What does שָׂטַן mean in the Bible?
שָׂטַן is a Hebrew word meaning "to attack , (figuratively) accuse".
Hebrew · H7853
שָׂטַן
To attack , (figuratively) accuse
Reading a lexicon entry
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שָׂטַןH7853
What does שָׂטַן mean in the Bible?
שָׂטַן is a Hebrew word meaning "to attack , (figuratively) accuse".
Full entry for שָׂטַן (H7853) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7853?
The BSB source-word alignment has 6 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include attack me (1), May my accusers (1), May the accusers (1), they accuse me (1), to accuse him (1).
Where does שָׂטַן appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Psalms 38:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (5), Zechariah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itattack me1×Psalms 38:20
May my accusers1×Psalms 109:29
May the accusers1×Psalms 71:13
they accuse me1×Psalms 109:4
to accuse him1×Zechariah 3:1
to my accusers1×Psalms 109:20
Show sample aligned rows
Psalms 38:20יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִיtoattack meVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singularPsalms 71:13שֹׂטְנֵ֪יtoMay the accusersVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructPsalms 109:4יִשְׂטְנ֗וּנִיtothey accuse meVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singularPsalms 109:20שֹׂ֭טְנַיtoto my accusersVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularPsalms 109:29שׂוֹטְנַ֣יtoMay my accusersVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularZechariah 3:1לְשִׂטְנֽוֹ׃toto accuse himPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowPsalms 38:20
Aligned rows6
Books represented2
Psalms5Zechariah1
Source forms
יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִי1xyiś·ṭə·nū·nîPsalms 38:20
יִשְׂטְנ֗וּנִי1xyiś·ṭə·nū·nîPsalms 109:4
לְשִׂטְנֽוֹ׃1xlə·śiṭ·nōwZechariah 3:1
שׂוֹטְנַ֣י1xśō·wṭ·nayPsalms 109:29
שֹׂטְנֵ֪י1xśō·ṭə·nêPsalms 71:13
שֹׂ֭טְנַי1xśō·ṭə·naiPsalms 109:20
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular2xPsalms 38:20, Psalms 109:4
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular2xPsalms 109:20, Psalms 109:29
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular1xZechariah 3:1
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct1xPsalms 71:13
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to attack , (figuratively) accuse
Source Gloss
to attack , (figuratively) accuse
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to attack, (figuratively) accuse Usage: (be an) adversary, resist.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms1
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
Participle activePs 71:131×
Word Origins
שָׂטַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.