Who is Satan - Part 6

The term ‘satan’ (H7854) is used a number of times in the Tanak, more often without the definite article ‘ha’ (English ‘the’) but in some cases (in Job and Zechariah) with.  The ‘ha’ is used to show the term is a title bestowed on a being.  The emphasis however, is on the title, not the being.  In other words, ‘ha-satan’ doesn’t mean ‘an adversarial being named Satan’, it means ‘a being acting in the role of an adversary (satan)’.  This being would be called ‘the satan’ or ‘the adversary’. 

The following segments come from Job 1 and 2.  These passages are unique in that the term ‘ha-satan’ is uniquely translated (or perhaps mistranslated) as ‘Satan’.  The Hebrew term portrays this role as that of a prosecutor, and it should be kept in mind that the intent of the passage is NOT to bring glory to a being or even to a role, but to bear witness to the glory that belongs to YHVH alone.  In every case the term rendered ‘Satan’ in Job is the same as the one used in previous passages to refer to a role filled by human adversaries, the ‘angel of YHVH’ or even apparently YHVH.  To help with reading these passages from Job and Zechariah in the way the Hebrew text states, I’ve substituted ‘Satan’ with ‘the adversary’, bearing in mind the Hebrew term is ‘ha-satan’.

Now there was a day when the sons of God (Elohim) came to present themselves before YHVH, and the adversary (ha-satan) also came among them.  And YHVH said to the adversary (ha-satan), "From where do you come?" So the adversary (ha-satan) answered YHVH and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." Then YHVH said to the adversary (ha-satan), "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God (Elohim) and shuns evil?" So the adversary (ha-satan) answered YHVH and said, "Does Job fear God (Elohim) for nothing?” Job 1:6-9

And YHVH said to the adversary (ha-satan), "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So the adversary (ha-satan) went out from the presence of YHVH. Job 1:12

Again the day came when the sons of God (Elohim) came to present themselves before YHVH, and the adversary (ha-satan) also arrived among them to present himself before YHVH. And YHVH said to the adversary (ha-satan), “Where do you come from?” The adversary (ha-satan) answered YHVH, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” Then YHVH said to the adversary (ha-satan), “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God (Elohim) and turns away from evil. And he still holds firmly to his integrity, so that you stirred me up to destroy him without reason.”

But the adversary (ha-satan) answered YHVH, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life!  But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”

So YHVH said to the adversary (ha-satan), “All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life.”

So the adversary (ha-satan) went out from the presence of YHVH… Job 2:1-7

The last segment comes from Zechariah 3.  It’s similar in some ways to the Job passages in that it’s often translated as ‘Satan’, as if to present a being with a name, rather than a being in a role. 

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of YHVH, and the adversary (ha-satan) standing at his right hand to oppose (satan) him.  And YHVH said to the adversary (ha-satan), "YHVH rebuke you, adversary (ha-satan)!  YHVH who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" Zechariah 3:1-2