Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Adversary
Subjects in this Topic:
ad´vẽr-sa-ri, ad´vẽr-sā̄̇-ri: This word (in the singular or plural) is used in the Old Testament to render different Hebrew words. In thirty-two cases the word corresponds to the noun צר, cār, or the verb צרר, cārař. This noun is the ordinary word for “foe†or “adversary.†In twelve passages the Hebrew word, of which “adversary†is the translation, is שׂטן, sāṭān = noun or שׂטן, sāṭan = verb. This stem means “to oppose,†or “thwart†anyone in his purpose or claims.
The angel of Yahweh was saÌ„tÌ£aÌ„n to Balaam (). The word often denotes a political adversary (, , ). In four cases (namely, Prologue to Job; , ; ; ) the King James Version retains Satan as the rendering. But it is only in 1 Chronicles that the word is used without the article, that is, strictly as a proper name. The Septuagint gives διαÌβολος, diaÌbolos, as the rendering, and both in Job and Zechariah, Satan is portrayed as the “false accuser.†In two cases “adversary†represents two Hebrew expressions which mean the “opponent in a suit†or “controversy†(; ).
In the New Testament “adversary†represents: (1) αντικειμενοι, ἀντικειÌμενοι, antikeıÌmenoi, the participle of a verb which means “to be set over against,†“to be opposed†(; ). (2) ἀντιÌδικος, antıÌdikos, “opponent in a lawsuit,†“prosecutor†(; ; ; ). According to the last passage the devil is the “accuser†or “prosecutor†of believers, but according to another writer they have an “advocate†or “counselor for the defense†with the Father (). In one passage () “adversary†represents a Greek word, hupenantıÌos, which means “set over against,†“contrary to†- a word used in classical Greek and in the Septuagint.