satan · opponent, adversary, satan

What it means

satan (שָׂטָן) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “opponent, adversary, satan”.

Opponent, adversary: one who stands against someone to hinder or accuse him. It is said of people (an enemy in war or in politics: 1 Samuel 29:4; 1 Kings 11:14) and also of the angel of YHWH who blocks Balaam's way (Numbers 22:22). In Job 1-2 and Zechariah 3 it has the article, "the satan," and names a heavenly being who accuses people before YHWH. In 1 Chronicles 21:1 it has no article and is understood as a proper name: Satan. The New Testament name "Satan" comes from this Hebrew word.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Someone who opposes or obstructs.
2. A being who appears before YHWH as the accuser of people.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• Satan ×18
• opponent ×8
• let an accuser ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Numbers×2
• 1 Samuel×1
• 2 Samuel×1
• 1 Kings×4
• 1 Chronicles×1
• Job×14
• Psalms×1
• Zechariah×3

• Numbers 22:22

  But the anger of Elohim burned because he was going, and the angel of YHWH took his stand in the road as an opponent to him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him.

• Numbers 22:32

  And the angel of YHWH said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come out as an opponent, because your way is reckless before me.

• 1 Samuel 29:4

  But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send back the man, and let him return to his place where you assigned him; he shall not go down with us into battle, so that he may not become to us an opponent in the battle. For with what could this fellow make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?

• 2 Samuel 19:22

  David said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should be to me today an opponent? Should anyone be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”

• 1 Kings 5:4

  But now YHWH my Elohim has given me rest all around; there is no opponent and no evil occurrence.

• 1 Kings 11:14

  And YHWH raised up an opponent to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the offspring of the king in Edom.

• 1 Kings 11:23

  And Elohim raised up for him an opponent, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah, his lord.

• 1 Kings 11:25

  And he was an opponent to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the evil that Hadad did; and he loathed Israel and reigned over Aram.

• 1 Chronicles 21:1

  Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count Israel.

• Job 1:6

  Now there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before YHWH, and the Satan also came among them.

• Job 1:7

  YHWH said to the Satan, “Where do you come from?” The Satan answered YHWH and said, “From roaming the earth and walking about on it.”

• Job 1:8

  YHWH said to the Satan, “Have you set your heart on my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless and upright, fearing Elohim and turning away from evil.”

• Job 1:9

  The Satan answered YHWH and said, “Is it for nothing that Job fears Elohim?

• Job 1:12

  YHWH said to the Satan, “Look, all that he has is in your hand; only against him do not stretch out your hand.” And the Satan went out from the presence of YHWH.

• Job 2:1

  Now there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before YHWH, and the Satan also came among them to present himself before YHWH.

• Job 2:2

  YHWH said to the Satan, “Where do you come from?” The Satan answered YHWH and said, “From roaming the earth and walking about on it.”

• Job 2:3

  YHWH said to the Satan, “Have you set your heart on my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless and upright, fearing Elohim and turning away from evil; and he still holds fast to his integrity, though you incited me against him to swallow him up for nothing.”

• Job 2:4

  The Satan answered YHWH and said, “Skin for skin; and all that a man has he will give for his life.

• Job 2:6

  YHWH said to the Satan, “Look, he is in your hand; only guard his life.”

• Job 2:7

  And the Satan went out from the presence of YHWH, and he struck Job with severe boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

• Psalms 109:6

  Appoint over him a wicked man, and let an accuser stand at his right hand.

• Zechariah 3:1

  And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of YHWH, and the Satan standing at his right to accuse him.

• Zechariah 3:2

  And YHWH said to the Satan, “May YHWH rebuke you, Satan; and may YHWH rebuke you, he who has chosen Jerusalem. Is not this a brand snatched from the fire?”

And 4 more times.