan" means Ananias’ evil thoughts about lying to God.

Here we see that opposition in the form of the idea to betray Jesus had occurred or been suggested to Judas. Circumstances were testing him to see if he would remain loyal to Jesus or not - he failed the test. Again we see that the identity of the satan is not revealed - it was unimportant in comparison to what Judas was about to do.

Occasionally, it is also used in relation to illness, which opposes or prevents people from living a normal life:

We can see that the New Testament extends the Old Testament use of the word "satan" from physical opposition to include opposition arising from thoughts, ideas and illness. All these things test our faith and trust in God.

“Devil” in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the translators of the Authorised Version of the Bible have translated the Greek words "diabolos" and "daimon" by the same English word "devil". We can become confused between two quite separate ideas. Most of the modern translators are more helpful, however, and translate "diabolos" as "devil" and "daimon" as "demon". The word "daimon" is considered in the "demons" section of the Additional notes.

We will now look at the use of "devil" when it is translated from the word "diabolos" - this is the word used in the record of the temptations of Jesus in Luke 4.

What does the word “diabolos” mean?

Here is the Strong’s Concordance definition for the word "diabolos":

You will see that Young’s Concordance gives an identical meaning if you look at the Young’s Concordance entry.

Some of these are not commonly used words, so it will be helpful to look at what they mean.

Slander - a false report maliciously given to injure a person.

Calumniator - one who charges falsely with something disreputable.

So a devil will be something or someone that makes disreputable false accusations with the intention of leading others astray. The word implies giving false information in an attempt to discredit or harm. We must remember this concept when looking at what the "devil" means. This idea is closely related to the idea of opposition suggested by the word "satan". The devil would seem to be "opposition based on lies or false ideas".

We do in fact see from the records of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, that the words "satan" and "devil" appear to be used in a similar way:

We are told that Jesus was tempted by both satan and the devil.

We also see that "devil" and "satan" are used in similar ways:

Here we see "devil" used of Judas. We have seen that Peter was a "satan" in Mark 8 v 33. Judas eventually would oppose Jesus in thought and action by betraying him. He was acting on the false idea that Jesus was not the Messiah.

"Devil" is here used of opposition arising from thoughts and motives, "satan" is used in the same way in Luke 22 v 3. As we saw in the previous verse, Judas was acting on the false idea that Jesus was not the Messiah.

Finally, we can see "devil" used of illness in the same way as "satan" in Luke 13 v 16. Illness came into the world because Adam and Eve listened to the false suggestions of the serpent opposing God’s commands.

Here are some more instances to show the use of the terms "devil" and "satan":

What is the armour of God that will enable us to resist the devil?

Verses 13 to 17 tell us: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation and the Word of God. These are all spiritual things, given to us by God through the Bible. If we fill our minds with these things, our thoughts and then our actions will become godly, and we will be able to resist wicked thoughts which tempt us to rebel against God.

James builds on the previous passage. We should give our minds in submission to God. As we fill our minds with godly thoughts, evil, rebellious thoughts will be pushed out - there will be no room for them.

This passage tells us that we must always be on our guard. As we see in the "Temptations" section, evil thoughts occur to us naturally - we can resist them by being "steadfast in the faith".

This passage summarises all that we have seen so far:

• Those who show their commitment to God by obeying Him when it is more attractive or easier to rebel will be approved of God and will be given the "crown of life"
• It is circumstances in our lives, not God, which make us have to decide whether or not to follow God’s principles in our lives
• God lays down the principles, it is up to us how we react to circumstances
• We sin when we decide that we would rather "do our own thing" and listen to false ideas, than obey God

Where do these false ideas come from?

These verses all clearly tell us that we are led astray from God’s laws by the wickedness and evil thoughts that come from ourselves. We came to a similar conclusion from the Old Testament when we looked at what makes us sin.

We have a human nature which, without the correction and guidance of God through the Bible, is naturally inclined to disobedience to God and opposition to His ways.

The terms "satan" and "devil" seem to be used in a similar way to our modern term "the opposition". When companies use the term "the opposition", they mean all of the other people and organisations who are competing against them in any way.

The devil and satan would seem to be the "opposition" to God’s laws in the form of wickedness and evil thoughts based on false suggestions. It is also used of those who are influenced by those evil thoughts and false suggestions. Temptation occurs when we see situations or hear suggestions based on false ideas that make us inclined to join this "opposition" and disobey God.

All through our lives we are constantly meeting situations where we are faced with having to decide whether we will apply God’s principles or not. We are also constantly receiving ideas and thoughts from people and the media which are opposed to God. We have to decide whether we will act on these ideas or not. Some of this opposition is based on false information. The terms "devil" and "satan" cover all of this and show that the opposition comes in many forms, but it can all be regarded as the same opposition, that we must resist at all times.

Summary of the Bible use of “devil” and “satan”

• Devil and satan are used mainly of opposition to God in thought and action based on false ideas
• These false ideas often come from our own mind
• Often the personal identity of the opposition is not clear
• Our reaction to the opposition is far more important than the opposition itself
• Temptation occurs when we are in circumstances where we think about joining this opposition

In the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness, the identity of the tempter is again not clear. It is, however, clear that the suggestions which came into Jesus’ mind were in opposition to God’s purpose for him. The thoughts were based on false ideas in relation to God’s purpose. The important point is that, by referring to scripture, Jesus resisted the inclination to oppose God. He knew his Bible!

Use of personification in the Bible

We have seen how the Bible uses the devil and satan as the concept of the opposition to God. Some may find it confusing that the opposition to God is referred to as if it was a person.

There are several other abstract ideas which are also personified:

Sin

In Romans 6, sin is portrayed as a master and we are his servants (v 16). This master can give us the wages of death (v 23). A similar idea is seen in John 8 v 34.

Wisdom

In these verses and the rest of the surrounding chapters, wisdom is personified as a woman.

Riches

In this verse, riches are personified as a master which we may be tempted to serve if we want to become rich.

The community of believers in Christ

In these verses the community of believers are referred to as the "body of Christ" or "a chaste virgin".

All these examples show that it is a recognised feature of the Bible to refer to abstract ideas as if they were people.