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Understanding the Biblical Concept of Satan

In multiple passages within the Hebrew Scriptures, the term satan appears without the definite article “the.” In this context, it first refers to an angel who resisted Balaam when he was on a mission to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22:22, 32). It also describes individuals who resisted other humans (1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:21, 22; 1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25). When used with the definite article “ha,” the term refers specifically to Satan the Devil, who is the principal Adversary of God (Job 1:6; 2:1-7; Zechariah 3:1, 2). In the Greek Scriptures, the word satanas is used almost exclusively to denote Satan the Devil and is generally preceded by the definite article “ho.”

The Origin of Satan

The Bible suggests that the being we now know as Satan wasn’t always named that. The name “Satan” was assigned to him because he chose to resist and oppose God. The original name of this being is not disclosed in Scripture. God is the sole Creator, and all His creations are perfect and just (Deuteronomy 32:4). Therefore, the entity that became Satan was initially a perfect, righteous spirit being. He was present in the heavenly realms, standing before God (Job chapters 1, 2; Revelation 12:9).

Jesus Christ provided insight into Satan’s history by stating, “That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him” (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8). This reveals that Satan initially abided in truth but later rejected it. From his first act of misleading Adam and Eve, he became a manslayer, setting off a chain of events that led to the death of the human race (Romans 5:12). All the qualities and deeds ascribed to Satan in the Bible indicate he is a personal being, not just an abstract embodiment of evil. The views of Jews, Jesus, and His disciples affirm Satan’s existence as a real entity.

The Downfall of a Righteous Being

Initially righteous and perfect, this spirit being took a path of sin and corruption. The mechanism leading to this downfall aligns with James’ explanation: “Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death” (James 1:14, 15). There seems to be a parallel between Satan’s descent and the account of the king of Tyre found in Ezekiel 28:11-19.

Satan as the Serpent

Scripture makes it clear that it was Satan who spoke through a serpent to deceive Eve into disobeying God. Subsequently, Eve persuaded Adam to follow her in this act of rebellion (Genesis 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 11:3). As a result of using the serpent as a medium, the Bible designates Satan as the “Serpent,” symbolizing “deceiver.” He also earns titles such as “the Tempter” (Matthew 4:3) and the originator of falsehood, “the father of the lie” (John 8:44; Revelation 12:9).

The Sovereignty Challenge

When Satan spoke to Eve through the serpent, he effectively called into question the righteousness and authority of Jehovah’s rule. He implied that God was withholding something beneficial from Eve, accused God of lying about the consequences of eating the forbidden fruit, and tantalized her with the idea of becoming god-like, free from Jehovah’s authority. In doing so, he positioned himself as a rival deity in Eve’s perception. Even though Eve may not have recognized Satan’s identity at that moment, he succeeded in shifting her allegiance, making her subservient to his will and thereby standing in direct opposition to Jehovah (Genesis 3:1-7).

Satan’s Confrontation in the Heavenly Courts

The Bible lifts the veil on heavenly matters by showing us that Satan later presented himself before Jehovah in heaven. He audaciously challenged Jehovah directly by arguing that he could lead any of God’s servants astray, using Job as a specific example. Satan accused God of unfairly protecting Job and enriching him, thus preventing a true test of Job’s loyalty. In essence, Satan claimed that Job’s devotion to God was motivated by selfishness. Satan revealed the core of his argument when he said, “Skin in behalf of skin, and everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul. For a change, thrust out your hand, please, and touch as far as his bone and his flesh and see whether he will not curse you to your very face” (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7).

Jehovah’s Temporary Permission for Satan’s Actions

In this unique situation, Jehovah allowed Satan to bring calamity upon Job. He didn’t intervene when Satan orchestrated raids by Sabeans and Chaldeans, caused a devastating windstorm, and even utilized what was described as “the very fire of God” from the heavens—possibly lightning or some other form of fire—to destroy Job’s property and take the lives of his children. Additionally, Satan afflicted Job with a horrendous disease (Job 1:13-19; 2:7, 8). These acts reveal the malicious and murderous nature of Satan but also his power and influence as a spirit creature.

Satan’s Acknowledgment of God’s Authority

It is crucial to note that Satan understood his own limitations. He recognized that he could not overstep the bounds set by God, specifically when Jehovah prohibited him from taking Job’s life (Job 2:6).

Ongoing Opposition to God

Satan’s actions and challenges against God and His servants earned him the title “Devil,” which means “Slanderer.” This designation is well-deserved, as he first slandered Jehovah in the Garden of Eden. By questioning God’s integrity and accusing His servants of deceit, Satan continues to embody his role as the ultimate Adversary.

