What is Satan in the Bible?
An angel in the Old Testament
Satan, also known as the devil, is the chief adversary of God and the tempter of humanity. Satan appears in 47 verses across 15 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Satan?
Satan, also known as the devil, is the chief adversary of God and the tempter of humanity. The name "Satan" comes from the Hebrew word meaning "adversary" or "accuser." He is portrayed as a spiritual being who opposes God's purposes and seeks to lead people into sin and destruction. In the Old Testament, Satan appears as an accuser in the heavenly court (Job.1.6-12; 2:1-7; Zechariah 3:1-2). He challenges the integrity of Job and receives permission from God to test him. The Old Testament also uses the term "satan" or "adversary" to describe human opponents or obstacles (1Sa.29.4; 2Sa.19.22; 1Ki.5.4). In the New Testament, Satan is identified as the tempter of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11; Mrk.1.13; Luke 4:1-13), the oppressor of God's people (Luke 13:16; Act.10.38), and the deceiver of the world (Revelation 12:9; 20:3, 8). He is also called the "ruler of this world" (Jhn.12.31; 14:30; 16:11) and the "god of this age" (2Co.4.4). Jesus defeated Satan through His death and resurrection (Hebrews 2:14; 1Jn.3.8), and believers are called to resist him (Jam.4.7; 1Pe.5.8-9). The New Testament portrays Satan as a real and active spiritual adversary, but one whose power is limited and whose ultimate defeat is assured (Romans 16:20; Revelation 20:10). Other names for Satan include Beelzebub (Matthew 10:25; 12:24-27), Belial (2Co.6.15), and the serpent (Revelation 12:9; 20:2). These names highlight his role as the leader of demons, the personification of evil, and the deceiver of humanity.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Satan appear in the Bible?
Satan is referenced in 47 verses across 15 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Chronicles 21:1
- 1 Corinthians 5:5
- 1 Corinthians 7:5
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18
- 1 Timothy 1:20
- 1 Timothy 5:15
- 2 Corinthians 2:11
- 2 Corinthians 11:14
- 2 Corinthians 12:7
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9
- Acts 5:3
- Acts 26:18
- John 13:27
- Job 1:6
- Job 1:7
- Job 1:8
- Job 1:9
- Job 1:12
- Job 2:1
- Job 2:2
- Job 2:3
- Job 2:4
- Job 2:6
- Job 2:7
Showing the first 24 of 47.
Open all 47 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Satan.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Satan?
Satan appears in 47 verses across 15 books, most often in Job, which accounts for 11 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Satan?
Job, Revelation, Luke, Mark, 2 Corinthians, Matthew, 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy, and 7 more.
Where can I read every verse about Satan?
This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 47, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
