satan

Where does the word "satan" come from? It comes from Hebrew śāṭān, passing through Greek and Old English before entering English (1200s).

Satan’s story begins in Hebrew: śāṭān meant “adversary.” 'adversary' or 'accuser': in the Book of Job 'the satan' is an angel who tests Job. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Greek as Satanas. Greek Bible translators sometimes kept the Hebrew word and sometimes translated it as 'diabolos', the source of 'devil'. From there it passed into Old English as Satan by 700s-1000s. Borrowed with Christianity into Old English poems such as 'Genesis B'. It reached English by 1200s as Satan. 'Satanic' dates from the 1660s. Today, satan means the devil, the chief adversary of God.

1. Stage 1 · Hebrew · ancient śāṭān "adversary", 'adversary' or 'accuser': in the Book of Job 'the satan' is an angel who tests Job.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient Satanas "adversary", Greek Bible translators sometimes kept the Hebrew word and sometimes translated it as 'diabolos', the source of 'devil'.
3. Stage 3 · Old English · 700s-1000s Satan "the devil", borrowed with Christianity into Old English poems such as 'Genesis B'.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s Satan "the devil", 'Satanic' dates from the 1660s.