The Rebellion Expands: Demonic Collaboration

Prior to the Flood in Noah’s time, a group of God’s angels abandoned their heavenly stations and responsibilities. They materialized in human form to cohabitate with earthly women, producing a hybrid offspring known as the Nephilim (Genesis 6:1-4; 1 Peter 3:19, 20; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). These fallen angels, by choosing to leave their divine posts, essentially submitted to Satan’s dominion. This explains why Satan is referred to as “the ruler of the demons.” When Jesus cast out demons from a man, the Pharisees accused Him of doing it by the power of “Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Jesus’ response confirmed that they were actually talking about Satan: “If Satan expels Satan, he has become divided against himself” (Matthew 12:22-27).

Satan’s Cosmic Influence

The Apostle Paul discusses Satan’s association with “the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places” and labels them as “the world rulers of this darkness” (Ephesians 6:11, 12). Operating as a spiritual authority around Earth, Satan is called “the ruler of the authority of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). The book of Revelation identifies him as the deceiver of the entire world (Revelation 12:9), and the Apostle John observes that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). He is, therefore, “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). This aligns with James’ caution that friendship with the world is at odds with God (James 4:4).

The Battle Against the Promised ‘Seed’

Satan made early and deliberate attempts to subvert God’s promise of a ‘seed’ through Abraham (Genesis 12:7). He likely sought to defile Sarah to make her unsuitable for bearing the promised seed, but God intervened (Genesis 20:1-18). He tirelessly worked to annihilate Israel, the chosen lineage of Abraham, through various means including temptation and military invasions. His apparent triumph came when the Babylonian Empire, the third world power in Biblical history, toppled Jerusalem and its King Zedekiah, destroying Jehovah’s temple and leaving the land desolate (Ezekiel 21:25-27).

Babylon: A Tool in Satan’s Hands

Serving as Satan’s instrument, the Babylonian dynasty, initially under Nebuchadnezzar, held Israel captive for 68 years with no intention of release. This mirrored Satan’s own grandiose ambitions to challenge Jehovah’s universal sovereignty. These Babylonian rulers, while worshiping various idols including Marduk and Ishtar, were in reality venerating demonic powers and were thus under Satan’s influence (Psalm 96:5; 1 Corinthians 10:20; Ephesians 2:12; Colossians 1:21).

Satan’s Aspirations Reflected in Babylon

Satan instilled in the king of Babylon the ambition to dominate not just the earth but even “Jehovah’s throne” and “the stars of God,” referring to the Davidic lineage of kings in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 29:23). This Babylonian dynasty saw itself as a “shining one,” echoing the pride and aspirations of Satan himself. Some translations use the term “Lucifer,” but this is just a rendition of the Hebrew word ‘heh·lel,’ meaning “shining one” (Isaiah 14:4-21). Jehovah ultimately rescued His people, reaffirming that the true Seed of promise would come (Ezra 1:1-6).

EXCURSION: The Nephilim: An In-depth Examination

The term “Nephilim” originates from the Hebrew word “nephilim,” appearing three times in the Old Testament Scriptures (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33). It likely derives from the Hebrew verb “na·phal,” which means to fall. This term is commonly used in discussions about the antediluvian world, specifically in the period leading up to the Flood in Noah’s time.

Contextual Background

Scripture describes Jehovah’s dissatisfaction with humanity’s wickedness during Noah’s era. A pivotal event was when “the sons of the true God” chose wives from among the daughters of men. Subsequently, the Nephilim came into the picture. Genesis 6:1-4 notes that these Nephilim were “mighty ones,” or “men of fame,” who lived both before and after these unions occurred.

Who Were the Nephilim?

Scholars propose varying theories about the identity of the Nephilim. Some argue they were fallen angels. Others suggest that they descended from heavenly beings, based on the term’s etymology. Yet another group contends that these were merely wicked men, similar to Cain, who were bullies and tyrants. Finally, a certain perspective insists that the Nephilim were the offspring of materialized angels and human women, hence hybrid beings.

Association with “Mighty Ones”

Some Bible translations rearrange the phrasing in Genesis 6:4, equating the Nephilim with the “mighty ones” mentioned in the same verse. This idea also finds some support in the Greek Septuagint, which uses the word “giants” to translate both “Nephilim” and “mighty ones.”

