a Greek form derived from the Aramaic (Heb., Satan), "an adversary," is used (a) of an angel of Jehovah in Num 22:22 (the first occurrence of the Word in the OT); (b) of men, e.g., 1Sa 29:4, Psa 38:20, Psa 71:13; four in Ps. 109; (c) of "Satan," the Devil, some seventeen or eighteen times in the OT; in Zec 3:1, where the name receives its interpretation, "to be (his) adversary," RV (see marg.; AV, "to resist him").
In the NT the word is always used of "Satan," the adversary (a) of God and Christ, e.g., Mat 4:10, Mat 12:26, Mar 1:13, Mar 3:23, Mar 3:26, Mar 4:15, Luk 4:8 (in some mss.); Luk 11:18, Luk 22:3, Joh 13:27; (b) of His people, e.g., Luk 22:31, Act 5:3, Rom 16:20, 1Co 5:5, 1Co 7:5, 2Co 2:11, 2Co 11:14, 2Co 12:7, 1Th 2:18, 1Ti 1:20, 1Ti 5:15, Rev 2:9, Rev 2:13 (twice), Rev 2:24, Rev 3:9; (c) of mankind, Luk 13:16, Act 26:18, 2Th 2:9, Rev 12:9, Rev 20:7. His doom, sealed at the Cross is foretold in its stages in Luk 10:18, Rev 20:2, Rev 20:10. Believers are assured of victory over him, Rom 16:20.
The appellation was given by the Lord to Peter, as a "Satan-like" man, on the occasion when he endeavored to dissuade Him from death, Mat 16:23, Mar 8:33.
"Satan" is not simply the personification of evil influences in the heart, for he tempted Christ, in whose heart no evil thought could ever have arisen (Joh 14:30, 2Co 5:21, Heb 4:15); moreover his personality is asserted in both the OT and the NT, and especially in the latter, whereas if the OT language was intended to be figurative, the NT would have made this evident. See DEVIL.
