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שָׂטָן

𐤔𐤈𐤍

sâṭân

H7854 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׂטן to oppose, to act as an adversary, to obstruct

Definition

One who opposes or acts as an adversary; generally denotes an adversary, accuser, or obstructer in legal, political, or cosmic contexts. When used with the definite article (הַשָּׂטָן, 'the adversary'), may refer to a particular supernatural being serving as an accuser or prosecutor figure. The term can refer to both human and non-human opponents, and not always with the theological connotations found in later literature.

Semantic Range

adversary (human or supernatural), legal accuser, opponent, one who withstands or obstructs, prosecuting agent in divine council

Root / Etymology

From the root שׂטן, meaning 'to oppose, obstruct, act as an adversary.' The noun derives from the verbal root and denotes one who stands in opposition, whether in legal, interpersonal, or cosmic settings.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׂטָן is not used exclusively for a supernatural antagonist; it can designate human enemies (e.g., 1 Kings 5:4, 11:14, 11:23, 11:25) or even divine/human adversaries acting under divine commission (e.g., Numbers 22:22, where the messenger of YHWH becomes a 'satan' to Balaam). Only in a few texts does the term with the definite article (הַשָּׂטָן) indicate a specific supernatural accuser, such as in Job 1–2 and Zechariah 3:1–2. In these cases, the figure is portrayed as part of the divine council, functioning as a sort of prosecuting agent rather than an independent evil being. The later Hellenistic and Christian concept of 'Satan' as an arch-demonic adversary develops after the biblical period. English translations, especially those influenced by later theology, may capitalize 'Satan' and interpret the word in a more narrowly supernatural sense than is warranted in the Hebrew context. The wider semantic field in the Hebrew Bible encompasses both human and non-human opposition.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׂטַן; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good; adversary, Satan, withstand.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂטן (ś-ṭ-n) — to oppose, to act as an adversary, to obstruct

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7853 שָׂטַן to oppose him
H7855 שִׂטְנָה written accusation
H7856 שִׂטְנָה Enmity

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7854-01 הַ/שָּׂטָ֗ן hasatan HTd/Ncmsa the Satan the adversary 16
H7854-03 שָׂטָ֔ן satan HNcmsa adversary adversary 5
H7854-02 לְ/שָׂטָ֣ן lesatan HR/Ncmsa as an adversary to an adversary 4
H7854-05 וְ֝/שָׂטָ֗ן vesatan HC/Ncmsa and an accuser and adversary 1
H7854-04 וְ/הַ/שָּׂטָ֛ן vehasatan HC/Td/Ncmsa and the Satan and the adversary 1

Occurrences in Scripture

27 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7854-02 Numbers 22:22 לְ/שָׂטָ֣ן lesatan HR/Ncmsa as adversary to an adversary
H7854-02 Numbers 22:32 לְ/שָׂטָ֔ן lesatan HR/Ncmsa as an adversary to an adversary
H7854-02 1 Samuel 29:4 לְ/שָׂטָ֖ן lesatan HR/Ncmsa an adversary to an adversary
H7854-02 2 Samuel 19:23 לְ/שָׂטָ֑ן lesatan HR/Ncmsa a satan to an adversary
H7854-03 1 Kings 5:18 שָׂטָ֔ן satan HNcmsa adversary adversary
H7854-03 1 Kings 11:14 שָׂטָן֙ satan HNcmsa adversary adversary
H7854-03 1 Kings 11:23 שָׂטָ֔ן satan HNcmsa adversary adversary
H7854-03 1 Kings 11:25 שָׂטָ֤ן satan HNcmsa an adversary adversary
H7854-04 Zechariah 3:1 וְ/הַ/שָּׂטָ֛ן vehasatan HC/Td/Ncmsa and the Satan and the adversary
H7854-01 Zechariah 3:2 הַ/שָּׂטָ֗ן hasatan HTd/Ncmsa Satan the adversary
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