Parentage: The ‘Sons of God’

Crucially, the “sons of the true God” are unlikely to be righteous men, given the negative outcomes of their unions. If they were merely men, why were their offspring more “famous” than others, or even than the offspring of Noah? These “sons of God” were likely angels who rebelled against Jehovah’s laws by taking human form and mating with human women. This interpretation is reinforced by passages in 1 Peter and Jude, which discuss angels that forsook their proper domain.

Consequences: Increased Wickedness

The union between the rebellious angels and human women led to increased wickedness on the Earth. The offspring, described as “mighty ones,” were unauthorized hybrids. These Nephilim were tyrants and contributed to the worsening conditions, although there is no evidence to suggest they had children themselves.

Mythological Echoes

The Nephilim’s reputation seemingly inspired various mythologies among pagan cultures post-Babel. While these mythological accounts were often distorted, they generally featured gods mating with humans to produce hybrid beings, mirroring the Genesis narrative.

The Nephilim in Canaan: A Scare Tactic

The term “Nephilim” reappears in the report by the ten spies sent to Canaan, claiming the inhabitants were of extraordinary size and were Nephilim. However, this appears to be a tactic to terrify the Israelites, as such descriptions are absent elsewhere.

The subject of the Nephilim is indeed intriguing and complex. It involves divine beings forsaking their heavenly roles, contributing to the wickedness of the Earth and producing mighty but unauthorized offspring. These events were significant enough to influence even pagan mythologies, further underscoring the Nephilim’s impact on both history and culture.

EXCURSION Identifying the “Son(s) of God”

The term “Son of God” is primarily used to describe Jesus Christ. Other entities called “son(s) of God” include celestial beings created by God, Adam before his fall, and humans in a covenantal relationship with God.

Human Sons of God in Genesis

The phrase “sons of the true God” first appears in Genesis 6:2-4. These “sons” are described as taking notice of the daughters of men and choosing them as wives before the Flood. A common interpretation is that these “sons of God” were actually descendants of Seth. This interpretation is based on the idea that the godly line of Noah came through Seth, while other lines from Adam, such as Cain’s line, perished in the Flood. Proponents argue that these “sons of God” (Sethites) marrying “daughters of men” refers to intermarriage with the wicked line of Cain.

However, there’s no conclusive Scriptural support to substantiate that this passage is discussing marriages between the lines of Seth and Cain. The term “sons of men” does not consistently convey an unfavorable meaning. Hence, this explanation is not sufficiently backed by the Scriptures.

Angelic Sons of God

Another perspective that has strong Scriptural support is that these “sons of the true God” were angelic beings. Job 1:6 mentions “sons of God” present in the heavenly assembly, including Satan. Similarly, Job 38:4-7 refers to “sons of God” as angelic beings who rejoiced at the creation of the Earth. Psalm 89:6 also describes “sons of God” as heavenly beings.

Critics who argue that Genesis 6:2-4 only speaks to human wickedness neglect to consider that fallen celestial beings could exacerbate human corruption. Wicked celestial beings during Christ’s earthly ministry, although not materializing physically, led humans to perform extraordinarily evil acts. Therefore, it’s reasonable to believe that the Genesis account mentions angelic beings contributing to human wickedness prior to the Flood.

Further supporting this view are Peter’s references to disobedient “spirits in prison” during Noah’s time (1 Peter 3:19-20) and “angels that sinned” in the ancient world (2 Peter 2:4-5). Jude also speaks of angels who abandoned their original position and proper dwelling place (Jude 6). These passages would be difficult to understand if the “sons of the true God” in Genesis 6:2-4 were not celestial beings.

Angels have materialized in human form in the past, sharing meals with humans (Genesis 18:1-22; 19:1-3). While Matthew 22:30 clarifies that angels do not marry in heaven, it doesn’t preclude them from materializing as humans to marry human women. Jude directly follows his discussion of fallen angels with a comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah, indicating a similar pattern of sexual immorality (Jude 6-7).

The cumulative weight of Scriptural evidence leans toward the interpretation that the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6:2-4 were angelic beings. Therefore, the most reasonable interpretation, based on a holistic reading of Scripture, suggests that these “sons of God” were not human but rather celestial beings who left their heavenly abode to interfere in human affairs.

End of Excursions

Satan’s Failed Attempts to Derail Jesus

Satan clearly recognized Jesus as the prophesied Son of God, the one destined to bring about his downfall (Genesis 3:15). Eager to sabotage God’s plan, he mounted a relentless campaign against Jesus. However, Jehovah had shielded His Son from the start. The angel Gabriel, during the Annunciation to Mary, affirmed that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and that the child born would be holy, identified as the Son of God (Luke 1:35). This divine protection continued throughout Jesus’ infancy and thwarted Satan’s attempts to destroy Him (Matthew 2:1-15).

