Jesus gave us power and authority over the devil and his demons!
Jesus fully exposed the devil and his devices. With deliverance being roughly a third of Jesus’ ministry, we must not neglect this aspect of ministry. We need to know our enemy and his devices!
The Bible uses many different names, titles, symbols, and descriptive phrases for satan. Depending on how you count (whether you include only proper names or also symbolic descriptions), there are between 40 and 70 distinct descriptions. These descriptions reveal his character, methods, authority, and ultimate destiny.
Here are the primary Biblical descriptions, grouped by category.
1. his identity
- satan — “Adversary” or “Opponent” (appears over 50 times)
- devil — “Slanderer” or “False Accuser”
- lucifer — “Morning Star” or “Shining One” (Isaiah 14:12, KJV tradition)
- The evil one
- The wicked one
- The tempter
- The accuser of the brethren
- The enemy
2. his position of authority
Jesus acknowledged that satan currently exercises real, though limited, authority in the fallen world.
- prince of this world (John 12:31)
- ruler of this world (John 14:30)
- god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4)
- prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)
- ruler of the kingdom of the air
- spirit now working in the sons of disobedience
3. his character
These descriptions reveal who he is.
- murderer from the beginning (John 8:44)
- liar
- father of lies
- deceiver
- deceiver of the whole world
- slanderer
- destroyer
- lawless one (working behind the scenes)
- evil one
- wicked one
- adversary
4. his methods
The Bible describes how satan operates.
- roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)
- angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14)
- serpent
- ancient serpent
- dragon
- great red dragon
- fowler (Psalm 91 imagery)
- hunter
- snare setter
- one who blinds minds
- one who tempts
- one who steals the Word
- one who sows tares among wheat
5. animal symbols
Scripture often uses animals to illustrate satan.
- serpent (Genesis 3)
- ancient Serpent (Revelation 12)
- dragon (Revelation 12)
- great red dragon
- roaring lion (1 Peter 5)
- leviathan (many scholars see Isaiah 27 as foreshadowing satan’s defeat)
6. Descriptions of his kingdom
The Bible also describes the realm over which he exercises influence.
- kingdom of darkness
- dominion of darkness
- powers of darkness
- spiritual forces of evil
- principalities
- powers
- world rulers of this darkness
- cosmic powers
- hosts of wickedness in heavenly places
7. his relationship to People
- accuser of believers
- tempter
- deceiver
- ensnarer
- enslaver
- one who blinds unbelievers
- one who holds people captive
- father of those who reject God’s Truth (John 8:44)
8. his ultimate fate
The Bible also gives descriptions of what will happen to satan.
- Cast from heaven
- Bound for one thousand years
- Released for a short time
- Defeated
- Thrown into the lake of fire
- Tormented day and night forever
- Destroyed in power forever
Major Names Used Most Frequently
These are the most important titles every believer should recognize:
| Name | Meaning | Primary Scripture |
| satan | adversary | Job 1–2 |
| devil | slanderer | Matthew 4 |
| serpent | deceiver | Genesis 3 |
| ancient serpent | original deceiver | Revelation 12 |
| dragon | open enemy of God | Revelation 12 |
| evil one | source of evil | Matthew 13 |
| tempter | tester through temptation | Matthew 4 |
| accuser | accuses believers | Revelation 12:10 |
| prince of this world | present worldly ruler | John 12:31 |
| god of this age | blinds unbelievers | 2 Corinthians 4:4 |
| prince of the power of the air | influences disobedience | Ephesians 2:2 |
| father of lies | originator of falsehood | John 8:44 |
| murderer from the Beginning | destroyer of life | John 8:44 |
| angel of light | counterfeit righteousness | 2 Corinthians 11:14 |
| roaring lion | seeks to devour | 1 Peter 5:8 |
A Biblical pattern
When all these descriptions are considered together, they reveal a consistent picture. satan is presented as:
- God’s adversary (opposing God’s purposes)
- Humanity’s deceiver (leading people away from Truth)
- The accuser (bringing charges against God’s people)
- The tempter (enticing people to sin)
- The ruler of the present fallen world system (within limits permitted by God)
- A defeated enemy whose final judgment is certain through the victory of Jesus Christ.
Overall, there are over 50 distinct biblical names, titles, and descriptive phrases for satan, with the exact number varying based on whether symbolic imagery and repeated variations are counted separately. Together, these descriptions provide a comprehensive Biblical portrait of his nature, activity, and ultimate defeat.
FYI: I do not capitalize his name by design… he doesn’t deserve it!