Definition of "Satan"

1 And he shewed me Ioshua the high Priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.2 And the Lord said vnto Satan; The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, euen the Lord that hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee. Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire?

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Zechariah 3:1–2

Having been captured by the forces of Christ, the souls are now attacked for the first time by their former captain in “Satans Rage at them in their Conversion.″ Satan′s basic line of attack is to accuse the souls of being unreliable converts. Just as the souls turned from Satan to Christ, so too they will turn back again when it suits them, says Satan.

1997, Martin Schuldiner, “Puritan Casuistry”, in Martin Schuldiner, editor, The Tayloring Shop: Essays on the Poetry of Edward Taylor in Honor of Thomas M. and Virginia L. Davis, page 125

The conventional role of Satan in English mystery plays was the Trickster archetype adapted for a theatre that was both popular and religious but constrained by traditional Christian theology.The Satan of the mystery plays was a Trickster, but a dignified one.

1998, Wendy Griswold, “8: The Devil, social change, and Jacobean theatre”, in Philip Smith, editor, The New American Cultural Sociology, page 127

Biblical scholars tell us that the idea of a purely evil being like the Devil or Satan was a late development in the Bible. In the book of Job, Satan was the heavenly district attorney whose job it was to test the faith of those who, like Job, were specially blessed.During the Persian conquest of the Israelites, the Satan of Job became fused with the Zoroastrian dualistic theology adopted by the Persians, where two opposing forces, one of good, Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Creator deity, was in a constant battle with Ahriman, the absolute god of evil. This polarized dualism was present in the theology of the Essenes and took hold in Christianity where God and his Son Jesus were in constant battle with the highest fallen angel, Satan, for human souls. This dualism persists today only in fundamentalist religions (Muslim terrorists, the Taliban, the extreme Christian Right and a major part of evangelical Christianity).

2005, John Bradshaw, Healing the Shame That Binds You, page 2

Conversational journaling isn't for everyone, but it can be both exciting and rewarding. The key is to listen to the three voices in your head and be sure you can identify which one is yours, which one is God's, and which one is evil, Satan, the dark side, or whatever you call those forces that would deceive your spirit and soul.

2005, William Tenny-Brittian, “The Joy of Journaling”, in Prayer for People Who Can't Sit Still‎, Chalice Press, page 22

[…] Would you two please draw in a little closer?No — no, that's not a smile there. That's a grin.Satan, what ails you? Where's the famous tongue,Thou onetime Prince of Conversationists?This is polite society you're inWhere good and bad are mingled everywhich- way. […]

2020 May 15, Robert Frost, Delphi Complete Works of Robert Frost (Illustrated) (Delphi Poets Series)‎, Delphi Classics

'Cause I finished with him, so I just felt kind of relieved and empowered afterwards, you know? He was tryin' to dilute my squash, and I was like, "Not today, Satan."

2023, Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia, directed by Raine Allen-Miller, Rye Lane, spoken by Yas (Vivian Oparah)

This literature refers to a major figurehead of evil called “Satan,” the leader of a group of angels also referred to as “Satans.” These Satans accuse people and lead them astray.

1992, Clinton E. Arnold, Powers of Darkness: Principalities & Powers in Paul′s Letters, page 67

They followed what the Satans recited over Solomon′s Kingdom. Solomon did not disbelieve but Satans disbelieved, teaching men magic, and such things as came down at Babylon to the angels Hārūt and Mārūt.

2007, Abdullah Yusuf Ali (translator), M. A. H. Eliyasee (Roman script transliteration), Osman Taha (Arabic script), The Qur′an, II, 102,[in other editions, 96] page 15