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hebrew lexicon satan

In biblical Hebrew, the word śāṭān (שָׂטָן) in a lexicon will first be defined as “adversary” or “opponent,” and only later, in some contexts, as the specific figure “Satan.”

Core lexicon meaning

Most standard Hebrew lexicons (e.g., Strong’s H7854) give something like this:

  • Basic sense: “adversary,” “opponent,” “one who withstands.”
  • Verb root: often linked to a root meaning “to oppose, to be an adversary.”
  • Use range:
    • Human or national adversary (political/military opponent).
    • Legal or courtroom-type accuser.
    • A superhuman/spiritual adversary in later or more theologically developed texts.

In other words, in many Old Testament passages, “śāṭān” works as a common noun (“an adversary”), not yet as a fixed proper name.

“The satan” vs. “Satan”

Hebrew often uses the definite article with this word: ha‑śāṭān (הַשָּׂטָן), literally “the adversary.”

  • With the article (“the satan”):
    • Functions more like a title/role in the divine council or legal setting, e.g., the figure in Job who challenges human righteousness.
  • Without the article:
    • Some lexicons and scholars see places where it may be treated as a proper name , especially in later texts (for example, many highlight 1 Chronicles 21:1 as significant).

So in a lexicon entry you will typically see both:

  • A general gloss: “adversary.”
  • A later or specialized gloss: “Satan” as the superhuman enemy of God and humanity.

How often and where it appears

Lexical tools usually note that śāṭān (H7854):

  • Occurs around 27 times in the Hebrew Bible.
  • Is translated variously as:
    • “adversary” (human or national opponent).
    • “accuser.”
    • “Satan” (when understood as the personal, cosmic adversary).

Some resources (especially more linguistically focused sites on ancient Hebrew) stress that the core semantic field is opposition—standing against someone—whether the opponent is a neighboring nation, a courtroom accuser, or a spiritual being.

Why this matters in study

When using a Hebrew lexicon for “satan,” careful interpreters usually:

  1. Check if the word has the article (ha‑śāṭān) or not.
  2. Look at the immediate context:
    • Is this a human opponent, a political rival, or a heavenly accuser figure?
  3. Notice historical/theological development:
    • Earlier texts mainly use “adversary” in a broad sense.
    • Later Jewish and Christian interpretation increasingly treat “Satan” as a personal cosmic enemy.

If you share what level of detail you want (pure lexical, theological development, or verse-by-verse), a more tailored breakdown of the lexicon data can be given.