WG: Satan / Adversary / Accuser¶
Overview¶
The adversary/accuser concept spans both Testaments through five related words — one Hebrew noun, its root verb, and three Greek terms. The Hebrew śāṭān (used both as a common noun for earthly opponents and as the title of a specific celestial accuser) is rendered in the LXX primarily as diábolos, and carried into the NT through both that Greek word and the Aramaic loanword Satanâs.
Word Group Members¶
| Strong's | Word | Transliteration | POS | Occurrences | Role in Concept | Library Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H7854 | שָׂטָן | sâṭân | masculine noun | 23 | The adversary/accuser: OT noun (human opponent → celestial accuser) | H7854-satan.md |
| H7853 | שָׂטַן | sâṭan | verb | 6 | The root action: to accuse, attack, be an adversary | TODO(need H7853 study) |
| G1228 | διάβολος | diábolos | adjective/noun | 36 | The slanderer/traducer: primary LXX + NT term for "devil/accuser" | G1228-diabolos.md |
| G4567 | Σατανᾶς | Satanâs | proper noun | 33 | NT proper-name transliteration from Aramaic; used alongside diábolos | G4567-satanas.md |
| G476 | ἀντίδικος | antídikos | masculine noun | 4 | Legal opponent/adversary; applied to Satan in 1 Pet 5:8 | TODO(need G476 study) |
Relationships¶
Shared Roots¶
- H7854 and H7853 — noun and root verb from the same stem שׂטן (śṭn): to oppose, accuse
- G4567 — Aramaic/Chaldee equivalent of H7854; same word-form borrowed into Greek as a proper name
- G1228 — derived from διαβάλλω (diaballō): to throw across, accuse/slander; conceptually parallel to H7853 (to accuse)
Co-occurrence (words appearing in same verses)¶
| Word A | Word B | Shared Verses | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| H7854 | H7853 | 1 | Zech 3:1 — "Satan standing... to resist (śāṭān) him" |
| G1228 | G4567 | 2 | Rev 12:9 — "that old serpent, called the Devil (diábolos), and Satan (Satanâs)" |
| G1228 | G476 | 1 | 1 Pet 5:8 — "your adversary (antídikos) the devil (diábolos), as a roaring lion" |
LXX Bridge: H7854 → G1228¶
The LXX translates H7854 as διάβολος in 14 of its 23 verses (co-occ 14, PMI 9.82). This is the primary cross-testament bridge. The prosecutorial meaning of the Hebrew (an accuser who brings charges before God) is preserved in the Greek ("one who slanders/traduces"). In the NT, diábolos and Satanâs appear as interchangeable titles (Rev 12:9; 20:2).
Roles in the Concept¶
- Action: H7853 śāṭan (verb) — the act of opposing, accusing
- Title/role: H7854 śāṭân (noun) — the one who performs that role; "the adversary"
- LXX rendition: G1228 diábolos — "the slanderer/accuser" (capturing the prosecutorial sense)
- NT proper name: G4567 Satanâs — the Aramaic name carried into Greek; used especially in the Gospels and Revelation
- Legal framing: G476 antídikos — the formal legal opponent; used to describe Satan's posture toward believers (1 Pet 5:8)
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together¶
- Zech 3:1 — H7854 (śāṭân as noun) + H7853 (śāṭan as verb): "Satan standing at his right hand to resist (lᵉśiṭnô) him"
- Rev 12:9 — G1228 (diábolos) + G4567 (Satanâs): "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan"
- 1 Pet 5:8 — G1228 (diábolos) + G476 (antídikos): "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion"
Generated from: gather_word_data.py, gather_word_group_data.py Last updated: 2026-04-02