Bible Questions and Answers

Old Testament

The word devil does not appear in the singular in the King James translation of the Old Testament.

It appears in the plural in the following 2 places:

Leviticus 17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

Psalms 106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Devils 08163 שׂעיר sa‘iyr or שׂער sa‘ir adj. from 08175. שׂער sa‘ar; a primitive root; to storm; by implication, to shiver, i.e. fear: — 

Translated in the King James Version – ‘kid’ 28 times, ‘goat’ 24 times, ‘devils’ 2 times, ‘satyr’ 2 times, ‘hairy’ 2 times, ‘rough’ 1 time

Meaning 1) hairy

A different Hebrew word is translated devils in in the following 2 places:

2 Chronicles 11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

Deuteronomy 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Devils 07700 שׁד shed or (plural) שׁדים . n m; from 07736. שׁוד shuwd; a primitive root; properly, to swell up, i.e. figuratively (by implication of insolence) to devastate: — waste

Translated in the King James Version – ‘devils’ 2 times

Meaning 1) waste

In all four places ‘devils’ refers to idols – the false gods of the Canaanites.

Satan appears 15 times in the King James translation of the Old Testament.

It appears first in 1 Chronicles 21:

1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Satan 07854 שׂטן satan n m; from 07853 שׂטן satan v. – to act as an adversary

Translated in the King James Version – ‘Satan’ 19 times, ‘adversary’ 7 times, ‘withstand’ 1 time.

Meaning: 1) adversary, one who withstands.

In Hebrew, a satan can be an adversary for good or for bad.

New Testament

Devil (singular) appears in the King James translation of the New Testament 57 times.

It appears first in Matthew 4:1

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Devil 1228 διάβολος diabolos adj. from 1225 διαβάλλω diaballo v. to throw over, slander.

Translated in the King James Version – ‘devil’ 35 times, ‘false accuser’ 2 times, ‘slanderer’ 1 time.

Meaning: 1) prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely

Devils (plural) appears in the King James translation of the New Testament 5 times.

It appears first in Matthew 8:31 

Matthew 8:31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Devils 1142 δαίμων daimon from daio (to distribute fortunes); n

Translated in the King James Version – ‘devils’ 4 times, ‘devil’ 1 time

Meaning: 1) a god, a goddess

1a) an inferior deity, whether good or bad

2) an unclean spirit

A derivative word is translated ‘devil’. It appears first in Matthew 7:22 

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Devils 1140 δαιμόνιον daimonion neuter of a derivative of 1142

Translated in the King James Version – ‘devil(s)’ 59 times, ‘god’ 1 time.

Meaning: a daemonic being; by extension a god.

Possessed with devils appears in the King James translation of the New Testament 13 times.

It appears first in Matthew 4:24

Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Possessed with devils 1139 δαιμονίζομαι daimonizomai middle voice from 1142 δαίμων daimon v;

Translated in the King James Version – ‘possessed with devils’ 4 times, ‘possessed with the devil’ 3 times, ‘of the devils’ 2 times, ‘vexed with a devil’ 1 time, ‘possessed with a devil’ 1 time, ‘have a devil’ 1 time.

Meaning:

1) to be under the power of a demon.

Satan appears in the King James translation of the New Testament 36 times.

Using Strong’s Concordance:

Satan 4567. Σατανᾶς Satanas; of Aramaic origin corresponding to 4566. Σατᾶν Satan sat-an’; of Hebrew origin (with the definite affix); the accuser — Satan.

Translated in the King James Version – ‘Satan’ 36 times.

Meaning: adversary

Conclusion:

In the Old Testament ‘devils’ refers to false gods and satan is the Hebrew word for adversary. the adversary can be for good or bad.

In the New Testament devils (demons) called ‘unclean spirits’ refer to mental illness.

To ‘possess a devil’ is to be mentally ill.

Devil and Satan in the New Testament are the personification of the propensity to sin within man, both individually and collectively.

The idea that the Devil and Satan is a fallen angel has no basis in the Bible.

Men are responsible for the evil that they do.

There is no supernatural tempter.

Angels of God cannot sin because they possess the divine nature.

In heaven, God’s will is done perfectly.

May I suggest that you read: Do You Believe in a Devil? here:

https://www.thisisyourbible.com/library/show/162

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn