Zechariah speaking of Satan

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Deacon_Joseph

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My Professor once told me Zechariah is the only Hebrew prophet that refers to Satan by name (3:1-2). True or not true?

What was “Satan’s” original name? I didn’t think his original name in Scripture was Lucifer or Satan, was it? :confused:
 
The name Lucifer is an invention of Milton’s. Notice how it’s Latin, while all the other angelic names are in Hebrew and Greek 😉

Satan is a title, meaning ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary’. It’s clearer in the book of Job that it describes the function of a particular angel – he constantly tests humanity with God’s explicit permission, acting as a prosecuting attorney against us. The satan is not really evil, he just has a horrible job.

Here in Zechariah 3 we see the satan standing in his place as lawyer, accusing Joshua. As in Job, however, God has other plans – and this time, apparently, is not feeling like gambling.

Satan as the ultimate evil is a development of the New Testament. As far as original names go, I believe the one you are looking for is most likely Samael – though it is not the only name identified with the Christian devil. Abaddon/Apollyon, the angel of destruction in Revelation, is also a candidate; so are Beelzebub, the Philistine deity and lord of the flies; Ahriman, the Zoroastrian supreme evil; Yaldabaoth, the Gnostic demiurge; and more.
 
The name Lucifer is an invention of Milton’s. Notice how it’s Latin, while all the other angelic names are in Hebrew and Greek 😉

Satan is a title, meaning ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary’. It’s clearer in the book of Job that it describes the function of a particular angel – he constantly tests humanity with God’s explicit permission, acting as a prosecuting attorney against us. The satan is not really evil, he just has a horrible job.

Here in Zechariah 3 we see the satan standing in his place as lawyer, accusing Joshua. As in Job, however, God has other plans – and this time, apparently, is not feeling like gambling.

Satan as the ultimate evil is a development of the New Testament. As far as original names go, I believe the one you are looking for is most likely Samael – though it is not the only name identified with the Christian devil. Abaddon/Apollyon, the angel of destruction in Revelation, is also a candidate; so are Beelzebub, the Philistine deity and lord of the flies; Ahriman, the Zoroastrian supreme evil; Yaldabaoth, the Gnostic demiurge; and more.
How about:

Prior to the Cross, satan had the ability to stand between God and man. At the Cross, satan was bound (and thus Christ was able to bring the OT saints to heaven). Read all about it.

Satan was always evil.

Mark Wyatt
www.veritas-catholic.blogspot.com
 
Prior to the Cross, satan had the ability to stand between God and man. At the Cross, satan was bound (and thus Christ was able to bring the OT saints to heaven). Read all about it.
Not sure what you were trying to do there, but it isn’t working…

I do not think you are quite right from what I see in your post. To the best of my memory, Satan is not yet bound, that coming in John’s Apocalypse; rather, the Christ opened the gates of heaven which had been closed after the fall of humanity.
Satan was always evil.
The being Christians refer to when they say ‘Satan’, yes; the satan in Job and Zechariah is a different being, an angelic lawyer in God’s service. Christianity’s Satan has much more in common with Zoroaster’s Ahriman than it does with the satan of the Old Testament.

The Jewish Encyclopedia has an in-depth article on the subject, including extensive notes on the perspective of the New Testament and Kabbalah. Note the use of the term ‘celestial prosecutor’ referring to the satan in Job.
 

What was “Satan’s” original name? I didn’t think his original name in Scripture was Lucifer or Satan, was it? :confused:
The name “Lucifer” comes from the passage in Isaiah 14:12 which has been interpreted as applying to Satan. “Day star”, translated into Latin, is “Lucifer”.
 
The name “Lucifer” comes from the passage in Isaiah 14:12 which has been interpreted as applying to Satan. “Day star”, translated into Latin, is “Lucifer”.
It’s an erroneous interpretation though. The ‘day star’ in that passage refers not to an angel but to Babylon.
 
Not sure what you were trying to do there, but it isn’t working…

I do not think you are quite right from what I see in your post. To the best of my memory, Satan is not yet bound, that coming in John’s Apocalypse; rather, the Christ opened the gates of heaven which had been closed after the fall of humanity.
Satan was bound in St. John’s Alocalypse- correct. St. John’s Apocalypse as interpreted by the Church (the amillenial view, esp. as interpreted by St. Augustine) indicates that the binding did occur at the cross. So ni fact Satan is currently bound. He will be unbound for a “little period” just prior to the second coming, but will then be finally and soundly defeated and thrown ion the the sea of fire.
The being Christians refer to when they say ‘Satan’, yes; the satan in Job and Zechariah is a different being, an angelic lawyer in God’s service. Christianity’s Satan has much more in common with Zoroaster’s Ahriman than it does with the satan of the Old Testament.

The Jewish Encyclopedia has an in-depth article on the subject, including extensive notes on the perspective of the New Testament and Kabbalah. Note the use of the term ‘celestial prosecutor’ referring to the satan in Job.
That may be a Jewish view, but it is not a Christian one. In Christianity there is a definite continuity between the OT and the NT (which fulfills the OT). Remember the serpent led to the ouster of Adam and Eve from the garden. In Apocalypse, the serpent is identified as Satan.

If you read the book review I linked it shows the consistency of the OT-NT position. In the OT [the evil] Satan could stand between man and God. After binding, salvation became possible.