Testing Jesus’ Devotion

When Jesus was baptized, He withdrew to the wilderness, where Satan tested Him with three potent temptations. One of these involved offering Jesus all the world’s kingdoms, which Jesus did not dispute belonged to Satan. However, Jesus firmly rejected these temptations, replying, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve'” (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:13). This was a practical demonstration of what James would later pen: “Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Jesus’ Constant Vigilance

Jesus was continually aware of Satan’s schemes to either lead Him into sin or destroy Him. Even Peter, with the best of intentions, became a tool for temptation. When Jesus discussed His forthcoming suffering and death, Peter objected. Jesus immediately recognized the satanic influence, telling Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:21-23).

Throughout His ministry, Jesus was confronted by those Satan employed to either trick Him or cause His downfall. Whether it was an attempt to forcibly make Him king (John 6:15), efforts by His hometown to kill Him (Luke 4:22-30), or continuous traps set by His opponents (Matthew 22:15), Jesus never faltered. He remained steadfast, fully discrediting Satan and upholding Jehovah’s sovereignty.

Satan’s Ultimate Failure

While Satan did manage to orchestrate Jesus’ death through one of His apostles, Jewish leaders, and the Roman authorities, this was a pyrrhic victory (Luke 22:3; John 13:26-27; John 18-19). Jesus described Satan as “the one who has the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14; Luke 22:53). However, in killing Jesus, Satan inadvertently fulfilled divine prophecy and contributed to his own defeat. Jesus’ sacrificial death provided the ransom for humanity. As Scripture reveals, Jesus took on flesh and blood “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Thus, every strategy Satan deployed to derail Jesus’ mission not only failed but served to further Jehovah’s ultimate purpose, leaving Satan completely discredited.

Satan’s Persistent Opposition to Christians

After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Satan remained a formidable adversary to the early Christians. The book of Acts and the epistles in the Christian Greek Scriptures provide extensive evidence of his unyielding campaign against them. Paul referred to his personal experience, stating that a “messenger of Satan” was sent to torment him (2 Corinthians 12:7). Satan’s insidious tactics also involved masquerading as an “angel of light” and using deceptive agents who appeared as “servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14, 15). These agents included false apostles who contested Paul (2 Corinthians 11:13) and individuals in Smyrna who claimed to be Jews but were essentially a “synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9). Despite Satan’s ceaseless accusations against Christians, they have an advocate in Jesus Christ, who intercedes for them before God (1 John 2:1).

Satan’s Future: Abyss and Eternal Destruction

When Satan seduced Eve and subsequently led Adam into rebellion, God pronounced a curse upon him, prophesying his ultimate defeat (Genesis 3:14, 15). God declared that Satan would crawl on his belly and “eat dust” until his eventual death. Furthermore, the prophecy announced that the “seed” of the woman would deliver a mortal blow to Satan. Even demons recognized Jesus as the one who would cast them into an “abyss,” a condition described as “torment” (Matthew 8:29; Luke 8:30, 31).

Revelation outlines Satan’s final days, describing his eviction from heaven and subsequent earthbound existence (Revelation 12:7-12). After this defeat, he has a limited time to war against those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus (Revelation 12:16, 17). Satan’s final resistance will end in permanent defeat. After being temporarily released following Christ’s Thousand Year Reign, he will incite another rebellion against God. His ultimate fate is to be cast into the lake of fire, signifying everlasting destruction (Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10; Matthew 25:41).

What Does ‘Handing Over to Satan’ Mean?

Paul instructed the Corinthian church to expel a man involved in incestuous relations, effectively “handing him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh” (1 Corinthians 5:5). This expulsion removed the man from the congregation, placing him in the world under Satan’s dominion. The action purged the congregation of sinful influence, akin to removing “leaven” from dough (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7). Paul also turned Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan due to their abandonment of faith (1 Timothy 1:20).

Later, when the expelled man repented, Paul urged the Corinthians to readmit him to prevent Satan from exploiting their potential unforgiveness (2 Corinthians 2:11). Satan seeks to manipulate congregations either by encouraging tolerance of sin or by promoting an unforgiving attitude. Christians must be vigilant, armed with the full armor of God to counter Satan’s schemes (Ephesians 6:13-17).

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).