Mark Wyatt
www.veritas-catholic.blogspot.com
 
It’s an erroneous interpretation though. The ‘day star’ in that passage refers not to an angel but to Babylon.
It’s not an erroneous interpretation. It’s just that the passage has more than one application - to the king of Babylon and to Satan.

Nita
 
It’s not an erroneous interpretation. It’s just that the passage has more than one application - to the king of Babylon and to Satan.
The chapter is pretty specific about how it’s supposed to be read: * On the day the LORD relieves you of sorrow and unrest and the hard service in which you have been enslaved, you will take up this taunt-song against the king of Babylon*.
 
The chapter is pretty specific about how it’s supposed to be read: * On the day the LORD relieves you of sorrow and unrest and the hard service in which you have been enslaved, you will take up this taunt-song against the king of Babylon*.
Do you not also see that the above verse could also be applied to the day you enter into heaven? That is the day God will totally free one of sorrow, unrest, any slavery to sin and Satan.
 
Do you not also see that the above verse could also be applied to the day you enter into heaven? That is the day God will totally free one of sorrow, unrest, any slavery to sin and Satan.
Now that you mention it, yes, it’s possible, but I do not think it is meant to be interpreted that way, especially because of the phrase ‘hard service in which you have been enslaved’ – the world is fallen, but it is not a penal colony. Still, I’ve been wrong before 🙂
 
The name Lucifer is an invention of Milton’s. Notice how it’s Latin, while all the other angelic names are in Hebrew and Greek 😉

Satan is a title, meaning ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary’. It’s clearer in the book of Job that it describes the function of a particular angel – he constantly tests humanity with God’s explicit permission, acting as a prosecuting attorney against us. The satan is not really evil, he just has a horrible job.

Here in Zechariah 3 we see the satan standing in his place as lawyer, accusing Joshua. As in Job, however, God has other plans – and this time, apparently, is not feeling like gambling.

Satan as the ultimate evil is a development of the New Testament. As far as original names go, I believe the one you are looking for is most likely Samael – though it is not the only name identified with the Christian devil. Abaddon/Apollyon, the angel of destruction in Revelation, is also a candidate; so are Beelzebub, the Philistine deity and lord of the flies; Ahriman, the Zoroastrian supreme evil; Yaldabaoth, the Gnostic demiurge; and more.
This is similar to what a someone wrote in a Jewish forum. The author made the comparision between Jewish theology concerning Satan and the movie WIlly Wonka and the Choclate factory. Whereas Willy Wonka’s secret agent test the children and in the end Charlie gets a reward for passing the test.
 
The name “Lucifer” comes from the passage in Isaiah 14:12 which has been interpreted as applying to Satan. “Day star”, translated into Latin, is “Lucifer”.
Actually, Lucifer is Latin for “Light bearer”.
 
Actually, Lucifer is Latin for “Light bearer”.
I was going by the translation given to the Isaiah passage in the Latin edition of the Bible. What we translate into English as “Day star”, the Latin translates as “lucifer”. I have not checked what the more original Greek and Hebrew words are.

Nita
 
The name Lucifer is an invention of Milton’s. Notice how it’s Latin, while all the other angelic names are in Hebrew and Greek 😉

Satan is a title, meaning ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary’. It’s clearer in the book of Job that it describes the function of a particular angel – he constantly tests humanity with God’s explicit permission, acting as a prosecuting attorney against us. The satan is not really evil, he just has a horrible job.

Here in Zechariah 3 we see the satan standing in his place as lawyer, accusing Joshua. As in Job, however, God has other plans – and this time, apparently, is not feeling like gambling.

Satan as the ultimate evil is a development of the New Testament. As far as original names go, I believe the one you are looking for is most likely Samael – though it is not the only name identified with the Christian devil. Abaddon/Apollyon, the angel of destruction in Revelation, is also a candidate; so are Beelzebub, the Philistine deity and lord of the flies; Ahriman, the Zoroastrian supreme evil; Yaldabaoth, the Gnostic demiurge; and more.
Let’s see, Satan tempts people in the Old Testament as far back as Genesis 2, yet you somehow believe that him being evil is a New Testament development… Interesting
 
Notice in verse 16, it refers to Satan when he was in the possed body of the anti-christ. Remember, he will go into the tribulation temple and claim he is THE GOD of creation.

Isaiah 14:16-
Those who stare at you, they ponder your fate:
“Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble,…”
 
Let’s see, Satan tempts people in the Old Testament as far back as Genesis 2, yet you somehow believe that him being evil is a New Testament development… Interesting
The serpent of Genesis 3 is easily identified with the Christian devil, quite true. However, he is just as easily shown to be separate from the satan who appears in Job and Zechariah.

In Job especially, God and the satan have a little chat, and it’s quite obvious that their relationship is more like that of an employer and employee than that of James the First and Guy Fawkes. The satan is God’s prosecuting attorney against humanity – his job is to continually protest our unworthiness. In Job, God allows Satan to try to prove his case. In Zechariah, he once again stands as an accuser.

The satan I am speaking of is not a tempter, not a stealer of souls, not the ruler of hell. He’s not the same thing as the Christian devil, big-S Satan. We may not like the little-s satan because of his function in the heavenly court, but he’s still an angel in God’s employ.
 
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